Teaching

General Notes on Teaching

Background

AHA has often dealt with classroom management by having a very close teacher/student ratio, ie: 4 students to 1 teacher. As we find ourselves teaching more classes, it has become harder for us to find 3 or 4 people to teach a class of 12 students. Furthermore, there is no grading, and little to no paperwork involved in the program we are primarily involved in (Bright Futures). Our goal is to provide an exciting after school program that reflects the educational level of the students in the class. The more we can relate our curriculum with those of Michigan Core Science & Math Standards, the better. However, if we can simply get students more excited ABOUT learning, we've done our job.

Designing Curriculum

1. Time Estimates:
   1. If it's material you are not very familiar with, ie: You've done the project before, but have never taught it, give yourself a minimum of 3 or 4 hours of prep time p/hour of classroom time.
   2. If it's material you have taught before, give yourself an hour of prep time p/hour of classroom time.
   3. Material prep time is different, that's entirely dependent on how much material p/student is needed, whether or not you already have it all.

Classroom Management

1. General information / good reads:
   1. https://www.msu.edu/~dunbarc/dunbar3.pdf
   2. www.msu.edu/user/swigerja/CEP%20883%20Paper.ppt
2. Generic items: K-8 will often respond to: Teacher raises hand, counts down loudly from 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, gradually getting quieter with each count.
3. Do not talk over students
4. Be patient.