How to improve patience skills with students at school

Every educator reaches a point in their lives where their students get the better of them, and they find themselves teetering on the edge of anger, or just giving up altogether. Whether it is due to improper behavior from a student, negative learning attitude, or even low-aptitude, being patient with students is a virtue you must pick up, and fast. A lot of teachers find that the best way to do it is through proper classroom management. This allows you to build a better environment to exercise your patience. 

Patience is one of the main qualities that teachers find themselves in need of, especially for young and new teachers. They are not alone; sometimes, even seasoned teachers find themselves trying to figure out how to improve patience skills with students at school. 

Understand your class 

As a teacher, the first thing you need to do is to understand your class. Pre-schoolers are different from preteens who are also different from teenagers. Students tend to have different attitudes regarding the classes they attend. Math and sciences are usually thought of as difficult by students, and as such, they are the most likely to need extra attention. This may make your life a little difficult in the process. 

Some students have a negative attitude towards the subject you teach. Others just can’t grasp the concepts or are generally uninterested but still have to sit in your class for a passing grade. Having this in mind, you will be able to take your teaching further by forming group discussions, one-on-one interactions, and student-led activities. This approach ensures no student is left behind and thus one less thing to worry about. 

Every teacher who has taught a class understands that there are several dynamics at play. You will have students who will pay attention to what you teach and respond to questions, those that will be busy doing something else; playing with phones, sleeping, murmuring and a few other things that end up interrupting you. Knowing your class allows you to develop a proper course of action that ends up engaging everyone. Understanding your class will allow you to organize what and how you will teach your students and ensure everyone participates and learns. 

Recognizing the triggers 

This extends to individual triggers; some students don’t respond well to confrontation and may end up shying away or even becoming aggressive. Others only respond if you approach them privately. Case in point, handling each student according to what works best for them yields better results and fewer headaches for you. Recognizing the triggers will help you adapt to different classroom situations and come up with solutions that would benefit both you and your students. 

Positive interaction 

Finally, learn to respond appropriately. The worst thing you can do as a teacher is to react to anything that sets you off; remember you are the adult, and it is your responsibility to take the moral high ground. The last thing your students want to see is you angry; it makes you unapproachable (especially when dealing with young students) and thus isolates you even further from the people you want to help. 

Positivity will also allow you to reward students based on good behavior and performance. This ends up reinforcing a good and entertaining learning culture that would, in turn, make your life easier. 

In conclusion, being patient is no easy task, especially when you must do it every other day. The right approach can make a difference between success and failure. As a teacher, being patient is a skill that you have to cultivate and make it second nature. In the end, everyone gets to benefit, and mostly, you get to appreciate your accomplishments.