STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING A LARGE CLASS IN A LESSON
Introduction
Teaching a large class is challenging to both the teacher and the students, a class that is
not properly handled could not maximize learning. Classroom management is a skill in
organizing and presenting a lesson that actively engages students in the learning process ( ).
Teaching a large class might not require satisfying teaching experiences but to be able to get
the students cooperate which depends on the classroom strategies that can be adopted and how
best to apply them(Cangelosi, 2014). This will discuss five strategies that could be used in
providing a lesson to a class of 100 students
The first strategy will be to develop classroom norms and expectation with the students
and paste in a wall visible for everyone to see. The norms are statements that will provide
students with guidelines for required and prohibited behavior (Dunbar,2004). The students
should participate in establishing norms for the lesson and list their expectations of the lesson.
Students who actively participate in creation of guidelines governing a lesson are likely to
adhere and support the rules (Dunbar,2004). The norms will help create a business-like
atmosphere and they will be a drive to achieve the intended learning outcome. The students
must be oriented to a conduct that aims at achieving goals that takes priority during the lesson
(Cangelosi, 2014). The written norms and expectations will be put on a large paper or board in
front of the class for everyone to see. This will act as a reminder during the lesson to the
students as well as the teacher of what is expected of them during the lesson, such norms will
include minimizing movements, no answering phones during the lesson, one individual to talk
at a time and observing times for breaks. Use of signals when preparing to respond to a question
can also be part of the norms and encouraging the class to speak at normal levels.
Managing the classroom environment
The classroom environment implies the physical (seating plan, lighting, temperatures) and
psychological environment that is created through social contexts or instructional components
which can be a distraction in a large class if not properly considered. Going to class early before
the students and greet them as they enter creates a rapport that fosters students’ cooperation
and create a conducive environment for learning. The students will be easily guided in how
their seating plan will be as soon as they arrive and all remaining students would follow suit.
For this lesson the students will have seat in rows and face the teacher making sure everyone
is away from the class windows. This sitting plan will facilitate discipline and instruction as
the students attention will be directed to the teacher (Dunbar, 2004).
The class chairs to be arranged in a way that leaves out small corridors in between for easy
movement of the students and also to allow the teacher to move freely. The student should have
placards on their desks with their names on it so that when addressing each of them a name
should be used. This gives a sense of individual attention and helps establish control of the
class (Smith & Warburton, 2007). If students are not called by their name and instead the use
of “Hey”, “You” is adopted the students respond with feeling of annoyance and tend to ignore
the person calling(Smith & Warburton, 2007)
Implement effective teaching techniques. During the lesson students will have activities to
be done in small groups of 10 and the role of the teacher will be to supervise the discussions.
Splitting the large class into small groups will assist the students to learn in a collaborative and
active way than listening to a lecture throughout( Hanover research, 2010). Each group will
have a leader who will control discussions as they progress and a secretary taking notes that
will be presented to the whole class. Group discussion facilitates involvement which increases
the level of concern hence greater efforts at listening and interaction during the lesson (
Hanover research,2010)
During the lesson as a teacher there is need to be walking around in order to monitor students’
activities during the lesson. This would keep the students from getting distracted with other
activities such as use of phones that can result in loss of interest in the lesson. The students will
also be encouraged to take notes during the lesson in order to keep them preoccupied and avoid
distracting behaviors. When students take notes during a lesson it helps them to follow and
engage them to be cognitively active (Cangelosi, 2014).
Incorporate appropriate technology
The lesson will be in form of a power point presentation and projected to the whole class so all
students are able to see. The presentation will have slides of images that assists in breaking up
the lesson and attract the student’s attention. Use proper visual aids such as power point
presentation and include images in order to attract the student’s attention.
Managing inappropriate behaviors