Integrating Traditional and Modern Teaching Methods

School is just around the corner and it is time to replenish the depleted supply inventory. Before you purchase teacher supplies at your good ol’ teacher supplies store, let’s take a look at a new way to approach this school term and increase student activity and comprehension.

There is definitely a reason why teaching methods that have been used for centuries has remained today: they work. They are tested, tried, and true. However, with the growing reliance on technology and unfortunately the decreasing attention span of students, new modern methods and a boost of life in our traditional teaching methods must make their way into our school curriculum. Gone are the days where teachers can drone for 50 minutes straight without interacting with students and still expect positive results. Gone are the days, unfortunately, where we can expect our children to go home after school and proactively review what they learned and prepare themselves for the following lesson. This is why we must make every minute count that those students are in the classroom and find alternative ways to increase their “want” to learn more.

A Breath of Life In Traditional Teaching Methods

Students today are asking to be taught in a new way: entertainingly, and there is no reason why entertainment cannot be combined with educational. Rather than a lecture environment, change what would be a boring 50-minute lecture of Lewis and Clark and their adventures to a 20-minute play highlighting their greatest contributions to history and why we study them today. Employ the assistance of students to let them be a part of the adventure and the lesson. Take the remaining class time to review key points of the lesson and then prep your student’s minds for the following lesson. Take the information from the textbook and breathe life into it.

New Modern Methods

With the emergence and popularity of tablet devices, utilizing available apps to create diversity in teaching methods may prove to be beneficial. There are a few schools that require students to obtain an iPad/tablet device, using this as an electronic source to distribute textbooks and homework assignments. This is definitely beneficial as students will no longer be required to lug around multiple thick, heavy books and they can no longer rely on the excuse: I left my homework at school and can’t do it!

Continuing The Education At Home

Persuade parents to utilize the available technology to make learning fun. Let’s use every source available to keep our kids interested and eager to learn more. There are many available applications such as “ABCs Handwriting HWT Print Style”, “Alphabet Zoo Baby ABCs” and “Action Words Flash Cards”. Learning letters and numbers via tracing apps, shape and animal recognition games, and handwriting and cursive apps convert traditional flash cards into a game, making learning more fun and anticipated.

You became a teacher because of your passion for the subject, your passion for teaching, your passion to educate the next generation. If you’ve lost it, reignite it. Your enthusiasm alone can be infectious! And if this is not enough, think outside the box and find ways to share and communicate what you love to do.