How do you manage your class?

Question

I have a job interview for the position of lecturer in Plastering, soon. I have no lecturing exprience and am not fully qualified. The last postion I interview for was given to the candidate with teaching experience. If I given a better interview, I may be successfully this time. I thought to ask the questions, I remember being asked.

I hold a SVQ (Scottish vocational qualification) L3, 2 credits towards, The City and Guilds Advanced Craft in Plastering, B.Sc in sports coaching and development and a variety of coaching qualifications aswell as 15years post apprenticeship experience in plastering. The great outdoors has always been my classroom when teaching/coaching. I have no experience teaching/lecturing in a classroom with long term goals and have yet to achieve a PGCD. I hope to secure a postion as lecturer and need to prepare for the interview.

Answer 1

It would help to know the age level you are teaching. I have high school students. The trick to managing a class is to let them know the first day what your expectations are for them. Then apply those expectations fairly and consistently every class period.

Give each person a syllabus for the class. This should include all of your expectations for their behavior, all of the items they must have with them each day how the class will be structured, how the class will be assessed, and a general topic for each session of the class (or at least an outline of each unit). If you plan to have projects completed by the students, it is good to put down the types of projects, when due, and a scoring rubrics.

Start teaching the minute the bell rings and don't stop until the final bell rings. Wasted time at the beginning of class causes the students to lose focus and wasted time at the end of class causes them to get rowdy. If you ever finish early, just do a quick review of the day, week, what ever to keep them thinking.

The more things you have to keep them occupied the better. Paper work or hands-on activities work well. Have individual students come to the front and help with any demonstrations.

Hope this helps a bit and good luck

Answer 2

I wonder how can you lecture in plastering? Your answer should be ,"I would be careful to be sure the class knows exactly what my expectations are. I would hand out a paper (you could have this paper in hand to show your interviewer) with the behavioral rules I expect everyone to follow. These rules would be that no one asks a question without raising their hand, that you expect the class to be polite and considerate of each other, and seating rules depending on the set up of a plastering class. Rules about using the materials (plastering stuff?)." What you need to do as an instructor is be consistent and make sure you enforce the rules you make, all the time and without exception. For example, if you insist you must raise your hand to ask a question, don't ever answer a question someone calls out. Self-discipline is the first rule for new teachers.