Teacher Self-Preparation
Behind the scene work determines the level of student understanding. Quality teaching depends
on what is done by the teacher before stepping into the classroom. Preparation is key:
• Set the goals in terms of conceptual and process outcomes
• Decide what students will do in the classroom to achieve these goals
• Decide how to assess whether the goals are achieved, including the roles of both
formative and summative assessments
• Maintain a positive outlook and be flexible
• Prepare subject material: sequencing and correlating to standards
• Prepare lab apparatus and equipment
Teacher-Student Interaction
The primary role of a teacher is to establish a learning environment where all students are able to
learn and are motivated to learn, an environment that is both challenging and supportive:
• Establish a learning community consisting of the teacher and the students
• Recognize and celebrate diversity in students
• Design or select varied instructional strategies to accommodate different learning styles
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• Establish and implement a consistent classroom management plan
• Listen to student ideas and be prepared to address them
• Guide students to view the place of physics in the wider scientific world
• Encourage and support students in discovering concepts independently when possible
• Maintain appropriate methods of communication with parents to keep them informed of
student progress and attitude and address any issues that may arise
• Make sure that student activities are challenging yet doable, and that students can track
their progress
• Make sure that students can establish connections between classroom activities and
everyday experiences
• Review safety procedures with students
• Assess student progress both formatively and summative
Community Building in the Classroom
It is important for students to feel comfortable in the classroom. A good teacher should make
connections with the students:
• Be authentic and genuine
•