Controlling the Classroom
Behavior
Behavior is the first aspect of class that must be pushed at a very early stage in order for the rest of the class, and the future of the students’ education, to be effective and successful. Set the pace of the class each day in the first few minutes of class. Remember that you are teachers, not friends. First control the class, then have fun. Be confident as the authority, if students suspect that you cannot control them, then the entire class will attack!
First 3 Minutes of Class
1.) Start the Class as a race to win points
Start the class with a race to the line in the middle of the classroom. Award students that are standing nicely, and quietly with their bookbags with cup points. This starts the class in a fun way of racing to get all of their items, and stand nicely. Follow this with seating students.
*Start fun and positive awarding students
*Once teams are formed, they should now have points, which can be taken away for bad behavior
*If there are no points at the start of class, then there is no simple way to reprimand poor behavior...(Can start class with teams having 6 points)
2.) Choose where students sit in all classes
- Make even teams by education level, sex, maturity, competitiveness
- Separate friends on opposite teams
- Put strong students next to weaker students
- Put chronic misbehaved students on the far sides of the classroom so they disrupt other students as little as possible
- Have boys sit next to girls as much as possible… It creates a better mix of maturity level often, and is also good for future socialization.
*This is not always popular, but once it is a standard with the class there is never a problem.
**When starting this have all students standing in a line with their book bags. Then seat a few students that will follow the new rule easily… Then seat the students that may throw a fit. This dissuades the strong minded students from throwing a fit and understanding that this is the rule of the class and if they don’t follow the rule, then they can talk with the TA and their parents outside.
(The TA should be able to explain to the parents that this is for the best of the class for their son or daughter easily)
3.) Make an example out of a student that can handle it! In the first few minutes, reprimand a student for something that is not considered proper classroom behavior. Choose a student that will not mind the reprimand. This will show students that the teacher is the boss of the room and your say is the law in the classroom.
*Simply find a minor infraction of the rules of the classroom and reprimand a student (Speaking Chinese, not sitting nicely, bookbags not under chair...) Lose points for their team.
Tips and Ideas to Create a Better Classroom Environment
Rules and Repercussions-Have simple Rules and Repercussions for all classes that are fair and unwavering
-Do not change the repercussions for different students, or be lenient… (Once a rule is set, and students are all aware of the repercussions, then the class won’t be upset about being penalized)
-Always allow 1 warning to very young students, and reiterate the consequences of breaking the rules
-Keep Rules and Repercussions as Simple as possible… Too many different rules and repercussions create a confusing atmosphere for children.
-WHY... Explain Why we have this rule, Especially if it could lead to someone getting hurt physically or emotionally.
Reward Good Behavior First: Always push positive reinforcement at the beginning of classes. Award students with points for good behavior. Award teams for good behavior. Tell the class WHY a student, or team is being awarded points, and WHY the other team or students behavior is not winning points...
EX: Rebecca wins a point because she is standing nicely on the blue line, and speaking loudly... Charles is not Talking...
EX: This team wins a point because they are sitting nicely with their books on their laps... Michael has not taken his book out yet...
*Promotes positive behavior, and also provides peer pressure from students to encourage poor students to behave better.
Strictness: Being "Strict" is not yelling and scaring students. Strictness is being the Authority in the room and enforcing the rules. This can be done without yelling or even being negative. Simply calling out bad behavior for what it is, and enforcing the rules and repercussions.
Poor Example: Shouting at students to sit nicely, and not speak Chinese throughout class...
Positive Example: "Michael give me one cup point for not sitting nicely, and Lucy, give me one cup point for speaking Chinese..."
Dynamic Teacher: Change the Pace of the class often... Follow difficult slow parts of lesson with fast fun drills. Use your voice to lead students to speak loud, fast to quiet and calm. The more Dynamic the Teacher and lesson, the easier to keep the attention of students.
*Make the Lesson plan and Teaching style into a Roller Coaster, ups, downs, fast, slow... never know what's next.
Attention Grabbers: Losing the attention of your young class? Have fast attention grabbers that students know, love, and can all take part in quickly. This allows all students to dive quickly into something they all know and love, and get some energy out, before diving back into the lesson.
Sing a Song
Clapping a Rhythm after the Teacher... Drumming a Rhythm on Lap after the Teacher...
