3 Effective Ways to Manage a Classroom of Pre-Schoolers
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Danielle S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
1. Positive Reinforcement in the classroom
There are many ways to manage a classroom, but positive reinforcement is the most effective strategy. Believing in a student is a powerful thing. Often, in countries where English is not the native language, it is difficult to get to know the students' family environment. Each child is unique. Each child is special. Each child needs to be believed in. They have the potential to listen, learn, and behave.
Here are some helpful ideas on positive reinforcement:
- High fives
- Big Smiles
- Words of affirmation
- Clip charts where the student's name can have their clip moved up when they do something well.
- Always be on the lookout for the good things the student does.
- Sticker charts are excellent for rewarding students for good behavior or doing something unique.
- Prizes for a finished sticker chart.
- Prizes that the students are motivated to win.
- Movie reward.
- Dance party reward.
2. Negative Reinforcement in the classroom
Though negative reinforcement isn't the first option, many times, it does have to be used. It can still be used with love, kindness, and inspiration, though. The main thing is to not take a student's bad behavior as personal. Look at loving this child unconditionally, and sometimes when we care about our students, we have to use negative re-enforcement. Clip charts can be useful with negative as well as positive reinforcement. Accompanied by sticker charts and prizes, a problematic student can be motivated to have better classroom behavior. If a child is not motivated easily by stickers and rewards, then there are some other negative reinforcement ideas in the class.
- Clip down on the charts, keeping a keen eye on good behavior to not discourage students. We believe that they can do well!
- Time-outs for a short period. This sometimes works with students, and sometimes the students like the attention. I would suggest 1 minute time out for the age of the student. So if the child is four years old, a 4 minute time out might work.
- Taking away something they like. If it isn't stickers for a prize, it could be iPad time, playground time, talking, etc. This shouldn't be overused, and this also requires the teacher to get to know their students more. When their time is used, make sure not to mistreat the student. It is essential to show how much you care for the student, but there are consequences for this behavior.
- Expressing forgiveness and belief in the student each time negative re-enforcement is needed. For example, with a student who is kicking or hurting another student, you can say something like this: "Alan, remember we have two rules you need to follow: 1. Use kind words and actions and 2. Keep hands and feet to yourself". I need to move your clip down, and if you do it again, I have to take away a sticker. I am doing this because I believe you can learn from this and uses kind words and actions. I care about you and want to see you succeed in life."
3. Always believe in the student
Believing in a student is an exciting thing. They might have low self-confidence. They might be told other things. When someone can believe in you, you can change the world. Positive reinforcement is always the first choice, but sometimes negative support is needed and effectively used. Even with the worse student, taking the time to get to know them, speaking the truth to them, and loving them unconditionally can have a tremendous outcome. Transformation can occur if you purposefully believe in a student and act out that belief every day.
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