Here are some Classroom Management tips from teachers around the school:
· Starter questions – no dead time at beginning of lesson, sets the tone well
· Enthusiasm from teacher
· No one talks when the teacher is talking
· Praise e.g. “Good/great/excellent answer” goes a long way
– Best and most effective is Fist to five for s1-3 and sometimes older ones.
– For getting the class quiet holding your hand up works amazingly well.
– Be firm and be fair.
-Be consistent.
-Give pupils structure.
-Most of all be kind and smile.
-Occasionally, I hold aloft a stop clock to threaten the pupils with a little time tax at the end of the lesson – assuming that it’s the period before break, lunch or the end of the day. The pupils instantly self police and continue working quietly. No need for any protracted lectures. If I start the clock, then any time accrued is added to the end of the lesson. However, pupils get the chance to wipe the time penalty by working diligently from that point onward. It tends to work and saves me from wasting my time with an after-class detention.
-I always ensure that I welcome pupils at the start of each lesson as this helps to set a positive tone for the rest of the period.
-Retain a sense of humour.
-A starter or a brief, settling, self-managed activity such as personal reading. If the class are settled at the start, then it makes it easier to take them with you through the lesson.
-I use a ‘ball of knowledge’. It’s passed around the class during class discussion. Only the person who is in possession of the ball is able to speak. Seriously, it really works!
-Starter activity ALWAYS on board for quick settling to lesson. Pupils know to get out jotters and start without having to be asked.
– for me routines are the key. Same instructions at start and end of period, same routine for handing out and collecting booklets, Pupils given numbers so they know what booklets are theirs etc…..
These are just a few ideas. If you’ve any you’d like to add, just email them to me.
