| If you are an ESL teacher who is having problems | | | | pupils and put them down in a futile effort to feel |
| with classroom management, there are ways of taking | | | | important. When people put others down they are |
| back control and maintain order in your classroom | | | | trying to elevate their own self-esteem. This |
| again. There are methods to deal with a few | | | | systematically backfires as putting others down truly |
| troublemakers and approaches to dealing with an | | | | undermines ones sense of self-worth, though some |
| entire class which is out of control. First you need to | | | | people have such low self-esteem that a bit more |
| assess why you're having ESL classroom | | | | self-degradation hardly notices! |
| management issues. | | | | Thirty one years ago a English teacher in France put |
| Let's take a look at why children might be misbehaving. | | | | me down in front of his class and I can still see and |
| Are the children bored? Are they tired of sitting in their | | | | hear the scene today - that is how much it marked |
| desks? Do some of the children have behavioral | | | | me at the time. He was scared of the fact that he had |
| issues such as ADD or ADHD? Some children might | | | | a native speaker in his class and was too stupid to |
| find learning English difficult so they end up misbehaving | | | | use me to enhance the class. |
| rather than admitting they do not understand. Perhaps | | | | Never belittle your students. Avoid losing control and |
| they have not been praised enough and feel the | | | | yelling. Never call a student names, put them down, use |
| teacher doesn't like them. | | | | sarcasm or embarrass them. They will never trust this |
| The most effective way to regain control of the ESL | | | | kind of behavior. In addition in the worst case scenario |
| classroom is to be the boss. If you don't step up and | | | | you could put them off wanting to learn ANY subject, |
| take control the children most certainly will. There's a | | | | and not just your subject. |
| fine line between being friendly and kind and letting the | | | | ESL Classroom Management Rule #4 - Show them |
| children take control of the classroom. You really can | | | | you care |
| be both the friendly helping hand and the boss. Ideally, | | | | Take the time to ask questions about their lives. If you |
| you must take control of the class from the very first | | | | can talk with them, informally, outside of the classroom, |
| day you enter it. Unfortunately, many newly certified | | | | such as walking from one class to another, you'll find |
| teachers don't realize this right away and are shocked | | | | an opportunity to get to know them. Your students will |
| that they've lost control of the group. | | | | feel special if you take the time out to find out about |
| Ultimately, you must find your own personal style in | | | | them and who they are. It will be much harder for |
| teaching but there are many proven techniques and | | | | someone you've had a conversation with, on a |
| strategies for good classroom management. Of | | | | personal level, to act up in the classroom. |
| course, you must comply with the rules of the school | | | | Eye contact will help let your students know you are |
| you work for. Your school should always be your ally | | | | paying attention to them. Think about how they may |
| and not your foe. | | | | be feeling. They might not want to take this class but |
| The first key to ESL classroom management is your | | | | have to. Put yourself in their shoes and try to come up |
| attitude toward the students. Students who respect | | | | with positive ways to see your students. |
| and love their teacher will be more apt to behave in | | | | ESL Classroom Management Rule #5 - Move around |
| the classroom. Here's how to make that happen! | | | | Come out from behind your desk! Take the time during |
| ESL Classroom Management Rule #1 - Are you trying | | | | a writing assignment to walk through the desks and |
| to be hip and cool? | | | | stop for a moment or two at each student's desk. This |
| Do you want to be friends with your pupils? If you try | | | | is a good time to hand out praise and to ask your |
| to be the hip teacher who is a friend to all, more than | | | | students how they are doing. Ask them if they have |
| likely the students will laugh at your expense the | | | | any questions about the work they are doing. |
| moment you are out of earshot. Be their mentor. | | | | ESL Classroom Management Rule #6 - Onwards and |
| Teach by example not only how to speak English but | | | | Upwards! |
| how to behave in general. | | | | Generously hand out praise and encouragement! |
| In class behave as a role-model for ideal classroom | | | | Imagine how much good you can do in a person's life |
| behaviour. The children will at least have the example | | | | by giving them encouragement and praise. You can |
| to follow. If you cannot control your temper, why | | | | change a student's whole way of thinking about |
| should they? If you find yourself barking at your pupils | | | | themselves and in turn, this changes how they view |
| something is wrong! | | | | the world. |
| ESL Classroom Management Rule #2 - Are you | | | | Think about how people are always telling kids what |
| predictable? | | | | NOT to do. Some parents' entire dialogue with their |
| I'll never forget Miss Bain. Oh a truly terrifying woman | | | | children is negative. Don't fall into this trap. Remember, |
| with spectacles and a cardigan who dished out | | | | what you give out, you get back. Children who are |
| detentions for real and whose name one only | | | | given negatives often give negatives back. Children |
| mentioned with dread. I only had her in the sixth form | | | | who are given positives will more than likely give back |
| but her reputation proceeded her. In fact she was a | | | | positives! |
| nice old lady! She never raised her voice, she wasn't | | | | Reward good behavior. Ask for children who behave |
| even bossy! I could not believe it actually. She just | | | | well to be your helper and thank them for their good |
| EXUDED the fact that we were there to learn and | | | | behavior in front of the class. Having a student of the |
| messing about was not tolerated. Full stop. Really an | | | | week will reinforce good behavior. |
| outstandingly simple formula. | | | | ESL Classroom Management Rule #7 |
| Earn trust by being fair, consistent and firm. Establish | | | | Vary the way you carry out lesson plans. Don't |
| rules from the very first day and do not bend. Lean | | | | always use the same technique. If you use varied |
| more toward being overly strict in the beginning as it is | | | | activities, games and teaching methods, that appeal to |
| harder to become strict if you've started out being | | | | different learning styles, chances are you'll reach each |
| lenient. If rules change on a day to day basis the | | | | one of them in time! |
| students don't know what to expect and cannot trust | | | | By using these tips, you'll keep order in your room, your |
| you. | | | | students will respect and trust you, you'll have an |
| ESL Classroom Management Rule #3 - Are you | | | | impact on their self-esteem and you'll teach them |
| trustworthy? | | | | much more than just how to speak English. |
| Oh yes there are teachers out there who lash out at | | | | |