A big hello from Singapore!

Hello All,

I'm currently in Singapore running a series of training  courses  on classroom management and will be back in the UK to run the OSL courses at the start of December.

It would be wonderful to 'meet' anyone who is due to attend the OSL dates here on the blog/forum over the next few weeks - I am at my laptop most days and will be happy to answer any questions.

Best wishes,

Rob

OSL Classroom Management Trainer

Courses: details here Essential Classroom Management, Success With Difficult Pupils

Comments

[David Stokes]

OK I'll accept your invite for any questions.

You go into a new class, 20 in size. The previous teacher has suddenly resigned.

It's the dreaded year 10.

They're ill-disciplined.

You hear someone say 'who the fuck is this?' as you enter the room.

You're immediate reaction and behaviour over the next 10 minutes?

[Sally Fearson]

I have a class of 20. Most of them will not pass any GCSEs let alone 5. None will go to university/do A levels etc.

Some will work at the local factory where their parents work.

Others have no idea as to what they do.

BUT one thing they do share in common is...'What's the point of doing this?' whenever I try to teach them...RE.

Any ideas?

[Peter Trayer]

I teach a class of ten people in a private school. Most of the class are Russian. Their problem is lack of English - though I am actually teaching them Maths.

Frequently they talk in Russian even though I have told them not to.

Also, often they arrive late.

I cannot exclude them from the class or stop them entering - even for lateness.

I have no idea what they are saying in Russian - I hope it's about Maths.

There are very few sanctions available for me as it is a private school and the school wants the money.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[Exasperated teacher]

I have a class of 25 15 year-olds. In a different environment they'd probably be demanding my mobile phone and money.

But this is school.

I spend so much time just getting them to open their books, to stop talking about 'last night at the pub' and annoying each other that very little academic work gets done.

Are there any basic strategies I should follow? Something I could use at the beginning of the lesson that would calm them down?

[Jude G]

End of term soon. I feel I am beginning to burn out. Overloaded by marking and assessments, just struggling to cope with a troublesome class. I am beginning to dislike the pupils as people - let alone as pupils.

In class they have already started thinking of holidays - even though there are 3 weeks left!

I am not a circus clown and cannot bring myself to always try and 'entertain, entertain, entertain' (as Blair didn't put it)

Any quick and easy strategies I can try with my Year 9s?

[Paul Smith]

I am always organised as I think that reduces classroom management problems. However - even after ten weeks of this term - I still have pupils who bring the wrong book, have a disorganised file, arrive late, 'lose homework' etc.

On top of that, when we go to the computer room, often the computers don't all work.

How can I get my class more organised without them thinking I am patronising them?

The class is A2.

Yes, 17 year olds.

[Sam Baylis]

Would just like to know what could motivate a classroom full of students (25 to 30), which starts early mornings off and is all about mechanics such as dynamics? I mean it’s such a heavy subject and methods of teaching this subject seem to be very direct (examples and solutions). Any ideas on other methods? Anything which could captivate the students more?