Group Management Tips for Teachers Of Children 

Every teacher worth their weight in gold knows that getting a group of children to go from noisy to silent or disorderly to orderly can be no easy feat, and that group management can be tricky even at the best of times.  

Young minds are busy, always on-the-go and often distracted, but there are easier ways to get the attention of your classroom than by repeating “Class?” ad nauseum. 

The teachers at the Paris Teachers Club are skilled in the art of engaging the minds of children and teenagers, and this week on our blog we’ve shortlisted our five favourite group management tips that are tried, tested and readily available for you to use. 

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1. Rhythmic clapping 

Clapping is a standard teaching method to call attention to yourself in class, and especially while working with children, choosing a rhythm to clap to that students learn to respond to is a surefire path to effective group management. Mix it up by having children, as they return to their desks or pay attention to the front of the room, clap to the same rhythm until they are seated and orderly.  

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2. Call and response 

A simple call and response is a teaching group management tip that is relied upon by educators across the world today. In this method, students respond in unison to a specific call from their teacher. You can compare it to a singer letting their audience finish a lyric by turning the mic over to them. Your own method can be a phrase, song, prompt or whatever suits your own teaching style, and you can even mix it up with adding in a movement too. This is a particularly handy group management tip if you are teaching English to children, as they can learn many new words and phrases this way.

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3. Chant with movement 

Speaking of movement, in the same vein as a call and response, the chanting with movement technique is another way to engage young minds and to return to order in the classroom. In this method, students respond to the teacher who commences a chant with a set movement accompanying it by mirroring what the teacher is doing. This can be a hand gesture, jumping on the spot or even simply returning to their desks. If you teach English to children, this is another surefire way for them to add new words to their second language vocabulary.  

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4. Ring a bell 

Ringing a bell may seem like a teaching trope, but there’s a reason that educators rely on this trusty group management method even today. Children respond to clear, distinct noises that aren’t simply someone’s voice, and you can never go wrong by investing in a small bell to bring order to your classroom.  

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5. Be what you want to see in your classroom

Finally, one of the most important group management tips that teachers of children can have in their arsenal is “being what you want to see”. Setting an example and being positive and engaging while still demonstrating strong leadership is paramount to commanding the attention of young minds. Whatever energy you give out as a teacher is what you’ll get back from your class.  

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What is your most effective group management tip?

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