When I was a fresh graduate, I thought that I'd be easily able to make my students listen to the discussion If I just present interesting visuals and be animated in my classes. I had my lesson plan prepared and my powerpoint ready, and I was so eager and idealistic that I felt a lot of disappointment when I noticed some of my students chatting or doing assignments for other subjects while I was there in front explaining the history of English Literature. So why did my students not listen to me even though I was really prepared to discuss the lesson?
Then I realized that even before the discussion starts, there are routines that I must never forget to do. These are the things I do to make sure my class is well managed.
1. At the beginning of the school year, make sure students know what your expectations are.
Even before I introduce myself, I make them familiar with the vision-mission of the school, the core values, and the rules and regulations. Next, I orient them on my own house rules. When explaining these rules, students must know the reason behind implementation of the policy, and how it will benefit them in the long run, or else they will just ignore it. For example, if the rule says that they should raise their hand and wait for their turn to be recognized when giving an answer, you may say that this rule is to maintain order in the classroom and keep the discussion smooth and organized. This helps save time that may be used later on for production of their written outputs or performance tasks. Again, make sure that they know what your expectations are. Two to three days of orientation will result into a year of students that are well behaved and easy to get along with.
2. Be punctual.
They themselves will keep quiet once they notice that the teacher is already outside the room even before the bell rings. In our school, we dismiss the previous class five minutes before the period ends so teachers have time to move from one room to another. We play music, Fur Elise, over the PA and we tell our students that this is their time to rest and prepare for the next subject. The students are expected to keep quiet and the officers of the class, especially the president and vice-president, supervise as the teachers move from one room to another. Not only does this practice result to better performance for students, it also helps teachers to see the value of their subject when they see students prepare for it even before their classes start. Again, be punctual. Coming to class on time is expected for both students and teachers.
3. Come to class prepared.
Students have a keen eye. They can determine whether their teacher came to class prepared or not. A student's grin, knowing his or her teacher is disorganized, is something all teachers want to avoid.
Once entering the room, a teacher is supposed to look confident, even if one is stressed or haggard, because some students rely on that confidence of the teacher to get motivated to learn. The way a teacher handles himself or herself in front of the class may determine a student's readiness to listen and be attentive to what is being discussed.
Since we have Smart TVs in our school, a majority of our teachers use powerpoints or other presentation software to complement the use of the whiteboard for lectures. These powerpoint designs can also tell the students if a teacher is prepared or not. Some students even know if a teacher just downloaded the powerpoint from the internet. Not only do these visuals show a teacher's creativity, it also shows how prepared he or she is with her lesson.
4. Set objectives.
A student must know what he or she is expected to learn at the end of the class, at the end of the week, and at the end of the unit. This is why we post essential questions. I have noticed that in my classes, students work hard when they know what the final output is. We do mini-tasks and even in these mini-tasks we set objectives. Which skills are to be developed? How are these skills relevant to the output expected of them? What will they be able to do in the future if they are to develop these skills? How can this activity be replicated in the real world? Students simply need to know the answers to these questions in order for them to get motivated to learn.
5. Make discussions more interactive.
In my classes, I use a random number generator to elicit answers from the students. Every student is expected to be ready to answer any question I throw at them. But before I use my random number generator, I make sure that I give them enough time to answer. For my grade 7 students, I give them three to five minutes to think of an answer. For the senior high school, a minute or two is enough. Maximum participation in the class is encouraged. If I have 40 students in a class, I try to have 10 of them recite per day, and since I only meet them four times a week for English classes, I try my best to make everyone recite at least once per week.
Discussions can also be made more interactive when students' interest are integrated into the classes. In my grammar lessons, I usually integrate a topic I know my students will be interested in. We talk about their favorite TV shows, movies, artists, celebrities, music, and even games that they play. This way, they will be able to learn better since the lessons are more relevant to them. And if they find something interesting, they'll surely pay attention.
6. Lastly, and most importantly, be more considerate of the students.
The policies and rules may be important, but there are lots of reasons why a student may misbehave in class. Even if we try our best as teachers to make the class more interesting, a student may still behave. Some reasons I've encountered are family problems, low self-esteem, feeling like they are bullied, or just simply feeling down because of circumstances that can't be helped: their parents may have gone abroad, relatives arguing at home, or just simply being in a bad mood for the day. Sometimes I just remember how I was called "pikon" by my classmates because I was so short tempered. Then, I try to understand as much as possible. I try to be as gentle in my approach when I correct student behavior.
For those that are chatting, just go near them and they will get more conscious. No need to shout or scold them. For those that are doing their assignments in class, tap on their armchairs and motion with a hand gesture that they are to keep their materials and focus on listening. For those that are looking away, daydreaming, or even sleeping, a gentle tap on their shoulders will do. If those who are sleeping don't wake up, they should be left alone and at the end of the class, you may set an appointment with them to probe into the reasons why they sleep in class even though you've made it as interesting as possible.
Embarrassing students is never a good way to discipline. Even if it might be effective in a short period, students will always remember teachers who've embarrassed them. But those who showed concern, care, and effort to mend their behavior through kindness and gentleness, these teachers will always be remembered lovingly by their students.
=======================================================================
P.S.
