Older students can seem scary, especially if you are used to teaching in the lower years. They have attitude and can sometimes try to take advantage of your temporary role in the classroom. They are a little bit harder to fool, so you must be on your toes and prepared in order to keep order in the class. Below are some helpful tips to help conquer those fears and be confident in the upper years.
1. Be Prepared
If you aren’t prepared from the start, you might lose them. The younger students are a little easier to bluff; these big kids know that you’re fresh meat. so they will be armed and ready to push you. Being prepared is your best defense. Have engaging activities ready in case the teacher leaves no work. for you.
2. Rewards
Don't be afraid to pull out whatever rewards you have. You'd be surprised. how much older students still love stickers, particularly novelty ones, even if they might pretend to be too cool for them. Games work the best. Have some quiet indoor games you can do after they finish their work, and perhaps have an outdoor game as an enticer for the end of the day.
3. Behaviour Strategies
Decide on a strategy early on and explain it to the class. Don’t be afraid to introduce others as you learn a little more about the class. If they are a chatty class, use a whole class strategy. If it is just individual students misbehaving, tailor their consequences accordingly.
4. Engage Them
Use a foam ball or a hacky sack to engage students in lessons. If a student is holding a ball, they can read out loud or answer a question. It’s amazing how quick they are to focus for the chance to hold a small ball!
5. Real life
Use your life experiences and theirs as examples relevant to their learning. This helps everyone to get to know each other better as well as making learning more relevant and relatable. It also helps break down some barriers. If they can learn a little about you and make you seem more human to the students.
6. Silence is golden.
Wait, wait, and wait some more. Wait until you can’t wait anymore. Do not, I repeat, do not try to teach over a noisy class. It is crucial to your teaching. and their learning that they are all quiet while you are giving instructions. Don’t yell and rant and rave to get their attention. Wait at the front with your arms folded, and they will soon get the hint and start whispering to each other. other "Shh. She’s waiting.” “Quiet guys.” Once you hear silence, that is your cue to thank them for their attention but inform them that it should not take that long to be quiet. If it happens again, there will be ____________ consequences.
7. Take Control
That being said, sometimes the noise can be a little too much, and teachers. Next door might just think you don’t have control and intervene. You don’t want to come off as incompetent, so if they aren’t catching on quickly enough, use another strategy, such as writing a message on the board or writing up ‘Time in’ along with minutes adding up the longer it takes them to settle. But still try not to yell and let them see you lose your cool. It will give them more power and motivation to push you more.
