Skills that Make a Reading Teacher Great
- Differentiated Instruction
- Classroom Management
- Parent Interaction
- Scaffolding
- Writing Development
Teachers are in a unique position. They provide incredible help and information to their students, guiding them through their education. Becoming a great reading teacher includes knowing five basic skills that will help with classroom management, improve learning, and offer students the help they need to develop vital reading and literacy skills to succeed in their life.
Resource: Top 10 Best Online Master’s in Education Degree Programs (M.Ed.) 2016
1. Differentiated Instruction
Students will enter the classroom with varied levels of understanding. In order to teach them effectively, the instructor must know how to differentiate instruction so that every student will be able to learn at the level that’s appropriate for them. This may include using books at the appropriate level for each student, providing students with different types of instruction based on their current comprehension or word recognition ability, and varying instructional strategies in order to meet different learning types.
2. Classroom Management
In order to learn effectively, students need to be in an environment that is conducive to learning. A great instructor is able to manage the classroom to ensure that students receive high-quality instruction each day, keeping the noise level down and students focused on the books and materials in front of them. During an average classroom day, the great instructor does not lose control of the classroom or struggle to keep students on task; rather, a wide range of strategies are used to help keep students focused. A great instructor is also able to create an atmosphere of respect for everyone in the room, regardless of ability.
3. Parent Interaction
In the earliest days of a student’s education, it is critical that the parents are involved in the process. From sitting down with their child and a great book for at least fifteen minutes each evening to helping their child develop a love of the written word that will carry them throughout a lifetime, parents are among the strongest influences in determining a child’s academic success, particularly when it comes to learning to read. An effective teacher won’t just work with the students in the classroom. They’ll also work with the parents in order to ensure the highest level of learning.
4. Scaffolding
Scaffolding is a big buzzword in college, and with good reason: it gives instructors the ability to break down complicated concepts, like learning to read, into simple lessons that progress naturally. Through scaffolding, great instructors are able to provide their students with the basic information they need in order to progress through their lessons, ultimately becoming great readers who are prepared to tackle unfamiliar words with ease.
5. Writing Development
Learning how to read and learning how to write are linked. By bringing these things together, the effective instructor is able to increase students’ knowledge and improve their development through the learning process. Effective instructors work with basic writing capability to help students understand letter recognition, word recognition, how to form sentences, and more.
According to the Reading Rockets Initiative, great reading instructors are lifelong learners themselves. By developing these critical aspects of a great educator, new instructors and old ones alike can improve the learning capacity of the students in their classrooms.
