Keep Your Eye on Time
Glance at the clock every so often, but not as if you're waiting for the period to end. You don't want the bell to ring mid-example or to run out of time with the notes. You want some sort of closure (which I'm not the greatest at, but working very hard on incorporating more often), and you don't want to be shouting the HW over the bell. Such inconsistencies will make the students AND you feel rushed. It also reflects poorly on your style, and shows that you're trying to force too much into one class.
Showing posts with label management. Show all posts
Showing posts with label management. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Teaching Tip #23
Follow Through With Consequences
This one can be tough to do, especially if (going along with my last tip), only one or two students are "ruining it" for the class. Try to focus on individuals (so they would have to work alone but others don't have to) as best as you can.
Telling students you'll take points off for talking after they've handed in a quiz or test hurts because it's not a true reflection of the grade.. But empty threats get you nowhere, and dropping from a C to an F will usually change their attitude.
Because they know you're not making empty threats and that you will follow through with what you say, you will most likely have better classroom management. I had all but one student finish a test the other day and two of the others were talking. No, they did not have their tests in front of them, but they were whispering loudly and distracting me from my thoughts, let alone the student who only needed a few more minutes to finish. I told them that I would rip their tests up and they would get a zero if I heard them again and if they didn't face forward.
I had silence from everyone for the last 15 minutes of class, even after the final student handed her test in. I felt bad for scaring them, but I'm all about being fair to all the students. I hate being hard, but I also hate it when students are uncomfortable, don't feel safe, or can't focus in my class for various reasons.
This one can be tough to do, especially if (going along with my last tip), only one or two students are "ruining it" for the class. Try to focus on individuals (so they would have to work alone but others don't have to) as best as you can.
Telling students you'll take points off for talking after they've handed in a quiz or test hurts because it's not a true reflection of the grade.. But empty threats get you nowhere, and dropping from a C to an F will usually change their attitude.
Because they know you're not making empty threats and that you will follow through with what you say, you will most likely have better classroom management. I had all but one student finish a test the other day and two of the others were talking. No, they did not have their tests in front of them, but they were whispering loudly and distracting me from my thoughts, let alone the student who only needed a few more minutes to finish. I told them that I would rip their tests up and they would get a zero if I heard them again and if they didn't face forward.
I had silence from everyone for the last 15 minutes of class, even after the final student handed her test in. I felt bad for scaring them, but I'm all about being fair to all the students. I hate being hard, but I also hate it when students are uncomfortable, don't feel safe, or can't focus in my class for various reasons.
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