I'm back after five years and since I had time this morning, I just wrote this as a day starter. I'm going to edit my articles here and make them more formal soon.
Got questions? Send them to prop262@gmail.com
I'll try to reply whenever I have time.
God bless us all.
Then I realized that even before the discussion starts, there are routines that I must never forget to do. These are the things I do to make sure my class is well managed.
1. At the beginning of the school year, make sure students know what your expectations are.
Even before I introduce myself, I make them familiar with the vision-mission of the school, the core values, and the rules and regulations. Next, I orient them on my own house rules. When explaining these rules, students must know the reason behind implementation of the policy, and how it will benefit them in the long run, or else they will just ignore it. For example, if the rule says that they should raise their hand and wait for their turn to be recognized when giving an answer, you may say that this rule is to maintain order in the classroom and keep the discussion smooth and organized. This helps save time that may be used later on for production of their written outputs or performance tasks. Again, make sure that they know what your expectations are. Two to three days of orientation will result into a year of students that are well behaved and easy to get along with.
2. Be punctual.
They themselves will keep quiet once they notice that the teacher is already outside the room even before the bell rings. In our school, we dismiss the previous class five minutes before the period ends so teachers have time to move from one room to another. We play music, Fur Elise, over the PA and we tell our students that this is their time to rest and prepare for the next subject. The students are expected to keep quiet and the officers of the class, especially the president and vice-president, supervise as the teachers move from one room to another. Not only does this practice result to better performance for students, it also helps teachers to see the value of their subject when they see students prepare for it even before their classes start. Again, be punctual. Coming to class on time is expected for both students and teachers.
3. Come to class prepared.
Students have a keen eye. They can determine whether their teacher came to class prepared or not. A student's grin, knowing his or her teacher is disorganized, is something all teachers want to avoid.
Once entering the room, a teacher is supposed to look confident, even if one is stressed or haggard, because some students rely on that confidence of the teacher to get motivated to learn. The way a teacher handles himself or herself in front of the class may determine a student's readiness to listen and be attentive to what is being discussed.
Since we have Smart TVs in our school, a majority of our teachers use powerpoints or other presentation software to complement the use of the whiteboard for lectures. These powerpoint designs can also tell the students if a teacher is prepared or not. Some students even know if a teacher just downloaded the powerpoint from the internet. Not only do these visuals show a teacher's creativity, it also shows how prepared he or she is with her lesson.
4. Set objectives.
A student must know what he or she is expected to learn at the end of the class, at the end of the week, and at the end of the unit. This is why we post essential questions. I have noticed that in my classes, students work hard when they know what the final output is. We do mini-tasks and even in these mini-tasks we set objectives. Which skills are to be developed? How are these skills relevant to the output expected of them? What will they be able to do in the future if they are to develop these skills? How can this activity be replicated in the real world? Students simply need to know the answers to these questions in order for them to get motivated to learn.
5. Make discussions more interactive.
In my classes, I use a random number generator to elicit answers from the students. Every student is expected to be ready to answer any question I throw at them. But before I use my random number generator, I make sure that I give them enough time to answer. For my grade 7 students, I give them three to five minutes to think of an answer. For the senior high school, a minute or two is enough. Maximum participation in the class is encouraged. If I have 40 students in a class, I try to have 10 of them recite per day, and since I only meet them four times a week for English classes, I try my best to make everyone recite at least once per week.
Discussions can also be made more interactive when students' interest are integrated into the classes. In my grammar lessons, I usually integrate a topic I know my students will be interested in. We talk about their favorite TV shows, movies, artists, celebrities, music, and even games that they play. This way, they will be able to learn better since the lessons are more relevant to them. And if they find something interesting, they'll surely pay attention.
6. Lastly, and most importantly, be more considerate of the students.
The policies and rules may be important, but there are lots of reasons why a student may misbehave in class. Even if we try our best as teachers to make the class more interesting, a student may still behave. Some reasons I've encountered are family problems, low self-esteem, feeling like they are bullied, or just simply feeling down because of circumstances that can't be helped: their parents may have gone abroad, relatives arguing at home, or just simply being in a bad mood for the day. Sometimes I just remember how I was called "pikon" by my classmates because I was so short tempered. Then, I try to understand as much as possible. I try to be as gentle in my approach when I correct student behavior.
For those that are chatting, just go near them and they will get more conscious. No need to shout or scold them. For those that are doing their assignments in class, tap on their armchairs and motion with a hand gesture that they are to keep their materials and focus on listening. For those that are looking away, daydreaming, or even sleeping, a gentle tap on their shoulders will do. If those who are sleeping don't wake up, they should be left alone and at the end of the class, you may set an appointment with them to probe into the reasons why they sleep in class even though you've made it as interesting as possible.
Embarrassing students is never a good way to discipline. Even if it might be effective in a short period, students will always remember teachers who've embarrassed them. But those who showed concern, care, and effort to mend their behavior through kindness and gentleness, these teachers will always be remembered lovingly by their students.
=======================================================================
P.S.
I'm back after five years and since I had time this morning, I just wrote this as a day starter. I'm going to edit my articles here and make them more formal soon.
Got questions? Send them to prop262@gmail.com
I'll try to reply whenever I have time.
God bless us all.
