Top 5 Teaching Mistakes To Avoid!

Teaching is inherently subjective. What works for some people, won’t necessarily work for others. Regardless of how your subjects absorb new information, our experienced teachers here at Hexis Plus have compiled a list of the five mistakes that are almost guaranteed to make your learners lose interest. Take heed, note down these tips and your teaching will be improved immeasurably.

1. Not enforcing the rules - The majority of educators understand that laying down the rules is essential when faced with a new class. The mistake many make is enforcing these rules each time they start subsequent lessons. For example, if a learner is punished for talking and interrupting one day but they are unpunished on another occasion, this sends mixed messages.

2. Talking too much - There may be a lot of information to get through but talking nonstop from the start of a lesson to the end is guaranteed to lose you a learner's attention. Try taking breaks, asking questions and creating some enjoyable activities such as quizzes and games.

3. Taking everything personally - In a classroom environment, taking insults and put-downs personally is a recipe for disaster. Getting over emotional clouds your judgement and in turn, lessens the impact of your authority, so try and be as understanding as possible and always take the moral high ground.

4. Shouting - Raising your voice to establish boundaries is acceptable but shouting at a group of learners - or worse at an individual - is one of the most ineffective methods you can employ. Yelling delivers a message that says you only mean what you say when you raise your voice. Try taking a second to calm yourself down, think about what you want to say and deliver your message with a cool and calm demeanour. In fact, a study by the University of Pittsburgh has found that shouting at children and teens can be just as detrimental to their long-term well being as physical punishments.

5. Hiding your personality - Yes, you’re a teacher and you need to have a certain level of professionalism but you are human and it is important to let your personality shine through. Having fun and being yourself helps to build a relationship with your learners which in turn engages more of them and increases interest in the topics being taught.


No one ever said teaching would be easy but if you avoid these five common mistakes your classroom is more likely to be a harmonious environment that fosters creative learning. Unfortunately, there is no magic formula that can be repeated at the start of every lesson so you’ll find yourself changing and adapting your style to suit your learners. As long as you keep an eye out for what works and what doesn’t, however, you’ll be able to find a teaching style that suits you and the people you're educating.

Have we left anything out? What other mistakes do you think teachers sometime make? Drop us a comment below!.

By Laura Caldwell