Job Discussion Forums

[bj80]

Hi Everyone,

Sorry to put up so many musings. I know I must be asking a lot of questions.

To me, I simply want to become a better classroom teacher, without feeling like I am losing my sense of self, becoming too stiff, etc.

My two weak spots have always been:

1. Curriculum Design- specifically designing courses efficiently, marking exams efficiently, etc. I really enjoy workplaces that have everything laid out.

2. Classroom management- I need to learn more techniques to gain respect, without coming across as a total hard-nosed, boring teacher.

Any articles, books, videos, etc. would be appreciated.

[Teacher in Rome]

For curriculum design, I don't see what "marking exams efficiently" has to do with it, unless you're designing tests and exams to be more easily marked. The concept of "efficiency" is (imo) not as important as creating the best opportunities for your students to learn.

In terms of classroom management, have you tried observing more experienced teachers in your organisation? What do they do to manage their classrooms without becoming too strict? You don't mention location or age group, which are two factors that are v important.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

Rather than asking people on an Internet discussion board (and without giving really any information at all- country/ continent, age level, ability level etc), you might do better to just do a search on Amazon dot com, and then look through books yourself (and the reviews of them).

Just a couple of points:

1. Curriculum. Figure out what the learners already know, and what you want them to learn. Scaffold appropriately. There are oodles of books on this topic.

2. Classroom management. Step one should be to look into books on motivation. Next, if the learners know that you really know what you're talking about, and the learners see you as a person, then they are much less likely to act out. One point is that the goal of many people is to teach at the university level is because of behavioural problems at the junior and senior high level. If you are at the junior and senior high level, then there will often be behavioural problems unless the school backs you up. And the school may well not back you up.

[ttxor1]

A suggestion for curriculum design -

Nation, I.S.P.; Macalister, J. (2009) Language Curriculum Design. Routledge: New York