Tips for effective classroom management 3

3. Be prepared

Managing a classroom of learners who quickly and efficiently shift between work and play, are not distracted by background noise and are exceptional at multi-tasking, is challenging. Being well prepared for every lesson is the best tool for an efficient classroom.

As a novice teacher you may lack extensive content knowledge that may make it more difficult to teach or explain subject content for a whole (or even a double) period. Managing a class who have a relative short attention span is a challenge but being prepared builds confidence.   

To combat boredom, adapt your planning to hold the interest of the class. Learners who are interested in the material and activities are less likely to cause disruption. Designing a short activity where your learners are personally engaged in the learning process will go a long way to keeping them interested for the rest of the lesson. Technology is not optional: it should be a given. Consider, for example, adding a 5-minute task, using cell phones to break the monotony of listening to the teacher or working from the textbook for a long time.

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