Educational Psychology and the Classroom Teacher - Essay Example

Educational Psychology and the room Teacher Impacts of Educational Psychology Educational psychology helps a teacher to have in-depth knowledge about their student’s needs, characteristics, and discipline. This is very important because a teacher might come across one or two children who are exceptional (Hattie, 2012). There are many types of exceptionality among children, and these include those who are gifted and talented and those who have sensory disabilities. Educational psychology ensures that a teacher understands the learning process including the procedures and strategies learners use to acquire new information. A teacher needs to be well equipped with the learning processes so that he can be able to translate it in the classroom environment. In addition, a teacher is able to analyze current cognitive procedures so that he can be able to facilitate the learning process effectively. Indeed, educational psychology makes a teacher be able to equip students with appropriate skills for problem solving and becoming better thinkers. Consequently, he is able to motivate students in the classroom because learning cannot occur without motivation. Educational psychology enables teachers to understand the instructional strategies starting with the goals a teacher wishes to achieve (Hersen, 2004). This ensures that a teacher concentrates on the instructional strategies that are effective for imparting knowledge to students. In additional, teachers understand that learning does not occur in a vacuum hence teachers must identify the right circumstances where learning can occur. This will enable the teacher to effectively manage his classroom by focusing on techniques that are considered effective by both theory and research. Educational psychology enables teachers to assess whether students have been successful in attaining and processing new knowledge. Assessing student’s success in attaining new skills is an important issue in schools because a teacher can identify students who need psychological helps and develop instructional programs that will assist these students in the learning process. Interventions A teacher needs to come up with well-defined rules that will be used to prevent behavioral problems. Research indicates that involving students in developing rules makes them adhere to these rules because they have a clear comprehesion of why the rules are put in place. The rules need to be limited in number mostly five or less and they must be stated in positive terms. After developing and teaching the rules, the next step should be to constantly apply these rules. Many students perform well in classroom settings that are structured and consistent. Creating the rules is only the first step; these rules must be constantly taught to students and made available to students in visual print. It is the duty of the teacher to clearly explain the rules in a concise language so that students can be able to comprehend these rules. In addition, these rules must be taught through clear examples so that students take them seriously. Teachers must ensure that students understand that these rules are applied differently in special places like the bathroom, hallway and in the field. The appropriate time to teach these rules is during the first week in a new school year. Consequently, these rules must be shared with parents at the beginning of a school year and constantly be reviewed throughout the year. It is the responsibility of a teacher to constantly remind students about these rules at different times and in different context during the day. When students adhere to these rules properly, then a teacher is supposed to reward these students so that they can be motivated. Finally, teachers must create an environment that ensures positive interactions among the students since disciplinary consequences are minimized. Challenges of Teaching Teachers are often faced with the challenge of managing behavior. This is because learners come from different cultural backgrounds and each of them comes with different behaviors. It is the responsibility of the teacher to manage all these behaviors to facilitate learning and maintain a favorable classroom environment. Another challenge teacher’s face is the challenge of assessment. Teachers have to store all the information of their students in order to improve their skills. At the end of each semester teachers has to write take an academic assessment that helps them to give grades to each child. The challenging part is choosing the correct assessment tools that allow students to present what they have understood. Planning is another challenge that teacher face because they need to create new learning experiences. Planning allows a teacher to select the correct tools for facilitating learning. Without a proper plan teaching and learning process is usually very difficult. Most teachers find this area to be very challenging because they are not provided with the correct resources that facilitate teaching and learning. Technology is another challenge that teacher face in during the teaching process. This challenge varies in different schools and from different teachers. In some schools the challenge is associated with how to teach technology while in other schools the challenge is associated with how to teach minimal use of technology. Teachers are mostly confused with the tools they are supposed to use to ensure that learning process is effective. Finally, there is the challenge of teaming since teaching is made easier through collaboration and teaming. A lot can be learnt by considering other people opinion and building on these ideas together. Effective teaming yield better results for both teachers and students hence making learning process to be easy. The challenge is coming up with an effective team and working towards achieving the desired results. Teachers also encounter the challenge of motivating learners because every teacher needs to understand the role that is played by awards in classroom management. The topic of rewards and awards is very controversial and should be