Top Tips for Ensuring Effective Administration of a Classroom

For a class to function properly it necessitates the teacher to put his /her student in a confident position, in this sense the teacher must know when to be firm with students and when to give them liberty.

This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate CHIFON R. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.

What is the classroom?

Classroom here refers to a room in a school or an establishment where a group of students is being taught by a teacher or a group of teachers. Classroom administration, on the other hand, is the process of ensuring that classroom lessons can run smoothly without any disruptive behavior from students comprising the delivery of instructions. Below are some factors that can affect classroom administration either positively or negatively.

Also Read: "3 Steps to Grow as a Successful Teacher"

Main methods of work organization

The first and most useful tool in classroom administration is the teacher this is where the aspect of the Eye contact, gesture and voice comes into function these are all vital factors.

The eye contact: call for attention because when you are writing on the board for example and decide to stop and ask a question when you face the student they all keep quiet and pay attention to you.

Gesture: the aspect of gesture reduces teachers' talk time because for example as a teacher if an answer is correct you can simple node your head left and a right indicates that the answer is wrong. It equally increases visual interest. But it should be taken into consideration that if the gesture signs have no yet been established with the students its use will not be effective so some signs should be practiced daily as a routine for the student to learn and get used to theme this will ease communication.

The voice: the tone of the voice changes with the instruction and activities given out. A teacher’s voice must be bold and clear to facilitate communication and it is important to use language which is at the level of the students. We can also say it is the voice of the teacher that will determine whether the class will be interesting or boring. Using student names to ask questions and feedback will help organize the class and indicate who has to respond. It should be noted here that when using student names it should be at the end of the question this will permit the whole class to be alert since they don't know whom the teacher will call thus encouraging participation.

Also Read: Whats the best way to apply for TEFL jobs?

Grouping

Grouping students can be positive or negative depending on your choice of grouping.

Whole class grouping: can be positive in the sense that it facilitates class control, interaction and sense of belonging and negative in the sense that it reduces the opportunity for student talk time and makes management of activities difficult.

Individual: can be positive in the sense that it allows the student to be more self-reliant and confident .also allow the teacher to respond to individual students and negative in the sense that it will reduce interaction and bring little or no change in some student and also increase the pressure on student classroom.

Pair grouping: can be positive in the sense that it will increase student talk time thus making the environment safe, relaxed and comfortable for the student and negative in the sense that they may not get along with their partner and the other one may be trying to dominate.

Establishing rapport that will create interactions between the students and the teacher. For example at the beginning of the class, you can ask students to create a name code that will be made visible to all. The teacher has to encourage a lot of pair works that will ease interaction and not letting a single student dominate here.it is also good to allow them to correct each other this will encourage interaction and make them feel comfortable and relaxed.

Also Read: Where to take a TEFL course?

Working on behavior

Discipline within the classroom it is important to learn to be fair with students encouraging and rewarding those with good behavior like for example if a student excels in m subject like economics I make him or her king or queen of the subject for that week. Always correcting bad behavior is also necessary when you give assignments always collect and correct making sure to be strict with those who didn’t do there. Bad behavior in the classroom can also be corrected using none verbal expression like you just stop talking and stare at them and avoid shouting because the ore you shout the more they make fool of you.

Also Read: Is it safe for single women to teach English abroad?

Instructing

Giving instructions to help them carry their activities properly making sure these instructions are clear and making sure they understand the instruction that is being given to them by asking what can you do. This can be done with the use of clear language and simple demonstrations.

Writing on the board by using pre-prepared materials that you stick on the board or ask students to write on the board, for example, the date and topic of the day. This can be done at a student's break time or later after the class such that they meet an activity already on the board upon their arrival. It is important to know that when writing on the board o talk.

Giving teachers talk time as the mentor of the language you are in a better position to orientate the students. Being the model of the language can affect the class positively and negatively. Positively in the sense that it increases the teachers' talk time and the teacher is in control of all and negatively in the sense that it reduces student talk time.

Do you want to teach English abroad? Take a TEFL course!

Other factors could include allowing students to practice behavior expectations, giving the student choice and staying consistent. Classroom administration largely depends on several factors to be effective and this can not be done without the consistency and strictness’ of the teacher and the collaboration of the students.

Apply now & get certified to teach english abroad!

Speak with an ITTT advisor today to put together your personal plan for teaching English abroad.

Send us an email or call us toll-free at 1-800-490-0531 to speak with an ITTT advisor today.

Related Articles:

• 6 Steps to Becoming a TEFL Trainer
• 9 Small Details That Matter When Teaching EFL
• What it's Like to Teach English Online: An Online Teacher Reveals Her Secrets!
• 5 Simple Ways to Motivate Your EFL Students
• The Exciting Future of Learning English Online
• The Good and Bad of Course Materials