30 Second Game that all students can take part in by moving around the classroom and get out of their chairs...
(Race to Blue line... Race to touch a color... Earthquake(Students shake on the floor)... High Five Teacher and sit down...)
Give Students Choice: Students that are continually behaving poorly can be given a choice.
Choice A: Continue behaving poorly, with the following consequence...
Choice B: Start behaving properly, with the following positive outcome...
This allows students to be responsible for their actions with no question of outcomes...
Ex. A. Continue sitting poorly, and lose points for your team or B. Sit nicely, and take part in fun game after the current English drill
Ex. A. Continue not speaking English with the class and not get money cards at the end of class or B. Start speaking English and receive money cards at the end of class.
Ex. A. Continue bothering other students and talk with teacher and parents after class or B. Start behaving properly, and enjoy games, money cards...
54321: At any time during active drills or games if the teacher turns his or her back to the class and looks at the board, and either counts down verbally or with finger gestures, students must return to their seats and sit perfectly without a sound. At 0 the teacher turns around to look at the students.(to try and catch a student out of place or making noise) For students sitting perfectly their team gets points. If a student is not sitting perfectly and quietly, then the teacher must count down again. This is an amusing game to students that teaches perfect sitting and being quiet. If the teacher gives slack during this game, (Students make any noise, or don’t sit perfectly with their hands on their knees) then this will not effectively curb students behavior during class. Of course starting this many students will not truly understand, but with time and positive and negative reinforcement (awarding or retracting points after each round… praising good students with high fives, and not giving high fives to students that failed) this will help to take a class from running and shouting, to perfect stillness and quietness.
Speak Quietly or Wait: Shouting over students is never effective. Speaking dynamically (Loud to soft) is just as effective. If students are too loud and excited, simply speak softly, until students are quiet enough to hear you, OR WAIT. Silently WAIT, for your class to behave properly.
*The longer you must wait for your class to behave properly, the more time they lose for games, breaktime etc... Explain to students.
TA Chair: At all times during class if a student is not behaving appropriately (not watching the teacher, speaking Chinese, annoying other students) have that student sit in the “TA Chair”. The student must sit next to the TA until they behave appropriately. In most cases this should be 30 seconds to a minute... This allows the TA to quietly talk to the student about their behavior and what is expected. It also allows the TA to learn what the problem is, or to encourage the student without disrupting the entire class.
*Have a colorful chair next to the TA if this is used often with very young classes
*This is not necessarily a negative action, it gives the student a bit more attention that they probably need from the TA
*When the student shows the first sign of positive behavior, rush them back to their chair. This is a very quick penalty that allows the TA to talk to a student without disrupting the class or slow it down.
*Obviously Work with TA before applying this style
No Game Wall of Shame: Any students that are misbehaving in a destructive way during class should have their name written on the board. The students with their names written on the board will not get to take part in the next game that is played. After the student misses a game, their name is erased and they are back to a clean slate. If a student is continually misbehaving, check marks can be put next to the names of the students to show further games that they are not permitted to play.
*For students that are too wild and excited to take part in games
No Chinese Frog Jumps: If a student is caught speaking Chinese without permission that student may get the choice between doing 3 frog jumps (Squat Jumps/ Jumping Jacks… Simple Physical activity) Or losing points for their team. Speaking Chinese constantly in the classroom can truly hinder a students’ progress. Encourage children to whisper to each other in English if they must. This amusing reprimand should be used so often that it should be a funny annoyance rather than embarrassing. When starting this, teachers should have fun with it and show students by example the actions/ dances required to further show its no big deal.
*This should be very fast...
*If a student is too slow to do frog jumps or does them poorly, simply take 3 points from that team and move on...
*If there is confusion on who spoke Chinese Paper scissor stone with the teacher or opposing student to decided and move on
Writing Words Outside: If a student is consistently misbehaving and interrupting the classes learning, that student should go outside the classroom to write words / grammar, which has to do with the lesson. After completion, the student may enter the classroom again to take part. This is the last punishment that should be used as it puts the child outside the classroom alone. Only if a student is misbehaving constantly, or endangering other students should this be used. Be sure that what the student is writing is appropriate to the lesson. (Copy the page of the unit.)
*This should be used only after talking to Management, and all other ideas have failed to curb behavior
Special Needs Students: There is always at least 1 student that requires more attention for one reason or another. Whether it is for poor performance because the class is difficult, or behavioral problems that need to be addressed throughout class... Or a plethora of other things that is just being human... First find what the issue is by talking with the student, or parents... Then work with the TA, Parents, Management to create a specialized system to address the issue.
