As an experienced teacher and educational performer, ChristopherJames’s highlights the importance of teacher presence in his latest book, Teacher Presence: 12 Habits to Create Space for Accelerated Learning 1951630106. Sharing effective and tried habits to help new and experienced teachers build a strong presence in the classroom. A teacher’s presence in the classroom can significantly improve students’ behavior and educational performance. It can encourage students to engage and interact during classroom hours, with each other and their teachers. In the book, James also writes about different education systems that have thrived and replaced with more modern ones throughout the year. He discusses how they have transformed to help improve the learning process for the student and the teaching process for teachers.
The key to developing a strong teacher presence in the classroom is by focusing on relationships, confidence, and authenticity. These factors can amplify a teacher’s classroom presence. As per Sol Henik from Edutopia, here is how a teacher can use the three factors to develop a strong classroom presence:
· FOSTERING A SENSE OF AUTHENTICITY
Students want and need sincerity, honesty, and care for the subjects they are being taught. This multidimensional approach is not easy, but it is attainable. The path is a journey of critical reflection that can include peer coaching, caring colleagues, and a teacher’s own self-reflective toolbox.
Authenticity involves the sincerity of caring about your students and wanting them to grow. It’s the backward-planning process that integrates what you know and are interested in, what your students know, and what they really need to know.
· BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS
Developing positive and optimistic relationships is a worthwhile goal to have when establishing a presence. An effective educator communicates a genuine belief that all students are capable of growth and learning.
Relationship-building skills always begin with the critical skill of listening. We should actively listen by asking great questions, having the patience to listen, and showing genuine interest by either asking follow-up questions or validating students’ responses in a positive manner.
· PROJECTING CONFIDENCE
We know that effective teachers teach with confidence—which is not to be confused with arrogance. The first step in teaching with confidence is to know why you teach—why you show up to meet the intellectual, emotional, and physical demands that are placed on teachers every day.
When speaking actively and expressively, you’ll also need to know when and how to keep your voice calm and steady. Learning and practicing variations of voice will help you command presence and achieve the attention you and your students deserve. You can practice pauses, voice variations, and tempo changes.
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