Korean Job Discussion Forums

[fakeplastiktree]

I'm about to start my second semester of teaching at a public middle school in Seoul. I feel like things got a little out of hand and that I lost control of my classes in my first semester (I have 40 students per class!). I'm thinking part of it had to do with not clearly establishing boundaries.

Is it good practice to go over classroom rules during the first class? For people that do this, what are your classroom rules?

Here's what I've thought of so far:
- Be on time for class
- Keep the classroom clean (don't draw on the desks or leave garbage behind)
- No eating or drinking in class
- Do not speak when the teacher is speaking

What else could be added to this? Should I then also specify penalties to breaking these rules? And if so, punishment suggestions?

[Saskatoongirl]

i find that all my classes are so different, its better to make up rules to fit every individual class.

[crazy_arcade]

Follow through.

It has to be the most important part.

I've learned the hard way before....it's not fun.

[ChilgokBlackHole]

[ddeubel]

When setting class rules, make sure you do this in the L1 (Korean). Have a coteacher or someone translate.

Divide the board into 2. One side rules for students. One side rules for the teacher. Write down the rules the class comes up with.

First rule of thumb is to phrase the rules as a positive. Ex. "Do not speak when the teacher is speaking" becomes "One person speaks at a time, raise your hand to speak".

Get 5 good rules for each and then write them on chart paper. The teacher signs his/her rules. The students all sign their rules. Outline consequences and warnings.

If there is a problem in class - point to the rules and make a handout of them which you can send home for parents to sign (in Korean).

Some standard rules for both teacher and students are;

Come prepared
Clean up after yourself
Respect others
Respect school property
Do your best
Help your classmates
Speak English
Raise your hand
Sit up straight
Listen, Learn, Like


This is a full lesson, just making the rules. Do this your second class NOT your first one. The first one should be informal and about getting to know the students and them knowing you. That's how I do it.

DD
http://eflclassroom.com

[reactionary]

Paddling the school canoe, you better BELIEVE that's a paddlin'.

[Saskatoongirl]

[Goon-Yang]

Try to speak English when possible.
Try to participate.
Don't touch your phone.
blah blah blah

[ChilgokBlackHole]

[SMOE NSET]

[Manuel_the_Bandito]

You don't have to teach kids really obvious stuff they already know. They know they're supposed to be in class on time. They know they're not supposed to play with mobiles. They know they're supposed to have their books. They know they're not supposed to chat away when the teacher or another student is talking. What they're waiting to see is what you're going to do about it when they inevitably act up. Are you going to point to a sign? Are you going to look at your co-teacher helplessly? Are you going to bribe them with candy? Are you going to let them get away with treating your lesson like mucking-around time? Are you prepared with some effective system of enforcement? You can make up the most wonderful list of rules possible but if you don't have an enforcemnt system that works, it's pointless.

[Easter Clark]

Three rules are all you need:

1. Respect yourself
2. Respect your teacher
3. Respect school property

Any infraction can fall into one of those 3 categories. As for enforcing those rules, that sounds like another thread.

[Horangi Munshin]