|
The importance of clear instructions
→
Ensures all students are involved and clear of what to do.
→ Acts as a
time saving short cut in the long run. The students learn to recognise repeat instructions. Teenagers respond well to routine and
feeling secure in class.
→ Avoids classroom disruption/distraction.
Kids tend to 'mess about' if they are not sure what they are
supposed to be doing.
→ Improves the teacher's control of the
classroom and helps with achieving lesson planning aims and
objectives.
→ Improves the pace of a lesson. Transitions between
stages are 'snappier'.
Here are some tips on how to give effective instructions
1. KISS Ð
Keep It Short and Simple
2. Always check students have understood by
using checking questions.
3. Get everyone's attention BEFORE giving
instructions
4. Feed in your instructions step by step.
5. Maintain
eye contact with the class.
6. Use gestures to convey meaning.
7.
Use examples, do a couple in front of the whole class.
8. Model your
instructions by yourself or with other students.
9. Pause when you
give instructions. You may also need to repeat or paraphrase your
instructions.
10. Always set a time limit.
11. Make sure all the
student can see and hear you.
12. Pre-plan your instructions if you
are not confident.
13. Make it clear when students can start and
stop a task by giving signals (clapping your hands)
14. Give out
handouts after the instructions.
How to check understanding when giving instructions
→
Get students to
recap by asking questions like "Who can tell me what are you going
to do?"
→
Give visual reminders: You can use your fingers to check
stages which students have to go through or give countdowns.
→
Use
comprehension questions by asking questions such as "Which exercise
are you going to answer?"; " How much time do we have?"; Who are you
going to work with?" or "What are you going to do after that?"
→
Use
concept questions such as "Are we going to do exercise 4?"; "We have
ten minutes to do this, right?"; "Are you going to work on your
own?" or "Do we need to write or only speak?"
Types of instructions
Technique
Step by Step
Say, Do, Check
Show Don't Tell
Recall
Other names
Feed-In Approach
Three- Step Instruction
Model It / Demonstration
Tell Me Again / Say It Again
Explanation
One instruction at a time
Teachers say, students do, then teachers check
Teachers show and don't tell
Get students to say the instructions
Back to top
|