D' Emblem Of Wisdom Schools

15 Common Mistakes Teachers Make in the Classroom (Without Realising It)

Most teachers mean well.
But small mistakes can quietly affect learning every day.

Here are 15 common classroom mistakes teachers make 👇

1. Talking more than the students
Teaching is not a monologue. Students must think, talk, and participate.

2. Shouting to gain control
Loud voices may stop noise, but they don’t build respect.

3. Assuming silence means understanding
A quiet class can still be a confused class.

4. Teaching without clear lesson objectives
If the goal is not clear, learning becomes scattered.

5. Ignoring slow learners
Teaching only fast learners leaves others frustrated and behind.

6. Over-puníshing instead of correcting
Discipline should guide behaviour, not shame the child.

7. Poor time management
Spending too long on one activity causes rushed or unfinished lessons.

8. Using one teaching method for everything
Variety keeps students engaged and improves understanding.

9. Correcting students hârshly in front of others
Public emba-rrassment kíîls confidence and participation.

10. Not checking for understanding
Asking “Do you understand?” is not enough. Let them show you.

11. Entering class without proper preparation
Confidence and clarity come from planning.

12. Comparing students with each other
Comparison creates fear, not motivation.

13. Ignoring classroom routines
No routines = confusion and constant noise.

14. Focusing only on academics and ignoring behaviour and emotions
A child who feels unsafe cannot learn well.

15. Not reflecting after the lesson
Growth starts when teachers review what worked and what didn’t.

Great teachers are not perfect — they are intentional.

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👉 Share with a teacher.

👉 Which one do you see most in classrooms today?

Every child who walks into your classroom carries potential .

Learning doesn’t look the same for every child. Some will grasp a concept immediately, others will stumble, fall, and need to try again and again. But struggle isn’t failure , it’s part of growth. It’s through patience, encouragement, and consistent practice that understanding blossoms.

So when you encounter a child who’s finding it hard, remember , that child *can* learn. Maybe not at the same pace, maybe not in the same way, but they *can*.

What they need most is a teacher who sees beyond their struggle, someone who reminds them every day that progress is possible.

Good morning dear educators! Have a great week ahead!..💫✨

Journal of a Sustainable Education Advocate

Revolutionizing Education: Integrating Culture, Values, and Sustainability for a Thriving Future

I feel there is urgent need for Change
Traditional curricula often focus solely on academics, neglecting essential life skills and values. However, it is crucial to recognize that education extends beyond academics.

Key Components
1. Cultural Education preserves and promotes cultural heritage.

2. Value-Based Education fosters empathy, kindness, and responsibility.

3. Sustainability ensures infusion of teaching of the 7 Rs (Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Respect, Reflect, and Respond).

4. Circular Economy encourages sustainable consumption and production.

5. Green Entrepreneurship nurtures eco-friendly business ideas.

Action Plan
Step 1: Curriculum Review

- Assess Current Curriculum to evaluate existing curriculum for cultural, value-based, and sustainability components.

- Identify Gaps to determine areas for improvement.

Step 2: Integration
- Adopt Interdisciplinary Approach that incorporates cultural, value-based, and sustainability education across subjects.

- Embed Project-Based Learning to encourage projects promoting sustainability and circular economy.

Step 3: Teacher Training
- Professional Development: Provide training on integrating cultural, value-based, and sustainability education.

- Share best practices and resources.

Step 4: Community Engagement
- Engage parents in discussions or run parents workshops on cultural, value-based, and sustainability education.

- Collaborate with local organizations promoting sustainability.

Step 5: Assessment and Evaluation
- Evaluate students' academic, social, and emotional growth.

-Establish a feedback system for continuous improvement.

Conclusion
By integrating culture, values, and sustainability into education, we can empower future generations to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
It's time to revolutionize education and prioritize a holistic approach.

Call to Action
Let's work together to create a more inclusive, sustainable, and responsible education system. Start by reflecting on your curriculum and taking the first step towards integration.

Revolutionizing Education: Integrating Culture, Values, and Sustainability for a Thriving Future

I am Maryfavour Ondugbe Udokah
*Educational Consultant..
*An Early Years Literary Expert./Educator.
*A Reading Specialist..
* A Therapist & Special needs
Teacher..
*An Advocate for a Girl Child.
*Founder: D' Girl Child Initiative.
*A volunteer & more..

