PowerPoint Presentation
Conventions and Routines for Organising Instructional TimeTan
Meng SeanTee Shu MinDefinitionConventions and routines are a vital
part of efficient classroom operationsTerm them as rules,
procedures, and routines (Karen, 1999; Jones, 1987 & Dreikurs,
1968 in Manning & Buchers, 2013)
Spend more of their time in the first few weeks of the year
teaching classroom routines and procedures as opposed to academic
contentRoutines and procedures are the key to a well-managed,
organized classroomRoutines and Proceduresfor Managing Your
Classroomby K.J. Wagner, M.A.
Points to rememberHave a copy of your routines and procedures to
hand to each of your students on the first day of school.Do not
simply hand out the list, go over it once, and expect the students
to comply.Teach the most important, key procedures over a period of
days, one or two at a time. Explain the rationale behind the
routine or procedure.Model the routine or procedure for the
students.Be consistent. Don't give up after a few days. The time
spent teaching, monitoring and reinforcing routines and procedures
during the first three weeks of school will pay tremendous
dividends. Canter leeFollow directions. This rule is included to
ensure that students promptly follow any direction you might give
during the day. every teacher has different ways of moving into
groups, collecting work, distributing assignments, etc. Your
students need to follow your expectations, not another teachers
expectations.Beginning & Ending the Day/PeriodIn order to
encourage students to be ready quickly, consider creating a simple
challenge Lets see if we can put away our bags and be seated with
our math books open faster than we did yesterday. Lets try to break
our 30-second mark! Depending on the resources available, you might
need to plan rotational activities. Getting the Attention of the
Class Establish certain cues so you can quickly gain the attention
of the entire class and signal what needs to happen next. Include
clapping in a special rhythm and having students mimic the rhythm,
holding two fingers in the air, counting down from 5 to 1, saying
1-2-3 All Eyes on Me to which students respond 1-2 All Eyes on
You,Classwork/Homeworki. Homework Folder Procedure Each month, the
teachers will give two pupils in each bell/block the role of being
the homework keeper. One or the other will copy down the homework
for the day, the date it was assigned and due. Put this in a file
cabinet folder. ii. Homework policy Composition book to jot downThe
teachers can check the homework the following day but does not
grade it since asssistance is usually given in the lower grades.
Pupils who do not hand in homework in a timely fashion make it up
in the classroom and make up missed homework during free time in
the room. Transitions Between ActivitiesAccommodate students
completing work at differing times. For example, avoid scheduling a
large group discussion after a written assignment.If pupils have
completed their work satisfactorily and have nothing to do, then
more challenging work or enrichment is appropriate.
Review with your students what they can do when they are done.
If You Finish Early poster in their classroom that has a number of
activities students can do independently if they complete the
assignment before others are ready to move on to the next stage of
the lesson
Develop transition activities for regular transition times such
as entering the classroom. For example, walk into the classroom
quietly every day after lunch and automatically begin silent
reading. MonitoringMonitoring is to heighten class teachers
awareness of what is actually occuring in the day-to-day
organization and management of their own classrooms and allow
opportunities for considering : The improvement of practiceThe
improvement of understanding of practice by practitioners;The
improvement of the situation in which practice takes place (Carr
and Kemmis,1986)
Class incentivesHomework passes.Free Time at the end of class
(PAT time).Points towards their overall grade.At the end of an
unit, have an approved movie day.Play the radio (appropriate
music).Class chooses between two activities to do that day.
Class cuesSaying Ladies and Gentlemen or boys and girls to get
attention.Turning lights on and off to get attention.Put index
finger to mouth to tell students to be quiet.Pupils put pencils
down when done with an assignment.Pupils raise hands holding
bathroom card to signal.
Teacher feedback and actions can demonstrate this confidence in
pupils or undermine pupils effort. Teachers can offer feedback in:
oral comments written comments suggestions during guided practice
question and answer suggestions on homework and in-class
assignments progress reports and notes home to parents
Provide FeedbackFeedback must be specific, clear and must
provide the pupil with the opportunity to act on it.Some examples
of feedback statements are:This is good. If you add an example it
will be excellent!Good start on that description of the main
character! Can you add two more adjectives?You have compared two
characters, now add some contrast.
Managing Learner Location/GroupingIdeally classrooms should be
arranged so that the pupils are in a U shape, where the desks on
the sides are diagonal, facing the board. With this arrangement,
the teachers can see every pupil, and every pupil can see the
board. This set up puts the focus on the center of the room where
the teachers will be teaching. The teacherss desk is at the back of
the room so that he/she can see all of the pupils. This set-up
allows for ease of putting them into groups or partners. There is
plenty of room to walk in- front- of and behind desks, as well as
room to walk behind rows.