handled very carefully. There are teachers who give students candy to get the behavior they want. Teachers should understand that good behavior is not achieved by giving candy to students. Giving candy to students is not a good strategy for effective classroom management. Good behavior can be achieved when teachers do things that would make them perform at their highest level. This can be achieved when a teacher notices good behavior and rewards it by specific praises. Teachers should encourage students to read together aloud when they are sitting on the floor because it is a way of promoting classroom community. Books can be used as effective classroom management resources when student read them together loudly. Is Teaching an Art or Science Science of teaching suggests that effective teaching will be attained when the correct laws to yield the desired outcomes. In addition, the process involves artistic judgment on the correct procedures of teaching. This is because teachers respond with sensitivity and promote while they are teaching. The insights of teachers during the teaching processes are just as important as the science of teaching. This is because different dynamic s of teachers and students are much more important than the theories of teaching and learning. Moreover, the daily routine determines the processes of teaching and learning. There are those who argue that teaching is an art and not a science because the process is based on feelings and not scientific rules. In addition, teaching is more concentrated on satisfying the soul than the mind. The role of a teacher is to organize dialogue by moving from one side of the classroom to the other side of the classroom. The role of the teacher is to instruct and move the audience by transforming their thinking and instill new ideas. This changes an individual perception towards objects and ideas. What Science of Education Offers To Teacher Science of education has contributed positively to the teaching career. Many teachers have benefited from science of education since they had gained the necessary skills that facilitate teaching and learning process (Lalani, & Rodrigues, 2012). Teachers are able to identify exceptional students in their classroom and come up with proper strategies for intervention. Therefore, teachers are able to work in an inclusive classroom and yield better results. This is because science of education ensures that a teacher plans before going to a class. In addition, through planning a teacher is able to come up with the correct resources that he will use while teaching. Moreover, science of education ensures that teachers are able to deal with challenging environments and effectively manage a favorable classroom environment. This is because students come from different cultural backgrounds and present different behaviors. Therefore, a teacher needs to be able to deal with all these challenges and ensure that each student has developed the intended skills. This enables teachers to reflect on the weaknesses and strengths of every student thus a teacher will work to maximize the potential of these students. Science of education assists teachers to adapt to diverse changes in education (Moon, 2013). This is because the world is becoming technologically oriented and most learners have indulged themselves to technology. Therefore, science of education allows teachers to adapt and incorporate technology in the learning process. It would be very difficult for a teacher to facilitate learning if he is not flexible to adapt to technological changes. Science of psychology equips a teacher with the necessary skills that will assist in achieving classroom motivation. The teacher ought to believe that he can provide motivation for students in the classroom. For this to happen, the teacher should believe that students want to be in his classroom every day. The teacher ought to establish an environment that will make learning interesting for the students (Marzano, 2007). This can only happen when the teacher understands that students are humans who are motivated with the same things that motivate adults. The teacher needs to play an important role in the management of the classroom. The small roles might not be necessary for efficient classroom management but they assist students to survive in the classroom. This will make students invest in education and protect it because they want it to work. Science of education helps teachers to effectively gain the necessary skills of effective classroom management. The teacher is supposed to create a classroom climate that is focused, fun and safe for the students. Effectiveness of managing a class depends on the teacher’s capacity to uphold order in the classroom. When the teacher is unable to maintain order in a classroom then students are not able to learn. There are different strategies that can be used by a teacher for classroom management. A teacher can use the give up model, How School Psychologist Can Address Concerns School psychologist can address concerns in the classroom environment by working together with the teachers. It is the responsibility of school psychologist to support teachers in their daily work and impart skills that helps to deal with difficult situations. Academic clinics need to be held at least every term to assess to progress of students and come up with necessary strategies that will help these students become successful. Therefore, school psychologists need to come up with the necessary strategies for helping both teachers and students work as a team. In additional, they need to impart knowledge to teachers of how to deal with exceptional children. This is because a classroom might have one or two children who have exceptional needs. References Hattie, J. (2012).Visible Learning for Teachers: Maximizing Impact on Learning. New York: Routledge. Hersen, M. (2004). Comprehensive Handbook Of Psychological Assessment: Personality Assessment. New York: John Wiley And Sons. Lalani, S & Rodrigues, S. (2012). A Teacher’s Perception and Practice of Assessing the Reading Skills of Young Learners. Retrieved on November 27 2014 from, Read More