*DEAR EDUCATORS,*

*Things Parents Wish They Could Tell You. Let me gist you.* 🎤

As a parent and an educator, let us take note of the following:

*1. Our children are apples of our eyes no matter who they are.*

Every child has a story surrounding his/her birth, some are only sons, only daughters, only surviving child etc
Some were gotten after years of long wait and after near death experiences in the theater before bringing them forth.

*Please treat them like humans. Handle them with care.*

No parent will be happy to watch their precious children treated inhumanely. It hurts to the guts.

*2. Our Children lie to you because they are afraid of the pain you will inflict on them.*

No matter how much or how hard we discipline our children, we bear in mind that if we inflict injuries, we will bear the cost
We discipline them and flog them with love and not like animal and after which we draw them close again and explain why their actions were met with such reactions and why they must turn a new leaf.

*3. Our children sometimes don't get their homework done because they don't know how to answer them and we are too busy to begin to bother ourselves with what the teachers are meant to handle.*

So they may give excuses like:

"Sir, I didn’t do my homework because my mummy traveled and locked my books inside her car."

Because if they tell you that they didn't understand it, you will yell at them and call them dumb.

Please, before giving them that homework, ensure that they understand it in class because some of us don't know what you send home too.

*4. Children make noise in class when they have nothing doing, when they see their teachers having discussions with other staff members or when the teacher is answering a call during classes.*

Our children know it when you don't have class control and so they capitalize on it to have their discussions when not engaged.

Please endeavor to maximize every second they spend with you in class.

Spend time to set rules and boundaries with your class. Discuss etiquettes and morals.

_Earn your children's respect and whether you are present or absent they will behave (I speak out of 31 years experience)_

*5. They watch the way you take corrections from your superiors, how you bad mouth your departmental heads, colleagues and parents.*

They hate it when you insult their parents anytime you get provoked by their actions.

_You earn respect when you show respect to your colleagues, parents and the children (respect is reciprocal)_

You think you’re muttering quietly in the class? That child heard all you said about your VP, Your head of school etc. How dare you demand respect if you don't show respect.

Children imitate what they see more than you can imagine.

Then you scold them for murmuring..."what did you say?"

*6. Many children come to school emotionally drained. What should you do as an educator? Can you even notice it? Or do you yell at them in class even more? Some even flog that child for not participating in class.*

"Why are you not concentrating in class? Leave my class and stay out until you are ready to learn." scolds the teacher

"I am teaching and you are not paying attention, go and kneel down there, or frog jump" yells the teacher with the stick in hand

You think being an educator is all about teaching, testing, marking notes and flogging.

Ever heard of *'loco parentis'*? This phrase is often used in legal, educational, and social contexts to describe a situation where an individual or organization assumes parental responsibilities for a child or young person.

An educator's role is to parent every child to the extent that they win their hearts.

You are not only to concentrate on the COGNITIVE Domain.

_"Please, before you result to yelling and flogging, have a talk with that child to know what the matter is" you will be surprised that these children can open up to you._

*7. Some schools are more reactive than proactive.*
Children don't like to be reminded of their mistakes every time. Doing that makes them repeat the offense, especially teenagers.

Because a child was caught taking his classmates biscuit or juice doesn't make him a thief.
But an inexperienced adult will tag the child thief and the child will become one and so do it to aggravate the adult.

Parents and educators should learn how to turn a negative experience into a teaching outcome.

_"I can't believe you took that from your friend, next time you are hungry and tempted to take something that doesn't belong to you, come to me first and I will ensure you get yours"_

_"I know you are a good boy/girl, and I believe you will not give in to this type of temptation again."_

Positive reinforcement and affirmations yield better results.

_*After all, how many of us are without sin?*_

*8. Punishment is for correcting wrong actions and not to harden children. Our children hate to be treated like animals and bullied by their teachers.*

It is true that not every complaint from our children is true—or complete, but their are elements of truth in them.

"Mummy, the teacher punished me for nothing."
Oh, really?

"They forgot to mention they insulted a classmate first." (Did you take time out to hear from both party or you acted without investigation)

Or that they refused to do their classwork.
(Did you find out if the child understood what you taught in the first place?)

Because many of our educators have failed to understand that there are different learning styles for different children.....we are stuck with the old methods of teaching that benefit the audio learners.

_*What happens to our kinesthetic, visual and musical learners?*_

*Could it also be that the punishment wasn't explained out to the children and perhaps also not commensurate to the offence?*

That is why we ask educators to work with their learners to state the classroom rules and punishment at the beginning of the term.....

*SCENE:*
Teacher, you walked into the class and met your children making noise, what would you do next?

