Maintaining inspiration and enthusiasm

Teacher enthusiasm plays a central role in holding student’s attention

‘Teacher enthusiasm plays a central role in holding students’ attention, generating students’ interest, and developing students’ positive attitudes toward learning. Highly enthusiastic teachers are highly expressive in vocal delivery, gestures, body movement, and overall energy level. All of these are crucial ingredients that, in turn contribute to greater student achievement'. (Tauber and Mester 1995, p11)

Remind yourself from time to time of the reasons you chose this profession. Teachers are second only to parents in influencing the lives of most of their pupils. Governments may come and go, with different policies for education but teachers continue to inspire their pupils by adapting the policies to meet the needs of their pupils. The impact of your teaching in determining the lives of the children in your care should not be underestimated. It will influence their thinking long after they have left you. Remember these points when you are having a low day.

Inspiring teachers are those who have a desire to acquire the knowledge and expertise, which will enable them to deliver a rich and stimulating environment.
• Look at work and displays around the school. How do they stimulate children’s imagination and inspire them to higher quality work?
• Talk to experienced colleagues whose work they respect
• Read education journals which offer a variety of suggestions for teaching in their chosen subject area
• Meet regularly with subject coordinators
• Join a subject association
• Attend network meetings

The enthusiastic teacher is constantly adapting and developing to accommodate further understanding of the pedagogies involved in their pupils learning.
• Continue to question their performance and look for ways of improving it
• Observe other teachers whenever it is possible and identify practices which are worth emulating
• Discuss their own practice with others to discover your strengths and ‘areas for development’
• Read about the latest research in journals, which give a wider perspective than those issued by the government.

Teachers are second only to parents in influencing the lives of most of their pupils.

• Know their class as individuals with individual interests and needs. This will lead to greater communication not only with the child but also with the class as a whole. This can lead to the selection of suitably motivating tasks, which will inspire the children.
• An enthusiastic teacher has an enthusiastic class so show excitement about teaching and the children will pick it up. 
• Make time for mutually supportive discussions with teaching colleagues 
• Similarly recognise the skills and experience of non teaching colleagues 
• Most parents have a great interest in their child’s progress and so are happy to co-operate with the teacher in achieving this. They need reassurance from time to time that all is going well.

Practice in the classroom

Effective teaching requires careful planning. In order to demonstrate the enthusiasm that will inspire your pupils the teacher must first:
• Research thoroughly the subject matter to be taught
• Check how this might link with the interests of their class
• Select clear and achievable learning objectives
• Provide a range of activities to accommodate different learning styles and curriculum requirements
• Plan for different teaching styles to provide a variety of learning contexts
• Identify links where appropriate with other areas of the curriculum
• Ensure appropriate provision for all abilities through consolidation and extension activities
• Identify resources needed, including other adults 
• Work out the most appropriate use of the physical space.

Good beginnings and endings to a lesson don’t just happen, plan for them too. A powerful introduction with a dramatic use of the voice gives the subject an excitement, which is transmitted to the class. Build in time for an ending which sums up the learning so far, and leaves the class looking forward to the next session. Good communication is the key to effective teaching.

If all these elements are in place the teacher will have the confidence to deliver the curriculum with the passion to inspire their pupils.

A newly qualified teacher can contribute enormously to the life of a school bringing new ideas and approaches to teaching, which can not only benefit the children in their care but also enthuse and inspire colleagues. The belief that education can enrich the lives of their pupils and their own commitment to lifelong learning will help maintain that initial enthusiasm throughout their career. 

Reference and further reading
Tauber and Mester 1995, p11 in
Turner-Bisset R. (2001) Expert Teaching David Fulton, London

Department for Education and Skills (2003) Excellence and Enjoyment: a Strategy for Primary Schools, HMSO, London