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Fun in the classroom

Teaching Excellence

Each lesson a masterpiece

Each teacher can ask the following questions.

 

Are my learners bored with the class?

Am I presenting my lessons boring?

Am I bored in my classroom?

 

What's worse than sitting in a classroom and listening to a teacher explain the work in a monotonous voice?  What's worse than sitting in a classroom and listening to the teacher read from a textbook.

 

 What can be worse than sitting still and watching a PowerPoint presentation with an overwhelming amount of slides and information?

 

A study done by Dr Sandi Mann finds that 60% of students find half of their lessons boring, and 30% of students find most of their lessons boring.

 

Different strategies were identified by Mann and her colleagues that students used to deal with boredom.  Daydreaming is by 75% the most popular strategy.  Scribble on a piece of paper and most likely on table tops achieve 66%.  Chatting with friends achieves 50%.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2009/may/12/university-teaching

 

When you observe your class and see some of your learners staring dreamily in front of them.  You see learners engaging in works of art in their practice books, textbooks or on the table in front of them, or learners are constantly making noise.  You should know your lesson is boring.

 

When learners are not having fun in the classroom, they are likely to get bored and look for other things to keep them busy that have nothing to do with learning.

 

Where teachers involve learners in learning activities and make learning fun, learners are more willing to participate in the learning events actively.

 

When learners are actively involved and have fun during the learning events, they will remember the learning content better and longer.

 

Learners would like to return to a class where they had fun during the presentation of the lesson.  Learners will even excitedly go to classes where they enjoy lessons.

 

New methods and strategies are constantly being sought to excite learners about learning.

 

Some of the following strategies have been identified by Thoughtco

https://www.thoughtco.com/ways-to-keep-your-class-interesting-4061719

 

· Stimulate the interest of the learners

· Create a teaching atmosphere where students feel comfortable.

· Link the study material to the actual life experience of pupils.

· Present lessons interactive.

· Use technology when presenting lessons

· Allow learners to make choices.

· Play games.

· Use innovative teaching strategies

 

Some strategies suggested by the miracle-recreation blog to make them more enjoyable

https://www.miraclerecreation.com/blog/how-to-make-learning-fun/?lang=can

 

· Pupils should not sit still for too long.

· Break lessons into smaller units.

· Meaningful group work.

· Get up and move.

· Challenge students.

 

Some thoughts from the website informED

https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/refuse-to-be-a-boring-teacher/

 

· Enjoy yourself in the classroom.

· Pupils need to see that you care.

· Make yourself available.

· Do not take yourself too seriously.