How effectively do you manage your class?
It’s the start of a new school year and teachers nationwide will soon be introducing themselves to new classes, perhaps in new schools, and attempting to reach agreement on mutual expectations for classroom behaviour.
Strategies for achieving an environment conducive to learning vary from draconian (my Physics teacher from Year 10 springs to mind) to outlandish bordering on hippy – the main reason I gave up Biology as soon as possible! Effective strategies are as personal as your coffee preference or sense of fashion (or lack of) and can take years to develop.
There are plenty of resources available on the web for you to adopt and adapt for your own circumstances. Some simple student engagement strategies for you to try in the New Year can be found on the American ‘We are teachers’ blog whilst a more comprehensive list of behaviour management resources is available on the British TES site.
If you’ve struggled in the past with a particular student or difficult class, wouldn’t it be great to commence teaching in 2012 with a few new tricks under your belt? And if you’re a graduate teacher, why not supplement some of your sparkly new tools of the trade with a few rusted tried-and-tested old faithfuls?! Whatever your situation, we wish you lots of success with your classes and students this year. Why not let us know what strategies you have found most useful?
Great stuff to start the New Year! Fantastic support for those who want to keep improving their professional practice this year!