Strategies for Managing Large Classrooms · 2018. 6. 11. · Strategies for Managing Large...

Strategies for Managing Large Classrooms

Managinglargegroupsofstudentsinoneclasscanbechallenging.Duringthissession,par0cipantswilllearn:•  strategiesforbuildingcommunityandusingtechnology•  waystostructuregroupworkandinterac9vediscussions•  techniquesforkeepinglargegroupsofstudentsstudentsengaged,interested,andontask

Christopher S5llwell ChrishasworkedasanESL/EFLeducatorforover20yearsandasateachereducatorformorethan10years.HehasanMAinTESOLfromTeachersCollegeatColumbiaUniversityandanMAineduca9onfromtheUniversityofCalifornia,Irvine’sSchoolofEduca9on.HewillsooncompletehisPhDineduca9onatUCIrvinewithadisserta9onfocusedontheneedsofEnglishlanguagelearnersinlargeclasses.HehasalsoservedasanEnglishLanguageSpecialistinCairo,Egypt,helpingdevelopaTESOLcer9ficatecourseandestablishingavirtualexchangebetweenEgyp9anteachersandteachersintheU.S.

Strategies for Managing

Large Classes

ChristopherS9llwellUniversityofCalifornia,Irvine/

CollegeoftheSequoiass9llwellcg@gmail.com

©2018byChristopherS0llwell.StrategiesforManagingLargeClassesfortheOfficeofEnglishLanguage Programs.ThisworkislicensedundertheCrea0veCommonsAKribu0on4.0License,exceptwherenoted.To viewacopyofthislicense,visithKp://crea0vecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Online Discussion Ques5ons

• Wheredoyouteach,andhowmanystudentsareinyourclasses?• Whatmakesmanaginglargeclassesdifficult?• Whatteachingtechniquesworkbestforlargeclasses?• Howcanwemaximizestudents’par9cipa9oninalargeclass?

TheNextQues0on

Doyouhaveexamplesofwaystoprovidestructureforyourlargeclasses?

Pleaseshareyourideasandstrategiesinthecomments.

Two Principles of Managing Large Classes • Providestructure

• Buildcommunity

Providingstructuremeansdefiningthedifferentpartsofourclasses,ourac9vi9es,and

ourassessments

Providing Structure

Why?• ClaritymaXers• Increaseddiversity=increasedneeds• Efficiency• Studentresponsibility

Providing Structure

Example:Givinginstruc0ons

Diversity:• Usevisualsupportthroughtextandimages

Providing Structure

Telling students how to arrange the room

Example: Giving instruc5ons

Clarity:• Planinstruc9onsinadvance• Breakbiginstruc9onsintosmallersteps• Checkstudents’comprehensionofinstruc9onsbeforetheybeginatask

Providing Structure

Example: Giving instruc5ons

Efficiency:• Givestudentsopeningandclosingsentencesfortheirwork• Tellstudentswhattheclosingsignalwillbe

Providing Structure

Giving clear instruc5ons

• Roleplayrules• Openingsentence• Closingsentence• Direc9ons–Whatdidyouunderstand?

Clarity:• RubricsshowhowassignmentswillbegradedEfficiency:• RubricsmakegradingeasierStudentresponsibility:• Studentscanuserubricstoassessthemselves

Example:GradingwithrubricsProviding Structure

Adaptedfrom:hXps://americanenglish.state.gov/resources/teachers-corner-making-meaningful-assessments#child-2140

Two Principles of Managing Large Classes • Providestructure

• Buildcommunity

Ques9onsWhatmakesastrongclassroomcommunity?Howcanwebuildcommunityinlargeclasses?Howcanbuildingcommunityhelpustomanagelargeclasses?

Building Community

Why?•  Inalargeclass,studentsmayfeelliketheydon’tmaXer•  Instead,weshouldhelpstudentsfeelliketheyaremembersofavaluablecommunity

Building Community

How?• Usestudents’names

• Beinclusive

• Formfixedgroups

Building Community

Why is it important to know names?

• Helpsbuildrela9onships• Helpsclassroommanagement• Helpsstudentstofeelknownandimportant

Using students’ names

• Studentprofilecards• Makelearningnamesapriority

Secrets of learning students’ names

• Remember:Studentsappreciateit• Dedicateclass9metoit• Classphoto

• Embracethediversityofalargeclass• Teacherscanmakestudentsfeelliketheybelong• Makeyourac9vi9esaccessibleforeveryone• Forexample,avoidmakingthecolorsredandgreenimportant,becausesomepeoplecannotseethedifference

Building Community Be inclusive

• Hearfromavarietyofstudentsineveryclass• Don’tlecturetoomuch–interact• Don’tcallonthefirstpersontoraisetheirhand• Givestudentsthinking9me

• Usethink-pair-share• Callonstudentsintheirgroups

Building Community Be inclusive

Building Community

Ques9on:Howdoyouhelpstudentsbeproduc9veingroups?

Building Community

Next: Make a sea5ng chart to show at start of class

Give groups 2-5 minutes to work together as part of the opening rou5ne

Support group work

• Designac9vi9essostudentsneedeachothertocompletethem• Makestudentsindividuallyaccountable• Don’tassumethatstudentshavethenecessarysocialskills

Summary Providestructure

Buildcommunity• Beclear• Supportdiverselearners• Useefficientassessments• Helpstudentstakeresponsibilityfortheirownlearning

• Usestudents’names• Beinclusive• Formfixedgroups

Thankyou!

Email:americanenglish@state.gov

americanenglishwebinars.comamericanenglish.state.gov

facebook.com/AmericanEnglishatStatefacebook.com/AmericanEnglishforEducators

Thankyou!