Schools are places for teaching and learning. They usually include classrooms, a cafeteria or dining hall, and playgrounds. Some also have special rooms for science or industrial arts education.
Often, children who have a good school experience enjoy learning and do well in it. This is because they feel attracted to it.
1. Prioritize learning over grades
Schools should be a place where students learn to appreciate learning. They should help students gain the knowledge, skills, and values they need to face life’s challenges.
School should also be a place where students are encouraged to think creatively, take initiative and develop their problem-solving skills. Instead, too many students focus on getting good grades. This obsession with grades is not only annoying to teachers, but it limits students’ ability to become innovative and critical thinkers.
Some educators have shifted away from the traditional grading system to prioritize learning over grades. This shift does not mean lowering standards, but rather focusing on specific learning outcomes and providing quality formative assessment and feedback.
2. Incorporate fun games in class
Teachers often use games in class to provide fun formative assessment and to engage students in a positive competitive learning environment. These classroom games can take a variety of forms and can be used across a broad spectrum of subjects.
For example, you can have students draw a word or concept on their forehead and have other team members guess what the idea is within a certain timeframe. Another great variation is to play Taboo.
Another way to incorporate games in class is by transforming board games like Monopoly, Chutes and Ladders or Candy Land into learning games by adding vocabulary words, phonics sounds, math facts or formulas. These interactive games help students learn new content in a more engaging manner and promote teamwork.
3. Include games in the classroom
With 3.2 billion players worldwide, videogames have a massive reach that far surpasses music and cinema. This is why schools should include games in the classroom.
Classroom games breathe life into lessons and allow students to assimilate knowledge without even noticing it. They also provide a way for teachers to evaluate student progress without relying on traditional forms of assessment.
Most educational games require students to think quickly and solve problems. This gives students the chance to develop their logic and accuracy, which will help them become better problem-solvers later in life.
4. Inculcate reading habits
Reading habits are one of the important things that schools should inculcate in children. This is because it helps in the overall brain development of the child. Moreover, it also makes the children more curious and helps in improving their vocabulary.
Make it a point to read aloud in front of the kids. It will encourage them to read books in the future. Children generally learn by watching or imitating others. Therefore, parents should be a good role model when it comes to reading.
Encourage students to socialize around reading by arranging reading clubs, book groups and literature circles. This will help them find their genre of interest and become more interested in reading.
5. Follow a routine and schedule
Having routines and a schedule for classroom activities helps teachers stay on track with their workload. For example, a teacher can set up a system for when she will run copies and respond to parent emails. This frees up time for her to focus on instruction during class.
It’s also helpful to provide visual schedules for kids to help them follow a daily routine and keep track of their activities. Many children and youth act out when they are bored, and decreasing wait times between activities is one way to prevent that from happening.
6. Interact with kids
Whether your child is a preschooler or a teen, they need to know that you value their schooling. Show your interest by asking what they’re learning, how their homework went and if they need any help.
Kids can also feel safer when they are involved in a caring community. Attend school events to meet other parents and show your support for the school.
If your child says their teacher doesn’t like them, listen carefully to understand their perception. Then take it to the next level by speaking with a principal or other staff members.
7. Include stories in the lesson
Storytelling is a great way to engage students in the lesson and make learning fun. It also helps to create a more positive environment for learning and builds teacher-student rapport. Teachers should consider including stories in their lessons, especially in the early stages of the course.
For example, instructors can use a short story to illustrate an important course theme or to fill small gaps in the syllabus. Instructors should carefully consider each story to ensure that it serves the intended purpose and is not a tangent from the course material.