CLASSROOM AND GROUP CONTROL

Teacher’s Training
Course
INTRODUCTION
Keeping our students
focused and interested
in the class, as well as
maintaining a good pace
in a given lesson, can be
very difficult sometimes
for most of us, as
teachers.
It takes one element to
knock a flowing lesson
out of control.
INTRODUCTION
Loosing class control typically
happens because:
Something in the lesson plan
doesn’t speak to the students.
Some areas of the classroom
management plan need
reinforcing.
The following tips and
strategies to get and maintain
classroom control are shared
by some experts, based on
trial and error.

TEACHER’S PREPARATION INFLUENCES 80% IN DISCIPLINE

TECHNIQUES AND WAYS TO GAIN / REGAIN
GROUP CONTROL
Techniques to Gain and Maintain Classroom
Control.
Your reputation for effort, flexibility and availability.
 Learn your students’ names.
 Be punctual!

 Show up after hours to encourage them, but avoid one-on-one’s

sessions.
 Back-up plan in case your visual aids break.

 Involve your students in the decision-making process.

Encourage them to speak out whenever you notice some sort of

“strange” behavior, such as watching at the clock all the time, or
showing bored faces.
TECHNIQUES AND WAYS TO GAIN / REGAIN
GROUP CONTROL
Your reputation for
firmness and fairness.
 Explain why you’ve asked the
class to do various things.
 When there’s something
unacceptable about the
classroom, don’t tolerate it.
 Try to keep as relaxed a
classroom atmosphere as
possible.
 Foster free communication
without been disruptive.
 Recognize good behavior and
effort.
 Avoid sarcasm, shouting or
comparing
TECHNIQUES AND WAYS TO GAIN / REGAIN
GROUP CONTROL  Your knowledge of the
content.
 Your students will notice this on
the basis of you ability to answer
the questions.
 How you handle the questions.
 If one student asks, many

students are wondering, so

don’t leave questions for the
end!
 Requests for clarification.
 Invite students to give it a try

first, in case the question

seems to basic for the level.
 Off-topic questions.
 Provide a brief answer,

depending on the situation.

 Don’t be afraid of resorting to

your colleagues in case you

don’t know the answer.
TECHNIQUES AND WAYS TO GAIN / REGAIN
GROUP CONTROL
Keeping the students focused and wanting to learn.
 The teacher must be able to explain the content clearly.
 For adult learners, use words such as, “why”, “because” and “you”.

 Involve you students in the topic. Avoid repeating only what the

textbook says.
 Ask questions. E.g. What is a _____?, Who has been to___?
 Bring students to the front of the room whenever you have a
chance.
 If you have a highly-capable student who attempts to dominate

the classroom, invite him to be your assistant for the day.

 If your exam questions and your handout style agrees with your

lectures, students will pay more attention in class.

TECHNIQUES AND WAYS TO GAIN / REGAIN
GROUP CONTROL
Responding forcefully and
fairly to challenges to your
authority.
 You handle challenges by making
the challenger appear silly in front
of his or her peers.
 Anticipate the questions and

complaints.
 If the students point out that your

lecture is redundant, have a second

lesson plan in reserve, if it’s
reasonable.
 If a student is persistently noisy,

point out that most of his

classmates want to learn, and he’s
interfering with this.
TECHNIQUES AND WAYS TO GAIN / REGAIN
GROUP CONTROL
 Dealing with “Hecklers”.
 At the adult level, these are
people who have chosen to
believe lies that make
them feel morally and
intellectually superior.
 The heckler’s strategy will

be to portray you as a
“Radical Right”, “Radical
Left” or a, “close-minded
scientific dogmatist
ignorant of new data”, or
maybe a, “malicious
oppressor of the human
race”.
TECHNIQUES AND WAYS TO GAIN / REGAIN
GROUP CONTROL
How to neutralize “heckler’s” attacks.
 as much as you can, try to act sympathetic rather than angry.
 ask the heckler "Why do you believe that?"

 ask the other students, "Did I say that?"

 say to the heckler, "I appreciate and share your concern about....

However, what I was actually trying to say was... and I am sorry you were
not able to understand that.“
 make the issue raised an interest-group subject, "Will somebody find

out about…?
 when the heckler falls back on radical skepticism ("You actually believe

in DNA?") or the rest of the class is obviously hostile to the heckler, it's
time to ask the rest of the class "Shall we move on?" They will be
grateful.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
 Internet Resources.
Ed’s Guide to Classroom Control.
 http://www.pathguy.com/classcon.htm
4 Ways to Regain Class Control, by Dorit Sasson.
 http://www.theapple.com/benefits/articles/7611-4-ways-to-regain-class-co
ntrol
Suggested Books.
Fontana, David, Classroom control: understanding and guiding
classroom behavior, Routledge, 1985.
 Available online at Google Books.