1. Core Teaching Principles
Clarity of Purpose
Define clear goals. Example: “By the end, you will be able to make a perfect cup of tea.”
Learner-Centered Approach
Adapt to needs. Example: For someone learning to draw, start with simple shapes like circles and squares.
Active Engagement
Include hands-on tasks. Example: After showing how to fold a paper boat, ask the learner to fold one.
Continuous Feedback
Give corrections immediately. Example: If a paper boat leaks, show how to seal the edges right away.
Reflective Practice
Encourage reflection. Example: “What part of folding was the trickiest for you?”
2. Lesson Structure Outline
| Phase | % Time | Everyday Example |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | 5% | “Today we’ll bake a simple cake.” |
| Foundation | 15% | Explain ingredients: flour, sugar, eggs. |
| Demonstration | 20% | Show mixing and baking steps in the kitchen. |
| Guided Practice | 30% | Learner mixes batter with your guidance. |
| Independent Practice | 20% | Learner bakes their own cake. |
| Closure | 10% | Taste and discuss improvements. |
3. Tips & Tricks
- Tell-Show-Do: Explain tying shoelaces, show once, then have learner try.
- Chunking: Teach planting seeds first, then watering techniques.
- Questions: Ask “Why do seeds need water?” to spark thinking.
- Visual Aids: Use a photo of a growing plant to illustrate stages.
- Self-Explanation: Have learner describe each step aloud.
- Quick Checks: “Thumbs up if you’re comfortable with measuring ingredients.”
4. Common Pitfalls & Solutions
| Pitfall | Solution | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Too much detail | Limit to 2–3 steps | Focus on mixing and baking only. |
| Lecture-only | Add activities | Pause to let learner stir the batter. |
| Skipping feedback | Offer quick tips | “Next time, preheat the oven first.” |
| No follow-up | Give homework | Ask to bake overnight and note differences in texture. |
5. Reflect & Improve
- Self-Evaluate: Rate your teaching after each session.
- Learner Feedback: Ask “What helped you most today?”
- Peer Observation: Invite a friend to watch and comment.
- Iterate: Adjust next lesson based on feedback.
6. Wisdom from Master Educators
- Bloom’s Taxonomy: Structure learning objectives from Remember to Create (apply – analyze – evaluate – create). “Tell me and I forget; teach me and I may remember; involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin
- Feynman Technique: Teach a concept in simple language, identify gaps, review, and simplify again. “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” – Richard Feynman
- Socratic Method: Use guided questioning to stimulate critical thinking and illuminate ideas. “I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think.” – Socrates