Written by John Andrius | 
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Practicum Tips - Developing Management Skills
This tip contains information that may help you develop your classroom management skills.
When To Do This
1-2 weeks into practicum.
Who Fills This In
Your co-tutor or another teacher in the school willing to watch you teach.
What To Do
Find a time when your CO-tutor or another teacher can watch you with a class he/she normally takes, if this is possible. Ask him/her to fill in the analysis section below. Try to choose a lesson in which a variety of activities may take place.
Analysis
Date: _______________________________
Class: _______________________________
Subject: _______________________________
(To the observer: Make brief notes about the lesson in the spaces below, and discuss your observations with the teacher about the lesson.)
Lesson Beginning
Does the lesson get off to a good start? Are the explanations given by the teacher clear: The equipment, materials etc. ready?
Appropriateness
Is the lesson or are the tasks undertaken by children appropriate? Is the work too hard, too easy, suitable or unsuitable in the context?
Monitoring Pupil's Work
Are children engaged in their work? Does the teacher monitor progress effectively? Is the teacher aware of what is going on around the room?
Transitions
Is there a smooth changeover from one activity to the next? Are children clear about what they are supposed to do? Is there any 'dead time' when individuals or groups have nothing to do?
Misbehavior
Classes are usually better behaved when another teacher is present, but choose one act of misbehavior (it need not be serious misbehavior) and comment on the teacher's reaction or non-reaction to it.
What happens? What does the teacher do? What would you advise the teacher to do if a similar thing happens again?
Improving Class Management
What can the teacher do to improve his/her handling of this class in future lessons?
Follow-up
- Discuss this lesson with the teacher who observed it.
- Next time you take this class try out any of the suggestions the teacher has made and discuss your experience with him/her.
- Think about preparation and anticipation. Could you have prepared for any of the things which went wrong