Classroom management tips

• Remind them of the rules at the start of the lesson.
• Give praise to students who are behaving / doing well.
• The fish analogy - rein the net in if your control is slipping. Never try to raise your voice above theirs. Make them wait and issue threats/warnings if necessary - and praise the good ones.
• Before students set off on a group / independent task, set a time limit. Have something ready for them to do if they finish early.
• Have fillers up your sleeve in case of technical mishaps or you need time to setup. E.g. Talk to your neighbour about 3 things your know / learned last lesson about, demand that they be ready to share it after the time is up.

Ways to control a shared reading discussions

Being able to balance student participation and teacher talk is a fine art of communication during reading discussions. How do you prevent students from all shouting all at once, and yet you want them to give their opinions?

-If asking for an answer to a question, explain beforehand that they need to explain WHY or HOW they found the answer. This will stop students from shouting out answers without thinking. (Thanks to the class teacher for suggesting this).

-If a discussion gets out of hand, say "We are too noisy" - get all the students to settle down before continuing the discussion. Stay in control.

-Avoid rhetorical or extremely easy questioning. Students become unsure if you are asking for an answer or not.

-Instead of saying "Who agrees with _____", say "If you agree with ______, raise your hand."

-If a student doesn't give the answer you are looking for.

Paperclips idea - To encourage even participation, give each student a set number of paperclips. To encourage fair participation, each student MUST use up their paperclips by the end of the class. If they've run out of paperclips, they cannot answer more questions.

Other suggestions?

Tips for being observed

Teaching observations are perhaps the most stressful part of a new teacher in training. Here is a guide to acing your teaching practice. Don't make the same mistakes I made today in my TP (like the photocopier not working).

Lesson planning:

-If you're "borrowing" a class, communicate with your class teacher in advance what you're going to teach, as he/she may be able to provide good ideas or resources.-Make sure you are VERY thorough with your lesson plan. Proofread and spell-check it.

-Follow the framework required (e.g. if task-based learning is required, make sure you have all the components - pre-task/while-task/post-task. Even if you are not going to cover all the parts in that session, include it so that your tutor can see you know where the lesson will be heading.

-Consider your class abilities. If you are teaching an easy well-behaved class, use the opportunity to try something new and interesting. It is your chance to show off your teaching skills. Conversely, a tough class will be your chance to demonstrate your classroom management skills.

-Send in your lesson plan a couple of days in advance (or whenever it is required).

-Print a spare copy of your lesson plan just in case.

-Have all your materials prepared well in advance. You never know if the photocopier will break down the morning before your class.

Whilst teaching:

-Make sure the technology works. Test it beforehand. You really don't want a technical failure to ruin your lesson.

-Try to memorize what you're going to teach, avoid glancing too much at your lesson plan or reading out loud from it.

Other tips:

-Dress smartly.

-Arrive early if possible to show your observer to your class.

-Introduce him/her to your students when you enter.