Beginning and ending the lesson: Some tips

1. Beginning and ending the lesson: Some tips Penny Ur Spring ETAI 2014

2. In principle… • Teachers don’t share enough • Don’t leave it too late!

3. A. Beginning the lesson

4. 1. Smile • Surprisingly important • Underlying message • A neutral expression is not a neutral message.

5. 2. Create a clear beginning moment • A dividing line between ‘not lesson’ and ‘lesson’ • (Avoid a ‘creeping start’) • Allow a minute or two for students to get organized, then… • Give a clear signal

6. 3. Use opening rituals • Younger classes: song / chant / date / weather / chorused exchanges • More advanced: a routine such as ‘Word / quotation/ proverb of the Day’

7. 4. Give an advance overview of the lesson plan • Especially with teenage and adult groups • Write this up on the board either as you present it, or in advance. • Gives students a sense that they know where they are going, strengthens their confidence in the teacher. • Include ‘if we have time’ • (Even if we at some point start doing something else!)

8. 5. Teach new material at the beginning • At the beginning, students are at their freshest. • New vocabulary or grammar or reading text - at the beginning. • Interactive group work, or grammar practice exercises – later • (Also: then you can do a quick recap at the end, after you’ve done something else!)

9. B. Ending the lesson

10. 1. Have a clear closing procedure • A clear ‘dividing point’ when the lesson is over. • A signal: conventional farewells, a bell. • Lead up with a brief recap of what we’ve done: achievement (go back to the lesson agenda, if you have one). • Brief evaluative comments? • Sense of ‘closure’

11. 2. Finish with something nice • (Just before the closing) • Something quick that students will enjoy: story, joke, quick game, website, singing happy birthday to someone with a birthday… • Probably not every lesson but when you can

12. 3. Review • Towards the end of the lesson: review quickly anything new that you taught earlier • e.g. ‘how many of the words I taught you today can you remember?’

13. 4. Don’t give homework at the end • Because… • Attention is likely to be lower • Students may be packing up and not attending • You may not have enough time to explain properly • Give earlier, then a brief reminder before the closing.

14. 5. Hang around for a minute or two • If you can, stay in the classroom for a minute or two after the end of the lesson… • …saying goodbye to individual students as they leave • ….making yourself available to anyone who might want to talk to you, or make an appointment • … if there has been any problem with a particular student – have a word. • …if a student has done particularly well – tell them!

15. For tips on other aspects of the lesson, see… Cambridge English Teacher http://www.cambridgeenglishteacher.org/ Click on ‘discussions’ tab

16. Over to you for more tips!

17. Have extra pencils, paper ready for people who’ve forgotten • ‘busy’ start, students who have done hw get a ‘punch’ • come before the bell (especially when there’s a test) • bring a clock (then no excuse to keep cellphones on) • ritual: ‘phones in bags, bags on floor’: stand and wait with hands out – then personal questions, etc. Then plans for the lesson • I give them a task when I enter while I’m taking attendance • Write up ‘copy’ if there’s a text I want them to copy • When I take registration let them choose whether to say ‘it’s me’, ‘here I am, ‘present’, etc. • Strict rule: can’t sit where you sat before, must choose new partner (university classes) • If there’s a long 90-min class, give a break in the middle (even if it’s just a ‘wiggle’ • 5 minutes to go to toilet, eat, drink – and then – we begin: no more! • At beginning: write vocab items on the board to copy and do things with

18. Opening ritual: a song to listen to • Check each other’s hw • ‘start with a bang’ something dramatic or humorous • ‘today in history’ as an opening routine • to get quiet: stop and look at the ceiling • something to do in their notebook at the beginning; I check regularly • Opening: read to them • presenting through an action song • Google ‘funsongs’ Charles Goodger • I have a hand that I raise; also a tuning fork;

19. Thank you for your attention and participation! pennyur@gmail.com