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Getting students settled down when it's time for class to begin can be a challenge. But there are some proven techniques you can use to make sure your class gets off on the right foot. Here are four tips that will help.
Start the Day the Right Way with These Proven Techniques
When students are riled up and it's time for class to begin, getting them settled down can be a challenge. However, there are some proven techniques you can use to get your students calmed and focused. Here are proven tips to help you get your students settled down when it's time to start class.
1. Start Your Class with a Clear Introduction
Class time is precious, so why waste it getting everybody settled down when you should introduce the lesson? And yet, sometimes, no matter how well you plan your lesson and make sure you have everything shipshape, that first five minutes can end up being a bit of a struggle. There are a few techniques I've found over the years which help settle the class into your lesson.
Getting students settled down when it's time for class to begin can feel like an uphill battle. You may know the pain of that moment right before the beginning of class, when you're standing in front of a room full of students and things are getting noisier and more chaotic by the minute!
If you want to get students settled down when it's time for class to begin, then start your class with a clear introduction. A strong introduction helps set the tone for your entire class. It engages your students and gets them ready for what's about to happen. And it helps them know what's expected of them.
Here are some tips for giving a great introduction at the start of class:
Be prepared — Decide what you expect, what you want students to know before you begin, and how you're going to make sure they hear it.
Use an attention-getting opening — Do something or say something that will grab students' attention right away. If you're using a specific attention-getter every day, be sure to introduce it so that students will recognize it as an indicator that it's time to settle down and listen carefully.
State your expectations — Tell students what you expect from them. What do you want them to learn? What are the skills that you want them to develop? Students will have their own expectations about what they want from you, so it’s important that you tell them what you expect from them.
There are many ways to engage your students at the beginning of class. The most effective method is the one that works for you and your students!
This can be an engaging question or discussion-starter. It’s important to establish context and relevance to the day’s lesson quickly before you dive into the meat of your presentation.
Some instructors even use icebreakers to help build rapport with students, allowing them to get to know each other personally so that they feel more comfortable during discussions. Other instructors start their classes with a brief discussion about what they covered in the last class. This gives students the opportunity to ask questions about the material so that they can prepare for what lies ahead.
Having a clear introduction to your class helps students pre-set their mindset and get them focused on the upcoming lesson. This can make a big difference when it's time to begin lecture, as students will focus more easily on what you're saying without constantly worrying about what's happening around them.
If you use this tip, make sure that you actually follow through with the introduction you give. You don't want to just make the statement and then forget about it. If you stick to it, though, your students will settle down much more quickly and easily when it's time for class to begin.
2. Use the Same Routine Each Time To Build Familiarity and Stability
You call for attention. You wait. You wait some more. You wait and you wait.
Getting students to settle down when it's time for class to begin is a challenge many teachers face.
It can frustrate you, especially if you want to get started on the lesson quickly. There are many ways to help your students settle down, but perhaps the most effective one is to start a routine at the beginning of the year and stick with it.
Ugh, those kids. Who wants to go over and over a boring routine that doesn’t seem to work? Quitting after only a few tries can quickly build frustration.
Anyone who teaches children knows that establishing a routine of how students enter the classroom is a must. A class routine is a great way to get the students settled down and set for learning. But if you want to keep your sanity, it needs to be simple and quick to complete.
Some teachers have it down to an art and their students know exactly what to do when they walk through the door. Others, however, are still struggling to get their students to settle down when it’s time for class to begin.
Let’s look at some ways to keep the routine short and sweet, so you don't lose your cool and get fed up with the process.
Start with a “signal” that signals students to get ready for class. Some teachers use a musical chime while others use a special phrase or activity. Get your students to go straight into their routines as soon as they hear your signal.
Avoid using too many steps in your routine. Aim for no more than five steps before the lesson gets underway. If you have seven or more steps, expect that it will take too long and students will lose focus.
Make sure each step of the routine is meaningful and necessary for your lessons. If you are constantly repeating yourself or doing things that aren’t needed, then you are wasting your time and theirs as well! You also want to define each step clearly so there's no confusion about what it is or how it works!
Give students enough time to complete each step of the start-of-class routine without rushing. You want them to prep for their day and get into the right mindset for the lesson you’re about to teach.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for getting students settled down when it’s time for class to begin. However, there are several routines you can use to get your students settled down and ready to go in a timely manner.
Some teachers use a routine that involves following directions that are given in a certain order each day. Other teachers prefer to play music or show a brief video clip while the kids are settling down.
