9 Teaching Methods To Promote Success

in the Classroom
Indeed Editorial Team

Updated December 6, 2023

With the right teaching methods, educators can create an enjoyable and
productive classroom experience for students where they can learn important
academic and social skills to last a lifetime. There are many frameworks that a
teacher could use to support students with different interests, abilities and
learning styles. If you're a teacher or professional in the education field, you
might benefit from learning about new instructive strategies in the field to
maximize your students’ chances of success in your classroom. In this article,
we define what teaching methods are, explore nine types of teaching methods,
review the benefits of these methods and provide some tips for doing so
successfully.Key takeaways:

 Teaching methods are techniques that educators can use to

facilitate the teaching process and help students feel engaged
and interested in the material.
 Types of teaching methods include differentiated instruction,
lecture-based instruction, technology-based learning, group
learning, individual learning, inquiry-based learning, kinesthetic
learning, game-based learning and expeditionary learning.
 Improve your teaching methods by testing different ones using
the same lesson, meeting with other teachers to get their
perspectives and remaining flexible.

What are teaching methods?

Teaching methods are ways to instruct students in a classroom, helping them
to understand and remember what they've learned. Some of the best teaching
strategies allow educators to convey information in a clear and concise way
while also ensuring students retain it over the long term. If students can
comprehend facts on a deep level and practice skills properly in the classroom,
they can apply that wisdom and those abilities to their personal lives and their
future careers.Teaching methods are opportunities to make learning engaging,
inspiring and fun for students. They aid teachers in fulfilling the responsibility
of guiding the social and emotional development of children. By using the right
strategies, teachers can instill values of respect, empathy and cultural
sensitivity into their classroom. They also use teaching methods to prepare
students for standardized testing. Your classroom philosophies and principles
can vary based on your preferences as a teacher, your school mission
statement, your subject areas and other factors.Related: 9 Strategies for ELL
Teachers To Use in Their Classrooms

Types of teaching methods

There are many kinds of procedures a teacher can use in a classroom. Many of
them are similar in purpose, and educators can use a blend of instruction
methods to best fit the needs of their students. Here are nine typical
approaches to consider:

1. Differentiated instruction

Differentiated instruction is the idea of creating tailored education plans for

students based on differing needs. This may involve the ways by which
students access content, the activities they do, the assessment techniques a
teacher uses or even the physical setup of a classroom. As all people have
varying abilities and talents, it's beneficial for a teacher to adapt their teaching
styles to unique students. This is also a key step in supporting students with
disabilities in the classroom and ensuring they feel welcome and comfortable
in academic environments. Here are some ways an educator may differentiate
instruction:

 Provide books or other materials at different reading levels.

 Create custom spelling lists for students with different spelling
skills.
 Host small groups to provide tailored advice to students.
 Offer one-on-one after-school help to students encountering
challenges.
 Discuss student progress and at-home educational strategies
with parents.
 Measure progress in different ways, through projects, portfolios
and participation.

2. Lecture-based learning

A traditional way to structure classroom learning is the lecture format, in

which teachers explain information while students observe. Teachers lead a
lesson by presenting on, showing visuals of and modeling examples of a topic.
While a teacher is presenting, students can listen, watch, take notes and copy
the teacher's demonstrations. While this is a conventional and helpful
approach, teachers may alter it for different learning environments.Here are
some ways that teachers ensure the success of lecture-based learning:

 Keep lessons brief: Students, especially those at a young age,

may have short attention spans and might only be able to focus
for short periods of time. It can be advantageous to keep
classroom lectures short and concise to maintain student
attention and engagement.

 Allow time for questions: While lecture-based learning is a

teacher-centered approach, educators can still involve student
input by making time for questions before, during and after the
presentation. While this can make the lecture process longer, it
can also allow students to engage with the material, comprehend
it and remember it more easily.

 Create instructional videos: Many teachers use a flipped

classroom approach where they encourage students to watch
lectures or instructional videos at home and complete
assignments in class. This can be a great opportunity to let
students work at their own pace, as they can see videos again by
rewinding and replaying them.

 Use visual cues: Whether in or outside of the academic

environment, using visual cues in presentations such as icons,
images and videos can be a great way to keep your audiences
interested in the content. Make sure to use high-contrast colors
and bold shapes and lines so students across your classroom can
see and understand your messages.

 Promote handwritten notes: For those students who are able,

hand-writing notes on paper can be a superb way to stay focused
 during lectures. It can also help people to recall information well
and strengthen their spelling and writing skills.

