• Teachers have a critical responsibility. Directly influencing the development of every child in the classroom at a crucial stage in their development, the teacher lays an educational foundation that students will use to comprehend and navigate the world for the rest of their lives. While that can be tough to do effectively, there are some strategies to help you.
  
  

Preparation

• Students will sense your disorganization and reward you by quickly losing interest. Having organized lessons ahead of time means classes can proceed at a pace conducive to your student's level of interest. Additionally, being organized and prepared means a more certain teacher. On a broader level, a lesson plan for the year, whether in outline or in more comprehensive form, will remind teachers where they are at each stage of the year.
  
  

Flexibility

• Though your lesson plan may be detailed down to the smallest detail, be prepared to change things on the drop of a dime. If an exercise doesn't seem to hold the students interest be flexible and change direction, even if only for that one section. Disruptions are a part of classroom life and a good teacher will need to be able to flow with it instead of fight it.
  
  

Caring

• Show your students that you care about them. Only go through the motions and your students are certain to do the same. Showing you care may mean listening to student concerns, offering a compliment, flashing a smile or even a supporting hand on the shoulder. This creates a comfortable environment where students will ultimately feel more comfortable expressing themselves and learning new concepts. Parents also need to understand the level of concern you have for their children as this will propel them to encourage their child.
  
  

Discipline

• Discipline with grace whenever possible. Disruptions do happen, and dealing with these disruptions in a way that maintains everyone's integrity is important. Always consider addressing the classroom as a whole rather than singling a student out when possible. Embarrassing a student is a sure way to turn him against you. If direct confrontation is necessary, speaking to a child in private is always a much preferable strategy.
  
  

Humor

• Classrooms can regularly become cauldrons of anxiety due to demands of a specific subject, required examinations or outside influences. Before a disruption reaches the ignition stage, the ability to occasionally laugh, and encourage your students to join in, can place the lesson back on track and develop a sense of camaraderie between student and teacher.