When you have a routine that you consistently use, then the class knows what you expect of them. They tend to settle down faster because they see what comes next.
It's not as important which routine you choose as long as you are consistent with it. Try out different routines at the beginning of the year until you find one that works well for your students and stick with it so that it becomes a habit for the class.
Make Sure Your Students Know Exactly What To Expect, and When To Expect It
Your teaching style will determine the type of workday that works best for you and your students. For example, if you enjoy a structured classroom, you may want a very detailed workday with specific steps. If you prefer more flexibility in the classroom, then a simple plan may work better.
Here are some tips:
Have a consistent start to class. Make sure your students know exactly what to expect and when to expect it. This helps them get settled when it's time for class to begin.
Provide explicit instructions and expectations. Students should know how much time they have to complete tasks during each part of the day. They need guidelines for working with partners or groups and for individual work time.
Keep directions short and simple. If you want students to respond in writing, tell them so and give them enough time to write their thoughts. If you want them to share opinions with their partner, be clear about what they should say and how long they have before they switch roles and their partner speaks.
None of us like to feel rushed. As a teacher, you have so much to accomplish in such a short time that it's easy to forget that your students need a little time to get ready for what you have planned as well.
Students also need to know what's expected of them. If they are surprised, they may feel unprepared and will be more likely to lose focus. This isn't good for either of you.
3. Make It Easy for Students To Focus on You and the Lesson with Minimal Distractions
It's one of the most important parts of the day in school, the beginning. When the students walk into your classroom in the morning, you want them to be focused and ready to learn. If you do not settle them down when it's time for class to begin, chances are you will have a difficult time getting them on track for the day.
So we've covered the first two ways you can get your students settled down when it's time for class to start—
start your class with a clear introduction, and
use the same routine each time.
Now then, let's talk about how you can make sure students focus on you and the lesson with minimal distractions. There are a few things that you can do to help make this happen.
First, you will want to arrange your classroom in a way that all students have a clear view of the board, as well as being able to see you and anything else that you are using for the lesson. This means no desks or tables blocking a student’s view.
Second, you want to make sure that nothing else in the room distracts your students. If you have posters on your walls and other decorations, they need to be appropriate for the age group and subject matter of your students.
Third, if your school allows it, get rid of all electronics during class time. The only time you should allow electronics is when they are being used in class for a lesson or project.
What to do if your students are intent on using phones in class?
It's no secret that today's students are glued to their phones. In fact, teens spend more than seven hours a day on screens for entertainment a day.
While teachers may not completely change the way students use their mobile devices, there are some things you can do to minimize distractions in your classroom.
Here are a few tips:
Create a classroom contract with consequences for misuse of technology. This should include specific rules about cell phone use in class, such as "Put your cell phone away at the beginning of class."
Clarify that you're in charge — not the technology.
Keep your expectations high and enforce them consistently. If you have a policy on technology use in class and the student breaks the rules, then follow through with consequences — every time.
4. Have a backup plan in place if something goes wrong
You've got a great lesson plan in place, along with all the supplies and technology you need. But is there anything else you can do to make your class run smoothly? Plenty, according to experienced educators who know how to get the most out of each and every minute.
The single biggest mistake I see teachers make is spending too much time trying to get students settled. I call this 'classroom drama.'
Don't go through the drama of getting them back on track and don't give up your lesson time. Have a backup activity in mind that will help you get back on track without wasting valuable time.
There are scores of little things that can cause a class to veer off-course. An uncooperative student, a computer virus or even something as simple as a bad seating chart can put you behind schedule and disrupt the flow of the class.
Here are a few ways teachers can get back on track without sacrificing precious lesson time:
Be clear about your goals. This can help you get through a rough patch when things don't go according to plan.
Have an "oops plan." If you are dealing with an issue that's taking up too much time, have a quick backup activity in mind so you don't waste time getting back on track.
Keep your expectations high. A tough day doesn't mean that it's time to give up on your students or lower the bar for what they can achieve.
Focus on the positive. When things go wrong, there's usually someone who has handled the situation well. Acknowledge them to keep everyone motivated and on the right track.
School Success Starts with a Great Class Start
There’s no magic solution—every class will have its own personality, and will comprise students from different backgrounds with different dispositions. But that doesn’t mean you can’t set for yourself a goal for the way you want your class to go, and work towards that goal.
The tips we have given you can certainly help, and there are many more strategies which might also prove effective.
In the end, it all comes down to one thing: being flexible and adaptable, and addressing each class as a unique situation with its own challenges.