Group Lessons - Classroom Management

Ahh, the big one.  The question every beginner teacher asks: what if they’re naughty?

Firstly, let me remind you that corporal punishment is illegal…

Everything you do in your class should lead towards encouraging good behaviour.  The physical set-up of the class is important.  If everyone can see you, there will be fewer disruptions.  If everyone can hear you, ditto.  And if they all have enough room, can all see the music, and are (as one teacher I used to work with put it) “sitting next to someone who bring out the best in you”, life will be so much easier.

It’s important to find out why a student is being disruptive.  Are they bored?  Is the music too hard or too easy for them?  Are they sitting next to the wrong person?  Is something going on at home?  You can’t fix everything in their lives, and sometimes it’s not appropriate to pry (e.g. in a classroom setting with 30 kids all wielding ukuleles), but knowing why will help you plan your strategies.

Make sure you state any instructions clearly, and maybe repeat them a couple of different ways.  Children learn in different ways – some visually, some aurally, others kinesthetically (touching/doing).  Your instructions need to reach all of the students.  Also, for whatever reason, a student might have tuned out when you issued the first set of instructions.  If you repeat them, then that student has another go at understanding.  Sometimes bad behaviour can stem from simply not understanding the instructions.

Give students who need to move around, or need more attention a specific job (e.g. handing out new music).  This gives them the attention they need, it minimises disruptions, and means they’re doing something useful.

Make sure everyone is involved in lesson.  If your lesson is engaging, pitched at the right level, and involves everyone, students won’t even think of mucking around.  It’s hard in a group lesson, but try not to spend all the time with the one student who needs a bit more help.  The others will be resentful of not having your attention, and will be more inclined to chat about off-topic subjects.

Your expectations need to be stated clearly.  When we’re doing solos, I am very strict with the other students, making sure they know to be silent, still, and sensible.  I’ll state at the beginning of the solos: “For those listening, I need to be three things: silent, still, and sensible.  Silent means no talking, playing or making any other noise, still means no moving around, no flicking through your book and sensible means just don’t be stupid.”  Then after each solo I’ll say things like; “I like how Sarah stayed silent through Emily’s solo.”  If I see them about to move during someone’s solo, I’ll eyeball them and gently shake my head as a quiet reminder.

So…by now you’ve realised that all I’ve talked about is how to avoid disruptions in the first place.  But what can I do about the naughty ones? I hear you shout. Give me some actual strategies to use!

I hear you.  But trust me when I say that preventing naughtiness is a billion times easier and better than having to punish someone.

In the next post I'll discuss what to do!!