Introduction
Learning is a never-ending process, and teachers are the ones who help children develop their understanding of the world. The most important thing that teachers can do for students is to create an environment where learning happens naturally and with ease. At the same time, there must be some formal structure so that every child receives the same quality of education as every other child in their class.
The following five teaching methods for primary classes are tried and tested ways of helping children learn in a fun way at school:
1. Montessori learning
Montessori learning is a child-centred approach to education. It’s based on the principles of Maria Montessori, who believed that children learn through their own experiences.
The Montessori method gives students opportunities to master age-appropriate skills by allowing them to move at their own pace and take risks while they are learning. This method encourages independence, self-discipline and responsibility through practical exercises in a classroom environment where children follow their interests rather than being told what to do or learn from textbooks alone.
2. Collaborative learning
Collaborative learning is a teaching method that involves students working together to solve problems or complete tasks. It’s used in many primary classrooms, and the benefits it provides for students include:
- Improved communication skills
- Increased confidence
- Increased problem-solving ability
To encourage collaborative learning, you’ll want to provide opportunities for your students to work together. You can do this by introducing group projects or creating groups of 2 or 3 for activities like reading comprehension and maths practice. You can also use teamwork games (like Duck Duck Goose) to give small groups an opportunity to interact with one another
3. Experiential learning
As the name suggests, this method is all about students learning through experience. Experiential learning has the following steps:
- The teacher gives the students a problem to solve, beforehand.
- The students must apply what they have learned to solve the problem.
- They receive feedback and corrections from their teacher after completing this task.
4. Inquiry-based learning
Inquiry-based learning is a method where students are encouraged to ask questions and find answers through their own research. Teachers act as facilitators to help students formulate questions, but the students carry out the research and then present their findings in a group or individually.
The goal of this method is not just for them to learn facts but also how to solve problems and come up with solutions on their own. Inquiry-based learning is often used in science classes and can also be applied to other subjects. Here students can experience more control over what they learn and how they learn it.
5. Flipped class model
The flipped class model is a teaching method where students are taught the material at home, and then they come to school to learn how to apply that knowledge. The teacher becomes more of a coach and mentor than a traditional instructor.
This can be done in a number of ways, but one common example is as follows: The class period is spent on a lecture, with the teacher presenting new material and answering questions. The students then have homework that they must complete, usually online. The next class period is the “flip” part of this model; instead of continuing with more lectures from the teacher, it’s time for students to apply their knowledge through activities such as problem solving or group work.
Conclusion
The most important thing to note when choosing a teaching method is that there is no one right way to teach. As long as you’re engaging your students, making them feel included and important, and helping them develop positive attitudes towards learning then you’re doing it right!
As a teacher, you can also go for teaching courses that will train you about the latest pedagogical trends so that you can bring the most innovative teaching approaches to the classroom. You can also keep up with the latest trends and developments in education by reading education blogs and following educators on social media.
It’s important for a teacher to be able to keep up with current events in the field, so that they can bring these ideas back into their classroom and make it an active learning environment where students are encouraged to think critically about what they learn. You can find really useful teacher training resources here. So, do check it out.