Related: Learning Styles and How To Accommodate Them

3. Technology-based learning

Teachers can use technology in the classroom to make teaching processes

more efficient and aid in student learning. Students can use devices like
computers and tablets to read materials, conduct research or play educational
games. In addition, cloud computing capabilities make it possible for students
to access documents or other resources while at school or at home. Virtual
classrooms using video conferencing software can be a great way to provide
education remotely. This can be especially helpful for students with disabilities
who may have difficulties focusing in a physical classroom
environment.Related: 10 Skills To Become Technology Savvy (Plus Helpful
Tips)

4. Group learning

Segmenting students into groups is a great way to teach them skills in

collaboration. While in their teams, they can discuss subjects and learn about
the perspectives of others. It's important to encourage both class participation
and listening skills so that students can gain these abilities for the future.
Teachers can assign group presentations so students can convey information
to the rest of the class, ask and answer questions and interact with each
other.Related: Group Communication: Definition, Types and Best Practices

5. Individual learning / Learner Centered

While group projects can be exciting opportunities for students, it's also
important to promote individual learning so that they can work by themselves.
Assigning journal entries can be an excellent way to give students time to
think through topics and develop thoughts and analyses. This is especially
helpful before hosting a class discussion so class members can have ideas for
what to say. Teachers can read writing assignments to reward points to
students who can't participate vocally in class.

6. Inquiry-based learning

Inquiry-based learning promotes the idea of learning by investigation, where

students can complete projects, ask questions and find answers by
themselves. While teachers act as resources in these times, the goal is for
students to solve problems and discover information on their own. Upon
learning about concepts, they can explain and present the concepts in their
own words to further enforce them in their memories. Then, students can
advance to higher levels at their own pace. This is a way for students to
perform an active role in the learning process.Related: How To Create Your
Own Problem-Solving Process

7. Kinesthetic learning

Kinesthetic learning is the notion of learning through movement. Teachers can

move around the classroom and use hand gestures while they present to
engage students visually and kinesthetically. They can also encourage
students to perform physical activities where they can move around and use
their creativity. Here are some ideas:

 Drawing: Many students enjoy drawing or painting, and teachers

can include this activity in the classroom to make learning
enjoyable. Students can have the option to develop ideas and use
different colors and tools to make their ideas a reality.

 Acting: Students, especially young children, may have an

exciting time developing and role-playing in theatrical
performances. This can be a great idea for implementing
kinesthetic learning in group projects.

 Building: Building structures with blocks, toys or other materials

can help students develop hand-eye coordination and analytical
thinking skills. It can also be a fun way for them to stay focused
in the classroom.

 Playing: A traditional form of kinesthetic learning is playing

sports, and many schools have gym classes where students can
exert energy and spend time outside. You can also have
educational sports games in the classroom, where students can
move around and learn simultaneously.
Related: Guide to Kinesthetic Learning: Definition, Benefits and Careers

8. Game-based learning

If you want to update your classroom techniques and help children to be more
excited about learning, consider developing and implementing educational
games or challenges, whether in-person or online. These can inspire children,
especially kinesthetic learners, to participate more fully in the learning
process and keep them motivated and focused on lessons. It can also allow
them the opportunity to solve problems and reach a goal.

Related: 20 Fun Classroom Games You Can Try (Plus Their Benefits)

9. Expeditionary learning

Expeditionary learning is the process of learning through participating in

practical experiences. These can be projects, case studies or lab experiments
in the classroom or field trips to places around your school and community. For
example, in a science class, you might take a trip to a nearby nature center to
learn about the types of animals and plants in your area. This type of approach
encourages students to apply classroom knowledge and skills to the real
world. It can help them comprehend the purpose of their efforts and return to
schoolwork with enthusiasm.Related: 23 Cognitive Activities You Can Practice
With Children

Benefits of using teaching methods

Using teaching methods can make the job duties of educators easier and more
effective. Here are some benefits of this process:

 Teaching your students effectively: You can use effective

teaching methods that educators have been using throughout
history to help people learn. Paying attention to the way you
teach students, in addition to the content you convey to them, is
a critical part of ensuring they master subjects and abilities.
 Planning your educational content: In any career field,
conducting the proper amount of planning and preparation can
ensure your work is efficient and error-free. Planning your
 teaching methods for the day, week, month, quarter or year can
support well-functioning lessons and classroom activities.
 Finding the best ways to connect with your
students: Experimenting with various teaching methods allows
you to gauge what your students need and govern your classroom
well. You can discover the teaching styles that lead to better
performance on assessments and better progress reports.