Prepared by

WORKING WITH FIRST CLASS

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The first class with a new group of young learners can be a nerve-wracking experience for teachers old

and new. Many of us spend the night before thinking about how to make a positive start to the year, with

a mixture of nerves, excitement, and a desire to get started. However, sometimes things don’t always go

as expected, and it is important to set a few ground rules in those early lessons to ensure a positive

classroom experience for all, throughout the academic year.

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Let’s look at a few

common problems

that can come up, and how best to deal with them at the start of

the school year.

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1. Students are not ready to start the class

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The way the first few minutes of the class are spent can have a great influence on how the lesson goes.

Students can be slow to get out their equipment and this can cause a lot of time wasting. To discourage

this, start lessons with a timed challenge.

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Tell students what you want them to do when they come into class, e.g. sit down, take out their books and

pencil cases, sit quietly ready for the lesson to start.

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Time how long it takes for everyone to do this and make a note. Each day do the same.

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Challenge students to do this faster every day. You could provide a goal and offer a prize at the end of

the trimester if they reach it, e.g. be ready in less than a minute every day.

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