*Judge your classes by your poorest students and all will rise together
*Judge your classes by your best students and the class will diverge and fall apart in the future
*Each individual student can still be awarded and reprimanded in a personal student to student basis
(Poorer students encouraged for small improvements... Better students pushed harder to be rewarded...)
School Rule: Respect
Respect The School, Teachers, and Students
School: Keep Clean and Organized
Teacher: Follow Teacher Instructions
Students: Be Nice. Help, Not Hinder Education
* If a student is not respecting the school, teachers or fellow students in any way, repercussions should follow.
Repercussions From Minor to Major Infractions:
Separation: Stand up, Sit in Different location... Quick and simple to realize behavior needs to change
Lose Cup Points: Student gives the Teacher a cup from their team. This allows teacher to also talk quickly to the student face to face when receiving the cup. Teacher should let the student know WHY they are losing the cup and encourage better behavior.
No Game: Student may not participate in a fun game.
Lose Money Cards: Student loses Money cards for that class or must pay additional money cards previously earned.
Talk With Teacher Outside Classroom: Give student the choice of better behavior or ... A. Extra Homework... B. Manager, Teacher, Parent Conference.
A. Extra Homework: Give extra Homework appropriate for age of student.
B. Manager, Teacher, Parent Conference: Meet with all parties to discuss problems.
Written Work Outside the Classroom: Student leaves classroom for 5 minutes to do written work outside classroom.
*Team of One: Student is not included on either team until behaving properly...(If student is consistently using negative behavior to purposefully bring his/her team down.) Create individual Point system that allows student to start positively with points, but lose privileges as points go down.
Encourage Better behavior to join Teams in the future... Without a team, student cannot win money cards, or take part in exciting games...
Most Common Infractions and Consequences:
1. Did Not Complete Homework:
2. Not Sitting Nicely:
3. Speaking Chinese:
4. Damaging School (Breaking Things, Writing on Walls...):
5. Outside the Classroom Horse Play (Running, Shouting...):
6. Bad Words / Actions (Chinese or English vulgar words, actions):
Behavior is the first aspect of class that must be pushed at a very early stage in order for the rest of the class, and the future of the students’ education, to be effective and successful. Set the pace of the class each day in the first few minutes of class. Remember that you are teachers, not friends. First control the class, then have fun. Be confident as the authority, if students suspect that you cannot control them, then the entire class will attack!
First 3 Minutes of Class
1.) Start the Class as a race to win points
Start the class with a race to the line in the middle of the classroom. Award students that are standing nicely, and quietly with their bookbags with cup points. This starts the class in a fun way of racing to get all of their items, and stand nicely. Follow this with seating students.
*Start fun and positive awarding students
*Once teams are formed, they should now have points, which can be taken away for bad behavior
*If there are no points at the start of class, then there is no simple way to reprimand poor behavior...(Can start class with teams having 6 points)
2.) Choose where students sit in all classes
- Make even teams by education level, sex, maturity, competitiveness
- Separate friends on opposite teams
- Put strong students next to weaker students
- Put chronic misbehaved students on the far sides of the classroom so they disrupt other students as little as possible
- Have boys sit next to girls as much as possible… It creates a better mix of maturity level often, and is also good for future socialization.
*This is not always popular, but once it is a standard with the class there is never a problem.
**When starting this have all students standing in a line with their book bags. Then seat a few students that will follow the new rule easily… Then seat the students that may throw a fit. This dissuades the strong minded students from throwing a fit and understanding that this is the rule of the class and if they don’t follow the rule, then they can talk with the TA and their parents outside.
(The TA should be able to explain to the parents that this is for the best of the class for their son or daughter easily)
3.) Make an example out of a student that can handle it! In the first few minutes, reprimand a student for something that is not considered proper classroom behavior. Choose a student that will not mind the reprimand. This will show students that the teacher is the boss of the room and your say is the law in the classroom.
*Simply find a minor infraction of the rules of the classroom and reprimand a student (Speaking Chinese, not sitting nicely, bookbags not under chair...) Lose points for their team.
