Multi-level classes

Multi-level classes

Multi-level classes

Which factors affect classroom management?

Students not using L2

Why?

Discipline What?

Motivation What?

Task achievement

What?

The material What?

Challenge What?

Multi-level classes

Which factors affect classroom management?

Use of L2

Discipline

Motivation

Task achievement

The material

Challenge

Unwilling / unable? Why?

Rudeness, chatting

No care over work, work done quickly, homework

Not finishing work, finishing quickly

Uninteresting?

Too easy? Too difficult?

What can you add to each column? Can you add other columns?

Challenge

Below level students…

Multi-level classes

struggle to keep up with instruction.

are often dependent on peer / teacher support to be successful.

are usually very aware of the fact that everyone else in class is learning more rapidly than they are.

may have feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.

become frustrated and blame themselves for their inability to learn more efficiently.

need extra time to complete activities.

Challenge

Above level students…

Multi-level classes

have more language proficiency than the at-level studentsbecome bored or disruptive while waiting for the other students to “catch up.”

are able to “get it” more quickly than their classmates

are at risk because they can become frustrated with the teacher for not providing more challenging lessons

PRINCIPLES WORTH CONSIDERING WHEN DEALING WITH MULTI-LEVEL CLASSES

Principle one: variety

Principle two: pace

Principle three: interest

Principle four: collaboration

Principle five: individualization

Principle six: personalization

Principle seven: choice and open-endedness

Multi-level classes

individualization

personalization

individualizationpersonalization

Starts with the learner Starts with the needs of the individual learner

Connects with interests, passions and aspirations

Accommodates learning needs of the individual

Learners have a voice and a choice on what they learn

Teachers customize lessons and tasks for learners based on individual needs

Learners build a network of peers, teachers and others to guide and support their learning

Learners are dependent on individual teachers... ...to support their learning

Awareness

Multi-level classes

Reading activity – two groups read a different story each.

Students X, Y, Z and A will read story quickly and start chatting when they’ve finished so give them extra worksheet + dictionary at start of activity asking them to identify 5 possible unknown words. They should write the explanations. Also - give a glossary of possibly unknown vocabulary to help students S, T & U

X & Y finished reading task quickly as expected. Started chatting briefly but continued with extra task. Glossary helped weaker students (S,T, U). X & Y were still working when everyone else finished reading task

Multi-level classes

Encouraging a group dynamic

Working together•Students in groups of 5 (if possible)•Write on the board: facilitator, secretary, monitor, language provider, observer and explain roles.•Stress what is important in group work: participation, listening, learning from one another•Students assigned roles (either choose themselves, or teacher)•Teacher assigns task

Multi-level classes

Encouraging a group dynamic

Toothpicks•Before a group discussion, give students 5 toothpicks.•Each time a student speaks up in a discussion, they place a toothpick in the centre.•Once all the toothpicks are used, students are not allowed to talk unless they get special permission from the facilitator.

Multi-level classes

Encouraging a group dynamic

All for one•Before class, prepare questions on a recent topic.•Groups of 4 – each student numbered 1-4. Each group given a name.•Ask a question. Groups have one minute to discuss.•Choose a number randomly. student stands up and answers the question.•If wrong, student from next group answers.

Multi-level classes

Thinking time

Preference line

LEARNING ----------------------------------------- TEACHING

Writing storm

5 minutes: smells 4 minutes: sounds3 minutes: best moment of the week / weekend2 minutes: the future...1 minute: favourite view

Multi-level classes

Thinking time

Happygraph

Today YesterdayWednesdayTuesdayMonday

Simple dialogue activities

Simple dialogue activities (2)

The teacher writes / shows dialogue on the board.Students take the part of Helen & Karini and say the dialogue in pairs

Students repeat the dialogue. Teacher erases a few words at a time.

Students draw a picture of 3 or 4 people in their real family

Students talk about their pictures using questions & answers they have memorised

Multi-level classes

Elizabeth/Table4Five on flickr

1. Nominate a letter from the alphabet

The Alphabet game

2. Ask the students to think quietly of ten words starting with the letter & distribute board pens3. Invite weaker students to write their words on the board.4. When weaker students have finished, ask stronger students to add words (no repeats)5. Students choose 1 word for teacher to talk about for a minute.6. Students choose a word, make notes and prepare 1 minute talk.

7. Follow-up: write up notes into composition

Grow Cube

Using ‘walkthroughs’

Multi-level classes

Quest for the rest

Multi-level classes

Using YouTube with multi-level classes

The Artistifier (http://theartistifier.com)Multi-level classes

PRINCIPLES WORTH CONSIDERING WHEN DEALING WITH MULTI-LEVEL CLASSES

Principle one: variety

Principle two: pace

Principle three: interest

Principle four: collaboration

Principle five: individualization

Principle six: personalization

Principle seven: choice and open-endedness

Multi-level classes

Links

The Alphabet gamehttp://cerij.wordpress.com/2011/02/26/w-is-for-words/

Grow cube / Best of the rest: http://kylemawer.wikispaces.com/Grow+cube+walkthrough http://kylemawer.wikispaces.com/Quest+For+The+Rest

Simple dialogues: http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/mixedability.pdf

The Artistifierhttp://quickshout.blogspot.com/2012/03/create-and-exploit-silent-movies-for.html

Multi-level classes