PROBLEM IN THE CLASSROOM: Many Students in A Small Class
Basic Problem faced
Nowadays, many school facing problems in how to manage or instruct students in a small class. Approximately 35 – 40 students in one class actually is ineffectively of learning and teaching process. Teachers are able in handling or make approach to their student because they also have a limited time in the classroom and not only teaching in one class but also teaching others class. Student behavior can’t be controlled in a short time. So, teachers must able to make a small class become effective and student’s achievement can be reach.
Solutions for the Problems
1. Strategies for Coping with Small Classes
Fillers: Always have plenty of fillers (such as puzzles and games) ready in case activities finish quickly. Keep a list of games or warm ups on hand to use when energy gets low. Some may need to be adapted slightly if the class is very small.
Review often: Take the time to make sure that your students understand the lessons and material.
Encourage confidence: Help shy students to feel more comfortable by trying not to put them on the spot. Let them get comfortable with you and their classmates before you start calling on them to speak up more. Remember to praise them often and save criticism for private interviews.
Change the dynamics: Invite students from other classes in once in a while. Prearrange pair group and getting to know you activities with other teachers who have small classes. If you have high level students pair them with lower level students and give them the opportunity to teach.
Ask for feedback: Take time to find out whether or not students are happy with the class. Ask for suggestions regarding activities they want to do or skills they would like to improve. Put a question box or envelope out so that students can remain anonymous if they want to.
2. Activities Used in Small Classes
Use English newspapers: Ask students to bring in a daily paper. Assign one story to each student to read and present. See the Guide for Teachers on how to use English Club's Monthly News Digest in the classroom.
Use music in the classroom: Have students listen to English songs. Use cloze exercises and teach vocabulary and idioms.
Storytelling: Have students tell stories from their own cultures or childhoods. It is fun to take students to a new location to do this, such as a park or a coffee shop.
Chain writing: Each student writes one sentence on a piece of paper and then passes it on until each story is complete.
Role-playing: Give students lots of opportunity to use the language they are learning in mock-style everyday settings.
Board games: Small groups are great for playing board games such as Word Up. Card games are a great way for students to practice asking questions. Make sure that they speak in English rather than speaking with gestures or in their own native language.
Online lessons: Besides our own Learning Center, English Club offers many links to other online sites. Small classes can make use of computer labs easily. If your class does not have a computer lab, take students to the local library regularly to introduce them to the online learning sites.
Films: There are numerous lessons online for incorporating film into your class lessons. This can be done at all levels with great success, especially in a small class. Stop the film often in order to check comprehension and keep students focused.
Class Excursions: Take advantage of the class size, by getting out of the school as often as possible. Exposing your students to real English outside of the classroom is one of the most important things you can do if they are visiting from foreign countries.
Basic Problem faced
Nowadays, many school facing problems in how to manage or instruct students in a small class. Approximately 35 – 40 students in one class actually is ineffectively of learning and teaching process. Teachers are able in handling or make approach to their student because they also have a limited time in the classroom and not only teaching in one class but also teaching others class. Student behavior can’t be controlled in a short time. So, teachers must able to make a small class become effective and student’s achievement can be reach.
Solutions for the Problems
1. Strategies for Coping with Small Classes
Fillers: Always have plenty of fillers (such as puzzles and games) ready in case activities finish quickly. Keep a list of games or warm ups on hand to use when energy gets low. Some may need to be adapted slightly if the class is very small.
Review often: Take the time to make sure that your students understand the lessons and material.
Encourage confidence: Help shy students to feel more comfortable by trying not to put them on the spot. Let them get comfortable with you and their classmates before you start calling on them to speak up more. Remember to praise them often and save criticism for private interviews.
Change the dynamics: Invite students from other classes in once in a while. Prearrange pair group and getting to know you activities with other teachers who have small classes. If you have high level students pair them with lower level students and give them the opportunity to teach.
Ask for feedback: Take time to find out whether or not students are happy with the class. Ask for suggestions regarding activities they want to do or skills they would like to improve. Put a question box or envelope out so that students can remain anonymous if they want to.
2. Activities Used in Small Classes
Use English newspapers: Ask students to bring in a daily paper. Assign one story to each student to read and present. See the Guide for Teachers on how to use English Club's Monthly News Digest in the classroom.
Use music in the classroom: Have students listen to English songs. Use cloze exercises and teach vocabulary and idioms.
Storytelling: Have students tell stories from their own cultures or childhoods. It is fun to take students to a new location to do this, such as a park or a coffee shop.
Chain writing: Each student writes one sentence on a piece of paper and then passes it on until each story is complete.
Role-playing: Give students lots of opportunity to use the language they are learning in mock-style everyday settings.
Board games: Small groups are great for playing board games such as Word Up. Card games are a great way for students to practice asking questions. Make sure that they speak in English rather than speaking with gestures or in their own native language.
Online lessons: Besides our own Learning Center, English Club offers many links to other online sites. Small classes can make use of computer labs easily. If your class does not have a computer lab, take students to the local library regularly to introduce them to the online learning sites.
Films: There are numerous lessons online for incorporating film into your class lessons. This can be done at all levels with great success, especially in a small class. Stop the film often in order to check comprehension and keep students focused.
Class Excursions: Take advantage of the class size, by getting out of the school as often as possible. Exposing your students to real English outside of the classroom is one of the most important things you can do if they are visiting from foreign countries.
Written by Peacock
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