A. Ask them to rest their head on the table and flog them 10 strokes each on their backs

B. Ask them to bring out their workbooks and answer 5 pages of activities eating into their break.

_*Which of the punishment do you think will do the magic? Most teachers will choose (A) but a 21st century centred educator will choose (B)*_

*9. We see all the efforts you put into our children. We may not be able to repay you immediately because we know the appreciation that makes sense to many is cash gifts.*

We appreciate your laughter, warmth, concerns and prayers...you can't imagine how much we pray for the school community and do our best to ensure we pay the fees so that the school can run smoothly.

10. Children really know and appreciate teachers that know their subject. Don't leave yourself to textbook knowledge, master your subject and be ready to explore new techniques to teaching.

Some students see it a waste of time being in a class where all the teacher does is read out the textbook, copy long notes for them and ask them to memorize and pour them back during tests and exams verbatim.

What about learners that cant cram? like me.
Can't they paraphrase?

Be in charge of your teaching and learning outcome bearing in mind that the teacher is the lead learner in the class.

Make learning engaging, interactive and fun and you bet me, your children will do well in your subject.

*As your child steps back into school this Monday, Please:*
✓ Make them feel welcomed back.
✓ Let go of all the bad incidents of the last term just as God let's go of all your past wrongs.
✓ Love them unconditionally, remembering that you were once a child, a teenager.
✓ Correct them lovingly. They will make mistakes, they will act unbecoming, step on your toes.
✓ Don't brand them with negative tags. They are not really what they exhibit. It's just a phase that if well managed will yield great outcomes.
✓ Applaud their efforts no matter how little they are. Never concentrate on their shortcomings.
✓ Pray for them continuously because their win is your win and their failure yours.

*Let’s be partners, not competitors.*
Because at the end of the day, we both want the same thing: a child who excels.

Maryfavour Ondugbe Udokah
Early Literary Expert/ Reading Specialist
Special needs Children Therapist..

Proudly Educator.

In a world that celebrates ease and convenience, the natural instinct of a parent is to rescue to pave the path, remove obstacles, and shield their child from pain. But what if the very thing we rush to eliminate is the foundation upon which strength is built?

Struggle is not the enemy. It is the tutor.

When a child wrestles with tying their shoes, solving a puzzle, or navigating a tough friendship, they are doing more than simply trying to “get it right.” They are learning patience, building problem-solving muscles, and developing emotional resilience. These small battles—frustrating as they may seem—are the seeds of grit, confidence, and character.

Letting your children struggle doesn’t mean abandoning them. It means standing close enough for support, but far enough for growth. It means saying, “I believe in your ability to figure this out,” instead of “Let me fix it for you.” It’s choosing long-term development over short-term relief.

Every caterpillar must struggle out of its cocoon to gain the strength to fly. If we cut it open to help, it may never soar.

So the next time your child says, “This is hard,” don’t be quick to swoop in. Sit with them in the discomfort. Remind them that hard things grow us. That struggling isn’t a sign of failure—it’s a sign of forming.

Because the child who is allowed to struggle today becomes the adult who knows how to stand tomorrow.

Moreso to constantly intervene is to interrupt their becoming.

on behalf of D'Emblem of Wisdom Schools..

A Teenager/Adolescent Coach & Instructor...
The Convener of D'GIRL CHILD INITIATIVE..
An Early Years Teacher..
Am Educator & Literary Expert..
A Read Specialist..
A Content Creator..
A Volunteer and more..

Welcome to today’s mini training on Managing Pupils Behavior in the classroom. This is particularly useful for teachers and parents of both children with or without special needs.
We start by defining behavior. What exactly is behavior?

Behavior refers to the actions, reactions, and interactions of students in the classroom.

Another definition says that Behavior means the way someone conducts themselves towards others.

Behavior can be influenced by various factors, such as emotions, environment, and relationships.
For example, if I had a bad morning, I may likely behave badly towards someone that day. Also if I’m in a toxic environment, it may likely affect the way I behave over time.

There are two types of behavior:
1) positive (e.g., helping, listening, sharing 🥰 ) and 2)negative (e.g., talking back, disrupting, pinching people 😡)

Guys are you with me?
It’s important to manage student’s/pupil’s behavior because the classroom is a structured environment. If behaviors are not properly managed, things can escalate quickly 💣 and bring a bad reputation to the teacher 😞

Let me use myself as an example. When I got into teaching for the first time, I did not know my left from my right. They didn’t even ask me to understudy any teacher 😢. They threw me into a class all by myself to show my skills.

