by Ms. Irene Indriasari
I often heard
complaints from my colleagues and I have experienced myself how hard it is
handling the young learners when you do not apply strict classroom control and
management from the first time.
In dealing with
young learners, teachers need to set firm “rules of the game”. Children’s spontaneous acts and short span of
attention should be taken into account. Therefore,the most important rule to be
set is building their commitment as well as their intrinsic motivation to
learn.
Based on what I’ve
been through, here are six tips in building your young students’ commitment to
learn in the classroom.
1. In the very first meeting, you have to tell students the topics that
they will learn with you. The students have to know (they have the right) what
you and they will learn in the respective term. This will raise their
motivation if you do it merrily, by giving them trivial quiz, games etc. You
can also ask them interactively every topics to tap their schemata. (Isn’t it a
good tip to fill in the first meeting besides the boring introduction? J)
2. In building good classroom control, ask your students what it takes to
be a good student.
Write
on the board : “Good student will......” . They will come up with (for EC 1 to
3, maybe you have to fill in yourself) :
listen to the teacher, cooperate well, be nice in class, study hard, etc. (Of
course you will find some prank answers J . Prepare your
funny firm frown J)
Well,
you do not just let those promises go with the wind, but have your students
make a hand print on paper, then ask them to choose promises they are able and
intend to keep, afterwards they have to write on each finger . It takes them
time to choose anyway, as you have to say over and over that they have to keep
those promises.
3. Ask them to cut the paper hand, and ask them to say the promises they
pick in front of the class. Make sure that the classmates listen to this little
oath. J You can ask the classmates listening whether the person taking oath can
keep the promises or not. Here is the time to give rule of reward and
punishment. Make an agreement with your students about what reward they will
achieve if they are nice in the end of the term and what punishment they will
get if they do not keep their promise. Stick the paper hands on the wall as a
reminder – a monument. J
4. Prepare your reward and punishment scheme and be strict in this.
5. Mind you that a creative teacher will encourage children to learn.
Games, quiz and fun learning are powerful tools to motivate.
6. In motivating, do not forget to give them a kind of teaser of what they
will learn in the next meeting. Always let those young learners know your plans
and invite them to give comments and inputs. Involving participation is a the
key to commitment.
Good
luck with those busy buzzy bees J
Tags:
Sharing programs