BACK TO SCHOOL. CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

A new school year is comming and all teachers are surfing the Internet or making up their mind what they will do at the first lesson with their pupuls. My today's idea is DON'T BE IN A HURRY TO ENTERTAIN THEM at the first lesson. Think that on the first lesson depends a lot in their behaviour at the lesson and their attitude to you. So, it's high time to set the rules and maybe even sign a goup contract, as we all perfectly know how the lack of discipline at the lesson ruins all your aims, plans and ideas you were so eager to realise? And how frustrated and unwilling you may feel to teach because of that.

 But how can you set the boundaries?

 

 The secret is in you - this is what Carol Read says. For me she is a great specialist in primary English language teaching. Moreover, I teach from her books at school and find them highly professional. Her ideas are really precious and I'd like to share them with you.
1. Make the most of your 'honeymoon'.
This is how Carol names the first month of work with a new class. It's the time you have to set your rules.

2. Children are children and they will test the limits and push the boundaries of behaviour.
3. Control is a myth.
4. At the lessons use the model of influence, not a model of control.
5. Have a vision of a lesson and a plan. And I can add from myself - a plan of your actions in case of disobedience and a prepared script.
6. Use 7 'r's at your lessons and towards your students.
*rewards
*relationships
*rules
*routine
*rights
*responsibility
*respect

I'm sure that all of us know the aspects above. We give rewards for good behaviour and answers, we set the rules, respect our pupils and want them to respect us. But it still doesn't work sometimes.

A good idea would be to write the classroom rules at your lessons on some poster and hang it in the class so that everyone could see. Focus their attention on the rules and every time it's broken you draw their attention to them and remind as long as it is needed until they know them by heart and can predict your reaction to some act of disobedience at the lesson.

I wonder, if you will agree with the following rules:

1. We put our hands up to speak.
2. We use quiet voices in pairs and groups.
3. We speak one at a time.
3. We keep to the task.

There shouldn't be too many rules.

7. What is important in managing the class is always to respond to behaviour strategically. A good strategy could also be giving attention to their appropriate behaviour. As Carol Read says CATCH THEM BEING GOOD and praise it. Then the rest know what you expect them to be. You focuse on the behaviour you long.
- I see Alan is ready to listen.
- Very good, Bob. You wrote the sentence very neatly.
- Fantastic, Ron. You are standing and waiting quietly for the lesson to start.

8. Use the same routine to draw their attention. It can be a signal of tambourine or a torch.

9. Use statements rather than questions. Say 'ready to start' rather than a question 'Are you ready to start?'
10. Don't raise your voice. Speak softly.
11. Be firm, friendly, fair, flexible and fun.


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