Utilization of Classroom Management

Classroom management is one of the keys to having a successful class. There are lots of things a teacher can do to successfully manage his or her classroom. Teachers can be the example that they would like in their classroom. The classroom environment can influence how efficient a class can run. The techniques and activities a teacher uses inside a class can greatly influence how engaged students can be.

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

The teacher should always set an example for students.

You should always want students to be happy and motivated before they come to class. One simple way to start this out is by greeting every student with a smile and a simple hello. Teachers can often encourage students to answer a simple question to make them feel more comfortable. It is always important to remember to be positive and praise students to improve their self-esteem. This is a great way to establish rapport with your students.

Inside the classroom, it’s imperative to use eye contact, different gestures, and your voice to keep students involved.

As teachers, we can look around the room at all of the students to make everyone feel involved and hold attention. Using your arms and hands can convey the meaning better and adds visual interest. Fluctuating your voice inside the classroom can easily liven up a class and show the complexity of the language you are using. If you are going to ask a question you might want to think about asking the question first and then using the name of a student to ensure that all students are alert and not getting sidetracked.

Also Read: Comparing Foreign Language Learning in Japan and Canada

Classroom arrangement

Most of the time the size of a classroom is not a teacher's choice, but a teacher can influence how his or her room looks and especially how it is arranged. Walking into a classroom that is well organized, prepared, and decorated can make a student feel more excited about learning. Simple things on walls like a theme, different colors, a calendar, numbers, the alphabet, a calendar, or a monthly bulletin board are all ideas to fill wall space. Students often love to show off their good work, so why not reward and encourage their good work by posting it on the wall. This is a great way to make students motivated and feel proud of their accomplishments.

The teacher may want to think about how he or she wants to arrange their class when the students arrive. A teacher should always keep in mind the available space, students’ personalities, and where they will sit, often at tables, or sitting on chairs on a rug. If a teacher has a big class he or she would most likely want to sit the students in orderly rows. Every student has a clear view and it is easy to maintain eye contact with the students in the room. If a teacher has a smaller class under ten students he or she might decide to make a horseshoe. This allows students to be more focused, intimate with other students during the lesson, and everyone has eye contact with each other in the classroom. The teacher's position also might not be as intimidating since the teacher is often standing to the side, so students can look at the board.

Also Read: My Personal Experience Moving to Beijing to Teach English

We know that establishing rapport is important in determining the success of a class.

A teacher needs to nurture that rapport with their students inside the classroom. When seating students always be aware of the behavior and where students sit. A good technique is to have a high energy student at the front, so you as the teacher can try and give him the attention they want. In return, that student can help you be a teacher assistant. Starting with the class with an ice-breaking activity is crucial at the beginning of class. It allows the students to warm up and elicits English helping them feel more comfortable. It is cliché to say, but being positive, smiling, enjoying your class, and your students learning will go a long way in establishing good rapport.

Also Read: 5 Great Activities For Black History Month in the EFL Classroom

Factors influencing discipline

Maintaining discipline has several factors such as age, motivation, class size, respect, and the atmosphere. The teacher must maintain a balance between exercising control and encouraging a relaxing and friendly atmosphere. The first thing a teacher should always keep in mind is the reason a problematic behavior is occurring. A teacher might have a few questions. Is the student possibly having a problem outside of the classroom? Is a student being peer pressured by other students? Do they have a lack of respect, low self-esteem, or are they bored? A teacher might be able to help prevent these certain problematic behaviors by being punctual with the students. If you say it then follow up and be consistent with what you said. Be prepared to come into the classroom with activities and notes you may need during your class. Students can often get bored if you are not prepared. Act immediately if you are going to respond to problematic behavior. Focus on the behavior and not the student when you are addressing this issue. It is crucial that the teacher sets the example and follows these class rules with the students.

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There are endless amounts of ways to manage your classroom. It’s very useful and beneficial to the teacher to always be open-minded about new or better ways to manage their classrooms. A teacher should always be the example he or she wants inside the classroom. A teacher should always set up a classroom attractively and arrange students in a manner that will make a better and happier environment. A well-managed class will always come down to the techniques used by a teacher and activities that are prepared for the classroom.

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