by Annette Stevenson
One of our teachers explains how she manages her classroom and helps students focus in class.
Now that Covid-19 restrictions are starting to lift (and students are returning to the physical classroom), I have noticed an abundance of excitement and energy coming from the students. They are so excited to see each other and interact again that it’s starting to be a problem in the classroom. I teach young adults English as a foreign language (EFL), and the other day my students literally had a party in my class. Well, it wasn’t a designated party, but they were just so happy to be back together they threw one on the spot. So, I evaluated what I could do to help them stay more focused.
Here are three ideas that I came up with: create seating arrangements, encourage more participation, and monitor written work.
I have found that even adults must be arranged into groups and seating assignments to help them stay focused. I quickly evaluate personality types and make sure each group is well represented to balance the group. I assign a group leader and make sure they get each member of the group to participate and speak. I encourage them to help and support each other as they practice English together.
I noticed that if I’m randomly calling on various students, I am encouraging them to be prepared to answer the questions and share their opinions and ideas. I don’t leave them too long to socialize. I want them to stay focused on the given assignment so that they share their ideas and, of course, practice their English.
I work on a separate laptop so that I can monitor the students’ work and progress. I let them know I am watching their progress. I might encourage them to work a little faster because I feel that this will help them focus better on their given assignments. Sometimes, if a student is struggling, I might get another student to work as a mentor with them. I find that the students stay on target better if they know I’m watching their progress. This is also helpful because I can see if they need more support.
Helping support students in class when they are easily distracted is challenging, but helping them accomplish their goals and ambitions is a very important calling. I want my students to learn English because I want them to get better jobs and have more opportunities in the future. Letting my students know that I care about them, but also wanting them to be successful in their English classes, is necessary. Helping students focus in class is challenging, but it is so rewarding.
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Here’s an article about other strategies for classroom management,