Tips and Ideas to Create a Better Classroom Environment
Rules and Repercussions-Have simple Rules and Repercussions for all classes that are fair and unwavering
-Do not change the repercussions for different students, or be lenient… (Once a rule is set, and students are all aware of the repercussions, then the class won’t be upset about being penalized)
-Always allow 1 warning to very young students, and reiterate the consequences of breaking the rules
-Keep Rules and Repercussions as Simple as possible… Too many different rules and repercussions create a confusing atmosphere for children.
-WHY... Explain Why we have this rule, Especially if it could lead to someone getting hurt physically or emotionally.
Reward Good Behavior First: Always push positive reinforcement at the beginning of classes. Award students with points for good behavior. Award teams for good behavior. Tell the class WHY a student, or team is being awarded points, and WHY the other team or students behavior is not winning points...
EX: Rebecca wins a point because she is standing nicely on the blue line, and speaking loudly... Charles is not Talking...
EX: This team wins a point because they are sitting nicely with their books on their laps... Michael has not taken his book out yet...
*Promotes positive behavior, and also provides peer pressure from students to encourage poor students to behave better.
Strictness: Being "Strict" is not yelling and scaring students. Strictness is being the Authority in the room and enforcing the rules. This can be done without yelling or even being negative. Simply calling out bad behavior for what it is, and enforcing the rules and repercussions.
Poor Example: Shouting at students to sit nicely, and not speak Chinese throughout class...
Positive Example: "Michael give me one cup point for not sitting nicely, and Lucy, give me one cup point for speaking Chinese..."
Dynamic Teacher: Change the Pace of the class often... Follow difficult slow parts of lesson with fast fun drills. Use your voice to lead students to speak loud, fast to quiet and calm. The more Dynamic the Teacher and lesson, the easier to keep the attention of students.
*Make the Lesson plan and Teaching style into a Roller Coaster, ups, downs, fast, slow... never know what's next.
Attention Grabbers: Losing the attention of your young class? Have fast attention grabbers that students know, love, and can all take part in quickly. This allows all students to dive quickly into something they all know and love, and get some energy out, before diving back into the lesson.
Sing a Song
Clapping a Rhythm after the Teacher... Drumming a Rhythm on Lap after the Teacher...
30 Second Game that all students can take part in by moving around the classroom and get out of their chairs...
(Race to Blue line... Race to touch a color... Earthquake(Students shake on the floor)... High Five Teacher and sit down...)
Give Students Choice: Students that are continually behaving poorly can be given a choice.
Choice A: Continue behaving poorly, with the following consequence...
Choice B: Start behaving properly, with the following positive outcome...
This allows students to be responsible for their actions with no question of outcomes...
Ex. A. Continue sitting poorly, and lose points for your team or B. Sit nicely, and take part in fun game after the current English drill
Ex. A. Continue not speaking English with the class and not get money cards at the end of class or B. Start speaking English and receive money cards at the end of class.
Ex. A. Continue bothering other students and talk with teacher and parents after class or B. Start behaving properly, and enjoy games, money cards...
54321: At any time during active drills or games if the teacher turns his or her back to the class and looks at the board, and either counts down verbally or with finger gestures, students must return to their seats and sit perfectly without a sound. At 0 the teacher turns around to look at the students.(to try and catch a student out of place or making noise) For students sitting perfectly their team gets points. If a student is not sitting perfectly and quietly, then the teacher must count down again. This is an amusing game to students that teaches perfect sitting and being quiet. If the teacher gives slack during this game, (Students make any noise, or don’t sit perfectly with their hands on their knees) then this will not effectively curb students behavior during class. Of course starting this many students will not truly understand, but with time and positive and negative reinforcement (awarding or retracting points after each round… praising good students with high fives, and not giving high fives to students that failed) this will help to take a class from running and shouting, to perfect stillness and quietness.
Speak Quietly or Wait: Shouting over students is never effective. Speaking dynamically (Loud to soft) is just as effective. If students are too loud and excited, simply speak softly, until students are quiet enough to hear you, OR WAIT. Silently WAIT, for your class to behave properly.
*The longer you must wait for your class to behave properly, the more time they lose for games, breaktime etc... Explain to students.
TA Chair: At all times during class if a student is not behaving appropriately (not watching the teacher, speaking Chinese, annoying other students) have that student sit in the “TA Chair”. The student must sit next to the TA until they behave appropriately. In most cases this should be 30 seconds to a minute... This allows the TA to quietly talk to the student about their behavior and what is expected. It also allows the TA to learn what the problem is, or to encourage the student without disrupting the entire class.
