Few points on classroom presence
Today we are going to look at some aspects of behaviour management.
We need to protect our voice as this is out most powerful tool to control aspects of the classroom. Pitch it at the right level and dont strain it from the throat.
We need to develop a real presence in the classroom this is done by having strong body language and conveying a almost dominance in the classroom that is not scary but commands respect of the pupils. This way they will feel more confident that they can trust you and believe what you are saying.
Tips from older PGCE students before block 1
- Keep objectives simple and to the point.
- Do not try to speak over noise when address the class.
- Being alert to the whole class, take moments to look up and even walk around.
- Don’t asses your lessons on how you feel they went but on how man of the learning objectives were achieved. I DONT AGREE WITH THIS AS WHAT IF YOU HAVE DONE REALLY WEL ON ONE AND ITS JUST TAKING THE PUPILS LONGER TO GRASP. ( It is important to get them to learn something and not to just be busy
Group Work
- Acknowledge the girl works in and then just say gena get yourself ready to learn and ill speak to you in 5 minutes. Don’t confront it to strongly. Cary on with the introductions. Then don’t invade space when talking to her..
- Diplomatic approach to speaking the TA say how you feel and then use specific example of when you felt undermined. You need to stick to your guns and be assertive saying that my authority is ultimate and that i need you to support me not undermine me
- Deal with the fight with your voice. Raise your voice in a strong way. know who you can call on and then if it is really escalating then you can get help.. separate the pupils immediately. calm the cheering and say its not goog to spur on.
- Dont stoop to their level… reprimand it but dont make a big deal of it. Dont cringe up and laugh about it too much as this will
- Give the pupil the opportunity to leave within a time frame and then give a clear ultimatum saying if you dot this is the punishment. Be clear and concise and black and white. Deal with the boys
- Have a starter activity that gets them on task and quiet and having something to do while you wait for all the other pupils.
- Give them an opportunity to own up and an amnesty to own up. maybe by email in with who it was and someone owning up. say its not acceptable and i will not tollerate this on my board.
- reprimand the Joke and maybe turn it on them selves and say that is not on.. maybe go up one to one and say the it was offensive. have a moral code that you expect in your classroom that is in line with the school policy.
- say maybe that well you will be an expert on it and you will be really good on it but state that this is what we will be doing in greater detail.
With-it-nes
Banter can cross the line really quickly and can become over familiar to quickly. Over a while you can develop it and build it up but you must have the respect of the class and the pupils.
Learn the lingo that you use and be aware that some words will have an effect on their imaginations.
Top tips
- Don’t take it personally
- Be consitent – follow it through
- Dont be threatening or push kids int a corner. Threats – how effective?
- Criticise the behaviour not the individual.
- Is “control” possible? can you ever really control a class and change behaviour? You can influence but you cant control
- Assertion NOT Agression
- Nip the lower level in the bud.
Experience will give you a world of good and will build all of this.
Useful sites
Chalenges in an ICT classroom and
- Playing on games e.g. flash games.
- listening to music on sites such as we7
- playing with keyboards and mice – fidgeting
- Talking to other children and being distracted by their screens
- walking around the classroom and checking up on each of them
- leaning back on chairs
- temperature of room
- changing the keyboard keys around
- saving work or not saving it correctly
- forgetting to log off on another computer
- always asking for help and being lazy to not listen
Responses to the chalenges
- Chunk the lessons up to keep them on task each time.
- Don’t talk for to long
- Use a 5 minute timer to be in absolute silence
Better professional relationships will create a better learning environment and reduce the frequency of low level disruption.
Teach First Video
Get the pupils to take pride
Should be at least 5 praise points to one negative comment.
Patience, Persistence, Practice.
