Encourage active learning in class. Rather than lecturing every day, allow the students a chance to participate. Ask open-ended questions. Questions that only have a single right answer may deter students from speaking. You can also incorporate educational games into each lesson. The children will have an easier time retaining information if they are relaxed and having fun.
Relate each lesson to the lives of the students. For example, before teaching multiplication, explain how these mathematical skills can help them in their daily lives. Students will be more motivated to learn when they see that the lectures and assignments come with practical applications.
You don’t have to pull out the leather jacket and sunglasses, but be the kind of person that children like to be around. This does not mean you must sacrifice your role as rule enforcer. Be enthusiastic about the subjects and provide positive feedback for each student. Be patient and use humor to diffuse negative attitudes.
Avoid work that seems to overwhelm the majority of the class. An occasional challenge will keep the students interested, but don’t make the workload seem impossible. Adjust the difficulty of your lessons to match your students’ skills. In most cases, it’s best to start off with simple tasks and then increase the difficulty of the work after your students feel comfortable and confident. Keep your lessons and instructions as clear as possible.
While grades are a part of the education system, keep the students focused on learning instead of grades. For example, offer to help students with homework problems, rather than grading the assignments without first providing feedback. You can also grade homework based on completion rather than correctness, and then talk to students about the problems they missed. This method will reduce their fears of low grades and help them identify their weak points.