Tired of trying to manage your children in the classroom?
Not able to implement the lessons in the class most of the time due to the out-of-control behaviours of the children?
Classroom management can be very challenging especially if you are a new teacher.
So, let’s say you are in the class and are trying to get the children ready for a lesson and your children just will not listen and are all over the place. What do you do?
Here are 3 steps to deal with that situation:
Use A Sign / Any Non-Verbal Communication.
If you have tried raising your voice, you would know that it is of no use. Observe: If you raise your voice, they just get louder! That is because when you raise your voice, you are teaching them to raise their voice to be heard too.
Maria Montessori used a little bell to bring silence in her classroom. She developed the silence game that you can implement with your children and in time (nothing happens overnight of course) you will see the difference. Besides the bell, you can use anything practically: holding up a ‘Silence Please’ sign or a pretty flower, flicking the light switch off and on, etc…
Whatever you decide, make sure you explain this during circle time: what it is and what they need to do if they see the sign. Have a practice too during circle to make sure that the children get it. Use the same sign consistently when needed.
Use Normal Tone Of Voice When You Speak.
So, now you have their attention (well most of their attention anyways – there will always be some children who are out to test you for a little bit more!), use your normal tone of voice to ask them what you would like them to do: sit in a circle with legs crossed, or sit around the table, or anything else you may have planned.
To the ones who are still not paying attention, walk to them, tap them on the shoulder, if possible get down to their level, look them in the eye and say ‘excuse me Jonathan, can we please sit together now’. Keep the eye contact and speak in normal tone at all times. Once he sits, say ‘thank you’. (Be always polite and respectful).
Consistently speaking in your normal tone will get the children to listen to you … they will not wait for your change in tone to decide to do what you tell them or not.
Always have a well-designed, engaging lesson
This is the tricky bit. If you don’t have your lesson ready to go, or if it is something not interesting enough for the children, you will lose their attention again within minutes.Every activity needs to be planned and it is essential to know what outcomes you are looking to achieve.Here are 3 questions that you can ask yourself to help you plan your lessons:
- What are my children’s interest?
To know this – observe your children and ‘listen’ to their day to day dialogues in class.
- How can I incorporate their topics of interest into my lessons?
(eg. If topic of interest is cars, you use cars as counting units to teach a math lesson)
- How can I introduce the lesson to enhance children’s engagement?
Children will not listen to you. They are more likely to engage in your lessons if they are allowed to work hands-on / participate in the lesson.
In addition to the above:
It is also important that you have some additional activities or songs up your sleeve that children enjoy
Organise appropriate activities for different times of the day. For example, it is best not to introduce a lesson just before break or just before it’s time to go home.
Inspired For More?
At Sunshine we provide all the knowledge and skills for you to be able to observe, plan and work exciting lessons with your children effectively.
There is no limit to what you can prepare for the children once you have done our program. Teaching will never be boring or challenging anymore.
All it takes is 7 – 12 months of learning online, to upgrade your knowledge and skills and become a confident and amazing teacher.
You will be able to feel the difference and implement changes in the way you do things, which will take you from being ‘just another teacher’ to a ‘highly valued and respected teacher’ in your school.
