subject: How to get the most out of your classroom [print this page] Author: Paul Buchanan Author: Paul Buchanan
Teaching a class of up to 30 different faces can be challenging, as each child has their own individual requirements and strengths and, whilst educating, teachers of course have to look after the pupils, encourage them to do their best and nurture and create an enjoyable environment. Perhaps the single biggest challenge facing teachers today is attention. Getting and maintaining the attention of each pupil in a class is not easy but it is essential, so here are some tried and tested tips on how get the most out of your classroom. Perhaps the easiest trick that is often overlooked by many teachers is the simple act of giving your pupils what they want, but just presented differently. If you hand out a book for each pupil to read, you probably wont get a very enthusiastic response, so you need to find ways to make the subject matter appeal to the age group, so that your class can identify with it and learn to appreciate it. For example, pupils could learn to enjoy Shakespeare through acting out individual parts, or maybe younger pupils could write about their favourite holiday as a geography exercise. As well as considering how your pupils approach school work, consider also how you deliver it. A golden rule amongst successful teachers (and authors too) is show dont tell. Young minds need to be stimulated by something before they will take it in, and pupils will generally be unresponsive to sitting and listening to their teacher talk all day, so instead reach for visual aids, interesting class visitors (vets, storytellers, firemen etc), and craft supplies from time to time. When teaching a large class full of children, its worth remembering the dynamic of the group, which wouldnt normally exist under one-to-one teaching. Use this to your advantage by getting the pupils to engage in group activities, team projects or even class competitions, and dont forget to use all available educational resources to hand. Children enjoy and require interaction with each other, so they tend to work at their best when either in a group or when they know there could be a prize on offer - even if its just their name on a merit board. Though youre a teacher and your primary role is to educate, its important to remember that you will only ever get as good as you give. Dont be afraid to show your sense of humour as this will naturally help your class open up and enjoy assignments more readily, and likewise young children in particular need regular breaks to recharge and stay focussed throughout the day.About the Author:
Paul Buchanan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