I had no class rules, no boundaries, Worst of all, I took the pupils as my friends (big mistake)!!! 🚩 🚩 That first year was something else. I had teachers always coming to my class to tell me “Ms Ij, mind your class, your pupils are making noise”.

You can imagine? I was right there in the class o..
I made the mistake of thinking that befriending your pupils will make them love and respect you.

FALSE.COM !!!
So quickly let’s move to strategies of managing pupil’s behavior in the classroom.

1. Set clear expectations and rules.

In the beginning of every session, write out your rules and paste on the wall. Let it be very clear and obvious. Infact create it with them. Let the pupils suggest what and what should be included in the rule At the beginning of every term (second and third term), review it with them again.

2. Use non-verbal cues (e.g., eye contact, gestures) to correct the pupils too. I do this a lot with my children and even my pupil with special needs.

At first, they may not understand and ask you why you’re staring at them like that or blinking like that 😂 but teach them. Tell them that if I blink at you, it means you’re doing something wrong and you need to adjust. This is an old African parenting trick and trust me, it’s still useful in this 21st century because if you keep correcting misbehavior verbally, you will be interrupting learning.

Guess what? Children with “negative behavior “ will always want to behave “wrongly” during lessons to get your attention so if you interrupt that lesson because of them, they have won you. That means “the child 1” “you the teacher 0” 😂

3. Praise positive behavior.
Anytime the child with the “bad behavior” behaves well, praise him like never before. Through out that day, be their hypeman o. Show the entire class that you’re proud of them.
Then watch how their shoulder pads will rise like garri ijebu 😂

4. Stay calm and patient during challenging moments.

It’s not easy but keep your cool. Students can talk back or even fight teachers and their mates will be cheering them up like both of you are in a wrestling match.
Don’t loose your temper o. Keep calm, two wrongs don’t make a right.

5. Model Desired Behavior
If you want your pupils not to use swear words, please don’t use swear words on them. Same thing as pinching and beating. If you do these things, the pupils will definitely do that to others too whether in school or at home.

6. Address issues swiftly and set out consequences for offenders. Let them know that if you do this, will will not go for break, sports, games etc. Please do not punish a child by withholding lunch. Let them eat so that they will have strength to face the wall, do time out or perform other acceptable, non-invasive disciplinary actions.

7. Finally, focus on the behavior not the child. In doing this, you have to let the child understand that the behavior he or she is exhibiting is not acceptable. Therefore, let’s not hate the child, call them names, exclude him from class activities etc. The behavior is the enemy not the child.

One tricky thing about behavior management is that, the more the child keeps behaving “wrongly” and the more we scold or punish them, then they feel “labeled” and continue in that “wrong” behavior. The cycle continues.
But when we show love or correct with love, then we can break the cycle.

Maryfavour Ondugbe Udokah.

*Early Childhood Teacher/Educator
*Literary Expert..
* Reading Specialist .
*Teenage/Adolescent Girl Coach
*Volunteer..

*Effective Classroom Management Strategies*

Managing a group of young learners requires consistency, patience, and proactive strategies. Here are some ways to maintain a positive and structured learning environment:

✅ *Set Clear Expectations*

- Establish simple classroom rules using pictures and actions to help children remember.

- Reinforce positive behavior with praise, stickers, or reward charts.

✅ *Use Positive Reinforcement*

- Focus on what children are doing right instead of just correcting misbehavior.

- Example: Instead of saying “Stop running,” say “Let’s use our walking feet.”

✅ *Engage and Redirect*
- Keep activities short and interactive to maintain attention.

- If a child is off-task, redirect rather than scold.

✅ *Be Consistent but Flexible*
- Stick to routines, but be willing to adjust based on the children’s needs.

- A calm and consistent teacher creates a stable learning environment.

With the right strategies, managing a class becomes easier and more rewarding.

As teachers, we must embrace learning as a lifelong commitment .

You cannot pour into others from an empty cup. If we stop growing, evolving, and seeking knowledge, we limit our ability to spark curiosity and instill a love for learning in our students.

When we, as teachers, actively pursue professional development, stay curious about new teaching methods, and remain open to fresh ideas, we model the very mindset we want our students to adopt.

When you commit to learning, you position yourself for growth, success, and new opportunities.

This commitment creates a profound ripple effect, as it not only enhances your own potential but also lays the foundation for leading your students toward a future filled with growth and discovery.

Merry Christmas in advance dear educators. It's a great weekend.✨💫

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One of our end of session activities..

It was our Theme for the Academic Year celebration last week Saturday, likewise an in-house graduation ceremony..