UNIT 4: MAKING IT WORK
1. Introduction:
2 Main sections:
• How to create a good teaching environment, through the set-up of the room
as well as through building a good rapport with praise and gestures.
• Helping your students to become more motivated, techniques to ensure your
learners are on track and testing your learners’ progress.
2. Creating a good teaching
environment:
The physical learning environment really makes a difference to how well a class
engages and interacts. Some aspects include:
• Size of room.
• Lighting.
• Heating and ventilation.
• Seating arrangement.
• Access to technology.
• Appropriate resources such as stationery..
• Decoration or style of the room.
2.1 Classroom Layout:
A good layout for your classroom will be:
• Functional:
Allowing you to easily move around the room and speak to individual
students.
• Stimulating:
Encouraging students to engage in the activities and interact with each other.
There are a number of different types of layouts that can work well in the classroom:
• Horseshoe
• Circle
• Rows
• Groups or islands
Possible advantages and disadvantages of each classroom layout:
1
,2.2 Choosing a layout:
What type of layout will work best for each of the following types of activities:
• Whole class discussion.
• Small group work.
• Pair work.
• Opposing teams.
• Roleplay.
• Student led activity.
2
, 2.3 Physical Environment:
Here are a few tips:
• Make sure your room is bright : poor lighting can lead to drowsiness and a
quiet, passive atmosphere.
• Use natural lighting, where possible. Or make sure your lights are on before
the students arrive.
• Be aware of how lighting can impact board visibility.
• Keep the classroom cool and ventilated. This prevents students from
becoming drowsy.
• Make posters and/or put students’ work on the walls to make the room more
attractive – and help develop your students’ confidence.
• Place maps around the room.
2.4 Preparing your resources:
Checklist of points to check before your class arrives:
• Make sure all your pens work. It's a good idea to have several differently
coloured pens plus spares, in case one runs out.
• Bring extra pens and paper to give out to students who have forgotten
their own.
• Check you have all the materials that you need for your lesson – including
your own notes. It is helpful to set these out in advance, so you can easily find
what you need during the lesson.
• Check you have all the equipment that you need and that it (plus any
plugs / sockets) is working. You may need to book some equipment in
advance.
• Set up equipment so that it is ready, at the correct place and with a suitable
volume.
• Ensure that audiovisual equipment and the board are in a suitable position for
all students to see them easily.
3. Build good relationships with your
students:
Developing a positive, professional relationship with students will stand you in good
stead in the classroom. Here are some ideas for developing good relationships with
your students:
Get to know your students:
• Spend time learning students’ names and other keys facts about them.
• Encourage students to get to know each other.
• Use warmers and coolers as opportunities for you and your class to find out
about each other’s interests.
Speak to each student:
• Greet your students individually as they arrive for the start of a lesson.
• Use students’ names during class.
• Check that your students are happy with the class – and get their suggestions
about how to improve the lessons.
Understand the wider picture:
3
1. Introduction:
2 Main sections:
• How to create a good teaching environment, through the set-up of the room
as well as through building a good rapport with praise and gestures.
• Helping your students to become more motivated, techniques to ensure your
learners are on track and testing your learners’ progress.
2. Creating a good teaching
environment:
The physical learning environment really makes a difference to how well a class
engages and interacts. Some aspects include:
• Size of room.
• Lighting.
• Heating and ventilation.
• Seating arrangement.
• Access to technology.
• Appropriate resources such as stationery..
• Decoration or style of the room.
2.1 Classroom Layout:
A good layout for your classroom will be:
• Functional:
Allowing you to easily move around the room and speak to individual
students.
• Stimulating:
Encouraging students to engage in the activities and interact with each other.
There are a number of different types of layouts that can work well in the classroom:
• Horseshoe
• Circle
• Rows
• Groups or islands
Possible advantages and disadvantages of each classroom layout:
1
,2.2 Choosing a layout:
What type of layout will work best for each of the following types of activities:
• Whole class discussion.
• Small group work.
• Pair work.
• Opposing teams.
• Roleplay.
• Student led activity.
2
, 2.3 Physical Environment:
Here are a few tips:
• Make sure your room is bright : poor lighting can lead to drowsiness and a
quiet, passive atmosphere.
• Use natural lighting, where possible. Or make sure your lights are on before
the students arrive.
• Be aware of how lighting can impact board visibility.
• Keep the classroom cool and ventilated. This prevents students from
becoming drowsy.
• Make posters and/or put students’ work on the walls to make the room more
attractive – and help develop your students’ confidence.
• Place maps around the room.
2.4 Preparing your resources:
Checklist of points to check before your class arrives:
• Make sure all your pens work. It's a good idea to have several differently
coloured pens plus spares, in case one runs out.
• Bring extra pens and paper to give out to students who have forgotten
their own.
• Check you have all the materials that you need for your lesson – including
your own notes. It is helpful to set these out in advance, so you can easily find
what you need during the lesson.
• Check you have all the equipment that you need and that it (plus any
plugs / sockets) is working. You may need to book some equipment in
advance.
• Set up equipment so that it is ready, at the correct place and with a suitable
volume.
• Ensure that audiovisual equipment and the board are in a suitable position for
all students to see them easily.
3. Build good relationships with your
students:
Developing a positive, professional relationship with students will stand you in good
stead in the classroom. Here are some ideas for developing good relationships with
your students:
Get to know your students:
• Spend time learning students’ names and other keys facts about them.
• Encourage students to get to know each other.
• Use warmers and coolers as opportunities for you and your class to find out
about each other’s interests.
Speak to each student:
• Greet your students individually as they arrive for the start of a lesson.
• Use students’ names during class.
• Check that your students are happy with the class – and get their suggestions
about how to improve the lessons.
Understand the wider picture:
3
