Ana María 9th August Canterbury

Hello bloggers,

Sightseeing was finished last Sunday, therefore this week I’ll focus my blog on all the interesting lessons we’ve had in the morning and afternoon.

As usual, our teacher Patrick has made the most of his time with the topic of the day: “Classroom Management”

Good classroom management means:

1. A better learning enviorment

2. Better use of resources available

3. A better control over discipline

But, do all the teachers understand what discipline means?

Discipline is not about getting kids to do what you want them to do. It is providing an environment in which positive teaching and positive learning can take place simultaneously. It is not control from the outside; it is order from within.

These are some of the most remarkable ideas I’d like to share with all of you:

1. Whatever you devote your attention in the class, it increases.

2. Instead of saying “stop doing it” say what they have to do.

3. The teacher should treat the students as equal but not as friends.

4. It´s not possible to control student´s behaviour in the class, what teachers can control is their behaviour. “Control your reaction and be positive”.

5. Make sure your instructions are clear.

6. Planning is very important, support the teachers and gives them freedom.

Teacher should prepare materials and overplan, something might not work.

7. Speak to the student in private, not in front of the class.

8. Everything in the right place, even the furniture.

In the afternoon, we have continued the lessons with our teacher Isabel, dealing with the use of Board Games and Songs in the class. Surprisingly, Board games such as The Battle Ship, Maze Cards, Ludo or The Game of the Goose, could be an effective and enjoyable resource to use when teaching. On the other hand, the songs “When I´m 64” by the Beatles or “The Streets of London”, by Ralph McTell are suitable exercises to learn collocations.

Obviously, teachers should adapt the games and songs to the contect they are interested on.