Handling primary schools pupils are not as easy as everyone thought. Can you imagine if you are facing 20+ 7 years old students with difference attitudes at once? Some are very shy, very active, very aggressive and impolite. I believe most primary school teachers have their tips to control them in physical classroom. What will happen when the class turns into virtual where pupils are even tech-savvy as compared to the teachers? Therefore, here are some useful tips to conduct a simple lesson in a super active class.
1. Set rules: Before the lesson begins, always show them rules and regulations. For examples, the correct usage of chat box, turn on cameras, turn off microphones, how to use the raise-hand function. I always share the rules in before I begin the lesson and go through with the pupils before the lesson begins. Slowly, I found that more pupils will follow the rules and the lesson is smoother. As my classes are multiracial classes, I always prepare the rules in bilingual so that they have no reasons to say that they can't understand.
2. Insert pictures: To make a lesson interesting and easily understood, pictures are essential. The choices of the pictures are important too! It's important when we are conducting an ESL classroom. We can easily train the pupils to use English in physical classroom, but how about virtual classroom when there are too many constraints? Hence, I always insert some pictures to explain the meaning. Ideally, the pictures have to be taken from the textbook, but we can always have the second choice. We can search it online through websites and just to be aware of the choices of pictures. We must make sure that the pictures are suitable and can help us to explain the meaning.
3. Use the chat box correctly: It is very annoying when the pupils use the chat box wrongly. They will send all kinds of words and emojis using their phones. Hence, we have to educate them how to use the chat box correctly. Instead of writing lengthy sentences, we may ask the students to write "1" or "0" to symbolise what they want to tell us. For example, my instructions sounds - Who agrees with me? If yes, type "1", if no, type "0". You can always do this if you want them to give you quick respond.
4. Turn off the share screen button:
5. Allow open discussion: When our students know the right time to turn on and off their microphones, always give them a chance to join the open discussion. They will have a sense of belonging if they have a chance to join the discussion. It's similarly to us when we are listening to talk. When we get involved, we will also be engaged in the talk.
6. Use board games to attract attention: As there are some pupils are using their mobile data for online lessons, online games is not an ideal way for them to have the lesson although it's fun and exciting. However, we couldn't just chalk and talk in the whole lesson. Therefore, I used board games in PPT template. I found that the games are always attractive and I can always download the reusable templates from online. I just have to edit the template and I can have a great lesson with them. No doubt, online games are much interesting than board games when it doesn't have any constraints.
7. Give feedback: Always give praises and positive words to the pupils when they did something right or even something which you want them to change. Never give them negative words as your mood will be easily affected. If they keep on turn on their microphones, you may reply them as "If you can keep your microphone off for a while now, you are the best." The other pupils will notice that the teacher has an eye on them although it's in virtual classroom. All these positive words will help you to control the class better.
All these tips were found after months of teaching virtually. I hope that we can go back to school soon.
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