WRITERS AT WORK Teacher Training: Effective Classroom Management

By WR!TERS@WORK

At WRITERS AT WORK, we aim to have teachers who are trained to be the best that they can be. When teachers know how to address issues which crop up in teaching because they have had the experience of doing so before, this will make the student feel safe in the classroom and comfortable learning with their peers and teacher. Every teacher’s aim should be to ensure their students feel safe in the classroom. To do that, one of the most crucial aspects is to implement proper classroom management to facilitate a conducive learning environment for students.

One of the angles considered by WRITERS AT WORK in classroom management is Humanistic Teaching, which centres around the tenet that the teacher should evaluate what the student needs in order to learn and strive to meet these needs where possible to make the student feel safe and respected. Unfortunately, there are instances as we have seen in some high profile cases featured in main media where teachers did not meet the requirement of being a safe space for their charges – such trauma could have long term impact even after students have left school. Our teachers at WRITERS AT WORK recognise that they are the safe spaces is one of the most crucial factors that affects students’ learning. The way teachers choose to behave in class will impact their students for a long time, and this impact ought to be a positive one.

Although teachers are humans too – which means that they have bad days, just like everyone else – it is important to remember that there are ways to manage the behaviour of students in a kind and firm way so as to make them feel safe. Teachers need to set norms, rules, and procedures to establish a healthy class culture. When students are used to a teacher’s style of teaching, they know what they are expected to do and will not need to be constantly reminded by the teachers to do simple things they ought to know to do – it can be as simple as taking out their stationery or keeping quiet when someone else is sharing their contributions to the rest of their classmates.

Here are three important aspects a WRITERS AT WORK teacher needs to consider when teaching a class:

1. Setting Rules in the Classroom

Without rules, a classroom would be thrown into utter chaos. A large part of classroom management is setting rules which have consequences if students choose to break them. When setting rules, the teacher should keep the number of rules to less than 5, as students will not be able to remember a large number of rules. When setting the wording of rules, teachers should bear in mind the age of their students – younger students may need the rules to “spell it out” more for them, as compared to older students who have more nuance in understanding. Rules should be worded clearly and prohibit a certain type of behaviour, such as “no swearing”. Additionally, rules attract consequences – there must be enforcement of the rule, so that the student knows that he/she should not break the rule again in future.

2. Ensuring Students are Aware of the Proper Procedures for Each Lesson

A procedure is not a rule – the difference is that when a student breaks a rule, there ought to be consequences for it. However, a procedure is less binding – students who do not follow a procedure are simply reminded to do so. An example of a rule is when a student is not allowed to swear in class. However, an example of a procedure is when a student is encouraged to get ready before the lesson, which includes going to the bathroom, taking out their notes and stationery, and keeping quiet when the teacher comes in and greets the class. These procedures are things which teachers want their students to do without them having to constantly tell them to do it. When these norms are constantly repeated and enforced, students will moderate themselves and do what they are supposed to do without the teachers constantly telling them to do it.

3. Being Sensitive and Teaching Students How to Have Empathy

A good teacher will be sensitive to what his/her student needs. One of the ways to do this is to pay attention to body language to solve problems. For example, if a student is sitting down crossing their arms, it could be because they are upset, wanting to look “cool”, paying attention and not touching anything else, or simply freezing because of the air-conditioning. Being sensitive to what a student needs and how they feel can help a teacher determine how to behave. Students are humans, just like their teachers, and there may be events in their lives which they are going through that teachers are not always privy to. After spending a considerable amount of time with their students, teachers would know when a student is acting out of sorts.

Ultimately, teachers should teach their students that they should have empathy – this is a word which is not commonly understood by young children. Many children understand the term “respect”, but this usually has a connotation of deferring to authority. The term empathy can be understood as doing unto others what you want to be done to you. Learning how to empathise with your teacher, or your classmate who is having a bad day can increase the emotional intelligence of a student and teach them that others have needs and they need to feel safe, too.

Attain Stellar Results with W@W!

English is a compulsory subject which all students must undertake. However, mastering the English language is not something which happens overnight – it takes consistent practice and effort to learn the nuances of the language. Students must read more and practice writing to gradually improve. Cramming for a language subject nearer to the exams is an impossible feat. After all, Rome was not built in a day! Attaining such a skill will have positive implications for not only your child’s education in school, but also employment prospects in future.

At WR!TERS@WORK, we are committed to providing the smoothest learning experience for your child sitting for their English exams. With our carefully curated methods of teaching your child how to write well, your child will learn how to present their thoughts and arguments in a coherent and concise manner. W@W reinforces your child’s language skills and provides a strong foundation for their academic success, keeping up with all aspects of their progress both inside and outside of the classroom to nurture them holistically. For more information about how W@W makes a difference, feel free to explore our website and watch our YouTube videos!

If you are interested in our primary English tuition and secondary English tuition in Singapore, WR!TERS@WORK has expanded to 8 convenient locations. To find the nearest location that suits your needs, please explore our options. If you have any inquiries regarding our range of programs or class schedules, please feel free to contact WR!TERS@WORK!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

1. What Do You Learn in English Writing Class?

Firstly, W@W teaches students how to break down the question to understand what is being asked of the student. Learning what the question wants is just as important as learning how to answer it. Next, students will learn how to use the Plot Curve to craft logical and coherent plots, and interesting, well-developed characters, all the while learning key phrases which broaden their vocabulary. Students will use ideas from all the lessons taught at W@W in the exam.

2. How Can I Improve My Child’s Creative Writing Skills?

Reading model compositions is one way to improve a child’s creative writing skills. After all, children cannot write about what they do not know. By reading how good essays are written and attempting to imitate them, children will pick up sentence mechanics and vocabulary they can use in their own exams. Reading more will also give students ideas about the various contexts they can write an essay about as they will be able to broaden their horizon of experiences.

3. Why is It Important to Take Writing Classes?

Writing is the most difficult literacy skill to be taught because it is a combination of many different skills. Students need to be logical and creative when writing to create a coherent plot while remembering how to use the correct sentence mechanics. Additionally, a wide range of vocabulary suited to the context must be used to create the correct imagery and tone.

4. What Age Do Kids Start Creative Writing?

Children may begin creative writing in primary school. In Singapore, children are required to do Situational Writing and Composition for their PSLE exams, which take place in Primary 6. Children may begin with simple prompts and first learn how to craft basic sentences, then move on to telling a story with a coherent plot which has a source of tension and then a resolution.