*Have a colorful chair next to the TA if this is used often with very young classes
*This is not necessarily a negative action, it gives the student a bit more attention that they probably need from the TA
*When the student shows the first sign of positive behavior, rush them back to their chair. This is a very quick penalty that allows the TA to talk to a student without disrupting the class or slow it down.
*Obviously Work with TA before applying this style
No Game Wall of Shame: Any students that are misbehaving in a destructive way during class should have their name written on the board. The students with their names written on the board will not get to take part in the next game that is played. After the student misses a game, their name is erased and they are back to a clean slate. If a student is continually misbehaving, check marks can be put next to the names of the students to show further games that they are not permitted to play.
*For students that are too wild and excited to take part in games
No Chinese Frog Jumps: If a student is caught speaking Chinese without permission that student may get the choice between doing 3 frog jumps (Squat Jumps/ Jumping Jacks… Simple Physical activity) Or losing points for their team. Speaking Chinese constantly in the classroom can truly hinder a students’ progress. Encourage children to whisper to each other in English if they must. This amusing reprimand should be used so often that it should be a funny annoyance rather than embarrassing. When starting this, teachers should have fun with it and show students by example the actions/ dances required to further show its no big deal.
*This should be very fast...
*If a student is too slow to do frog jumps or does them poorly, simply take 3 points from that team and move on...
*If there is confusion on who spoke Chinese Paper scissor stone with the teacher or opposing student to decided and move on
Writing Words Outside: If a student is consistently misbehaving and interrupting the classes learning, that student should go outside the classroom to write words / grammar, which has to do with the lesson. After completion, the student may enter the classroom again to take part. This is the last punishment that should be used as it puts the child outside the classroom alone. Only if a student is misbehaving constantly, or endangering other students should this be used. Be sure that what the student is writing is appropriate to the lesson. (Copy the page of the unit.)
*This should be used only after talking to Management, and all other ideas have failed to curb behavior
Special Needs Students: There is always at least 1 student that requires more attention for one reason or another. Whether it is for poor performance because the class is difficult, or behavioral problems that need to be addressed throughout class... Or a plethora of other things that is just being human... First find what the issue is by talking with the student, or parents... Then work with the TA, Parents, Management to create a specialized system to address the issue.
*Judge your classes by your poorest students and all will rise together
*Judge your classes by your best students and the class will diverge and fall apart in the future
*Each individual student can still be awarded and reprimanded in a personal student to student basis
(Poorer students encouraged for small improvements... Better students pushed harder to be rewarded...)
School Rule: Respect
Respect The School, Teachers, and Students
School: Keep Clean and Organized
Teacher: Follow Teacher Instructions
Students: Be Nice. Help, Not Hinder Education
* If a student is not respecting the school, teachers or fellow students in any way, repercussions should follow.
Repercussions From Minor to Major Infractions:
Separation: Stand up, Sit in Different location... Quick and simple to realize behavior needs to change
Lose Cup Points: Student gives the Teacher a cup from their team. This allows teacher to also talk quickly to the student face to face when receiving the cup. Teacher should let the student know WHY they are losing the cup and encourage better behavior.
No Game: Student may not participate in a fun game.
Lose Money Cards: Student loses Money cards for that class or must pay additional money cards previously earned.
Talk With Teacher Outside Classroom: Give student the choice of better behavior or ... A. Extra Homework... B. Manager, Teacher, Parent Conference.
A. Extra Homework: Give extra Homework appropriate for age of student.
B. Manager, Teacher, Parent Conference: Meet with all parties to discuss problems.
Written Work Outside the Classroom: Student leaves classroom for 5 minutes to do written work outside classroom.
*Team of One: Student is not included on either team until behaving properly...(If student is consistently using negative behavior to purposefully bring his/her team down.) Create individual Point system that allows student to start positively with points, but lose privileges as points go down.
Encourage Better behavior to join Teams in the future... Without a team, student cannot win money cards, or take part in exciting games...
Most Common Infractions and Consequences:
1. Did Not Complete Homework:
2. Not Sitting Nicely:
3. Speaking Chinese:
4. Damaging School (Breaking Things, Writing on Walls...):
5. Outside the Classroom Horse Play (Running, Shouting...):
6. Bad Words / Actions (Chinese or English vulgar words, actions):