Regaining control of your classroom

Some discipline tips for when things start to go pear-shaped

The famous yellow and red card system is often a winner. Get some coloured cards and every time a student is bad, present them with a yellow card, football-style. Two yellows equal a red and a punishment. Works especially well in all-boy schools.

Teachers that make me angry

Postbox letter from Peter

One thing that I find very annoying is listening to teachers who no matter what is expected of them, keep failing to use their common sense and preparing things in advance.

Learning difficulties

Dealing with students that have special needs

If you get the chance to talk to the teacher you’re replacing, ask them if there is anyone to look out for with Special Educational Needs (SEN) in the class. Otherwise, you could be in for a shock.

The importance of planning lessons

Planning lessons also includes seating arrangements don't forget.

Get a notebook and jot down how you see your lesson going in your head, from the warmer to the presentation to the summary. This doesn’t mean you’re teaching by numbers; it just gives you a basic framework.

Variation in the classroom

Problems with a mixed-ability classroom

Every one of my students is different. There are huge differences in what they know, what they can do, and what they are interested in. How am I supposed to teach them?

Ways of teaching

Do you know your TBL from your ESA and CLT?

Great debates rage as to whether PPP is outdated, if TPR works for everyone and if ESA is really PPP in disguise. The good news is that the basics remain simple – keep students entertained and give them a chance to use what they are learning.

How do students learn?

Creating a variety of lessons that will appeal to most of your students

Theory often comes near the bottom of the pile when it comes to teaching, but there are several things worth knowing about how people learn and how best you can teach them.

Which student is guilty?

Postbox letter from Deewise

It makes me question our Western attitude to the one whose work has been copied. We tend to view them as part of a conspiracy to defraud the school or grading system. Increasingly I am seeing this as a self-serving attitude perpetuated by the school because it helps the school administration,

The class A and B new norm

Is it going to work well or is the system doomed to fail?

Teachers were told that the standard programme student classes, that each consist of thirty-odd students, would be split into approximate halves and each group would now only study at the school on alternative days.