An effective and motivating communicative environment

The classroom should be perceived as a memorable place where problems are dealt with efficiency, where self-esteem is high and where good behaviour is praised. 

Using language in the classroom should be understood as a path for communication. It's essential to create an organised and constructive classroom and to provide your learners with opportunities for real communication

In a communicative classroom a teacher sets up tasks according to the needs and abilities of learners, organises group and pair work and gives guidance.

We can help learners to stay focused by introducing regular classroom routines, clear behaviour rules and well thought out organisations of activities. But at the same time we want to create a relaxed working atmosphere.

Creating a positive learning environment is crucial as it motivates out learners and gives them purpose for further learning. How can we do this?

• Welcome your learners every lesson; 
• Ask about some recent news or ask them whether something interesting has happened to them;
• Praise your learners; 
• Find both positive and negative sides of your learners failure. Don't shout on them or say that everything was so bad in their works;

Different ways a classroom can be organised depending on the activity you are using

• Pair work

Learners work with a partner and then report back to the class as appropriate. Arranging pairs facing each other and at a distance from other learners will help them to concentrate.Try to organise pairs so that they can see the board, in case you want to display some relevant information or guidance.

• Song

To sing a song you can arrange yourself and your learners in a circle. This allows you and the learners to see one another as you all participate in the activity. 

• Discussions

When you decide to integrate discussion time, it’s important that your learners work closely together. A semicircle works well, as learners can see each other and you can walk around the back to monitor the activity or intervene when necessary.

• Storytelling

When you focus on storytelling, a good way to organise your learners is in rows in front of you. This makes you the centre of attention while you tell the story.

• Test

When you set your learners a test, you want them to work individually. Asking learners to sit on their own provides this focus and also allows you better control of the class.

• Craft work

When you want to integrate some craft work, where your learners make something, they can work independently in groups. You're free to monitor and help when necessary.

Classroom management

The problem which is wide-spread is classroom management. It is hard to deal with some situations which occur in class, however, there are some already ready solutions. 

Some possible strategies for the start of a lesson are:

• having a task displayed for learners to begin immediately
• beginning the lesson with activities that are familiar and relatively easy

• having colour-coded tables and giving learners coloured cards, so you can get learners seated quickly

One of the times when discipline can break down is when we’ve set a task but the learners haven’t really understood what they are supposed to do or how. You can help to solve this by:

• checking understanding before they start
• demonstrating the activity to the class, perhaps using a volunteer

If you have learners who shout out answers or tend to dominate lessons, you can:

•  train your learners to wait until they are nominated to speak

• vary groupings so a quieter learner isn’t always with a dominant one

Some advice about classroom management:

• Ask children to come up with rules. Have a code of rules in your class. But bear in mind, that not only learners should stick to the rules, but a teacher too. Otherwise, they won't be motivated to follow them.

For example, rules for learners:

- Listen to each other.

- Don’t shout.

- Say sorry when necessary.

- Don’t be negative.

- Always say it in English!

- Don’t rush - do it well!

- Do homework for every class.

Rules for teachers:

- Don't be rude.

- Don't shout.

- Don't be late for classes.

- Check works on time;

- Keep promises.

• Use "star of the week" of "star of the month". You may organise a competition as well and a ceremony with awards. Create such nominations as "An industrious student" for those who have done their homework for every lesson; "An active student" for those who was always eager to take part in discussions; "A fan of English" for those who spoke English in classes more then their L1 and etc. 

• Use wall displays such as: "Communicative questions" so that learners were more self-confident to speak and could use linguistic chunks every time they needed them.

Link:

http://www.cambridgeenglishteacher.org/courses/details/18777/teaching-primary-learners-communicatively