Tofiga Mammadova -an English teacher from Azerbaijan.
Do you have habits as a teacher that you'd like to change or overcome? Then, this new school year is your chance! One of the habits that seems to be a struggle for many teachers is the habit of raising their voice. Our students can frustrate us over and over. 180 days is a lot of days to be stretched, tried, and pulled by our students. Sometimes the 10th time of repeating ourselves is all we can take. And understandably so. While I've never been a "yeller" in my classroom, when my children were younger I struggled with raising my voice in my moments of frustration at home. Here's how I conquered that nasty habit and how I transferred the same principles to speak more graciously to my students in my classroom- even in moments of super frustration.
1. Memorize this verse. My main weapon against this bad habit is Proverbs 15:1 "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." What's interesting about this verse is I found that it wasn't about turning away the anger of the child, but turning away MY anger. When I used a soft answer, MY frustration level began to diminish. I say this verse immediately to myself when I begin to feel frustrated.
2. Whisper. When I feel myself wanting to raise my voice, I slowly whisper the next sentence or direction. Lowering my voice immediately calms me and the child.
3. Choose your words carefully. A "soft" answer isn't just referring to the noise level-but I believe it's also referring to the our choice of words. We should only use words and tones with our students that we would want someone else to use with our own children. Sarcasm does not have a place in our classrooms-no matter the age of the child.
I urge you to try this at school and at home. And just like a good teacher will tell you, practice, practice, practice, because practice makes progress.
"A hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in the bank ... but the world may be a better place because I made a difference in the life of a child."- is my favourite saying.
I was awarded the medal of Progress by the president of the Azerbaijan Republic for my selfless work in education . I became the winner of the contest "THE BEST TEACHER" held in Azerbaijan in 2011. I PARTICIPATED AND COMPLETED TEACHING EXCELLENCE AND ACHIEVEMENT (TEA) PROGRAM FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE,CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY,CHICO.(31 JANUARY-23 MARCH,2012)
FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE TEA PROGRAM, I GAINED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AS A TEACHER AS A DIRECTOR OF THE ONLY PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION IN MY REGION. I GAINED NEW TEACHING METHODOLOGIES AND STRATEGIES. I LEARNED THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY FOR EDUCATION AND ENHANCED MY TEACHING SKILLS. THE TEA PROGRAM BUILT TEACHER LEADERSHIP SKILLS,AND NOW I CAN MANAGE SUCCESSFULLY A TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION WHERE MEMBERS ARE INCREASING DAY BY DAY.
I INCREASED MY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE UNITED STATES. I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND BECAME PROFESSIONALLY DEVELOPED TO STAY INFORMED AND EDUCATED IN CHANGES AND ADVANCEMENTS IN MY DISCIPLINE. FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE TEA PROGRAM, I LEARNED NEW WAYS TO PRESENT CONTENT AND ASSIMILATE INNOVATIVE METHODS FOR TEACHING. BY PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM, I BEGAN DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF MY COMMUNITY.NOW I AM EQUIPPED TO APPLY AND SHARE MY EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND STUDENTS. I DEVELOP NEW WORKSHOPS, ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS, CO-OPERATE WITH COLLEAGUES FROM THE US ON DIFFERENT PROJECTS, AND PROMOTE INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING.
I BECAME A STRONGER LEADER AND HELP MY COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP AND TO PROSPER. LEADERS AREN’T BORN; THEY'RE MADE. NOW I DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF MY COUNTRY THROUGH DIFFERENT PROJECTS. IN MY REGION, THERE ARE MANY REFUGEE CHILDREN WHO LIVE IN SCHOOLS AND IN OTHER BAD SITUATIONS. AZETA TEACHERS HELP TEACH THEM DURING THEIR FREE-TIME. I WANT TO PROMOTE VOLUNTEERISM AMONG OUR TEACHERS. I KNOW THAT AMERICANS BELIEVE STRONGLY IN VOLUNTEERISM AND I LEARNED FROM THEM IN TEA. I SAW HOW TEACHERS AND LEADERS IN AMERICA HELP THEIR COMMUNITIES WITH VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS. MY COUNTRY NEEDS LEADERS IN EDUCATION AND I KNOW I HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY.
"LEARNING NEVER STOPS AND EDUCATION IS AN ONGOING PROCESS," IS MY FAVORITE SAYING. I NEVER STOP LEARNING TO BE A PROFESSIONAL TEACHER IN ORDER TO BENEFIT MY SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY.