Tip 1: Keep the class lively and fast-paced.
Classroom maintenance problems often arise when students are restless or bored. As a dynamic teacher, you need to switch activities often so students don’t have a chance to get bored. Students should struggle just a bit to keep up with you.
A typical one hour class should include about eight different activities – an average of 7 – 8 minutes per activity. This is just a guideline, as some activities take longer than others. Be careful not to spend too much time on one particular activity.
Be jealous of your time! Do not allow students to sidetrack you (no storytelling by the students) and be keenly aware of how long you are spending on each activity. During lesson preparation, you might mark approximately where you think you should be halfway through the class. Check the time when you see this mark and see if you are close to where you need to be. Speed up or slow down appropriately.
Be willing to switch to another activity if it is taking too long or the students are losing focus.
