One
of the best things about a new school year is that you are given the
opportunity to start afresh. You get to choose a new way to decorate
your class room, organize your class schedule, etc.
One
of the most important areas you need to focus on is helping your KG
students learn right behaviors from the very start. You need to give
them instructions, and they need to understand your instructions. How
will you go about it? Here are a few guidelines for you to make these
kids understand instructions.
Introducing instructions
For
most kindergartners, it will be the first time they are introduced to a
structured school setting; they may not therefore understand the
concept of instructions. You have to pronounce and spell out to them
each instruction loudly and clearly.
You
can use cards with visual instruction cues. Explain the activity you
are about to carry out with the kids; first give them a model of what
you want them to do: give them an example of an activity yourself.
Make
use of your magnetic instruction cards for visually reinforcing the
activity. For instance, if you want to instruct them to write their name
on a piece of paper, put up a cue or an icon representing “name” on the
board next to number one. Repeat the activity yourself a couple of
times for reinforcement.
Second,
if you want to instruct them to color an outline, then put up the
“coloring” icon on the board next to number two; name the activity
orally, point to the icon/cue and do the activity yourself; go through
the sequence a couple of times.
The
kids, in turn, observe the steps, repeat after you every step, have
enough practice to understand the instruction, and carry it out to your
satisfaction.
Make
sure the icon cards for the activities of the day are on the board in
the proper numbered sequence. Go through each instruction together with
the kids, now giving oral instruction: you say aloud the number, and the
kids listen carefully and respond with the right action.
Reinforcing behaviors
The
behaviors kids need to learn are for life, and therefore should be
learnt forever. Behaviors positively and sufficiently reinforced remain
for life. There are two kinds of reinforcements – group and individual
reinforcements.
Group reinforcements
Group
reinforcement is an effective way of involving a class to work as a
group. If every kid works quietly and as directed, displaying a desired
behavior, then the entire class is rewarded.
A
great group reinforcement strategy is to use an appropriately sized
marble jar as a tool to reward desired behaviors. The methodology
consists of offering positive feedback on an instance of a desired
behavior; it may be that of an individual in a group or of the group.
A marble is put into a transparent jar kept on the table each time the expected behavior is displayed. When the jar is full of marbles, the class as a whole is awarded a group reward.
The strategy is almost always successful, because marble jars are visual and publicized proofs of rewards earned.
Individual reinforcement
Give
every child a sticker book. The reward is a sticker on the sticker
book, each time a kid displays the right behavior. This will help
encourage the kids display the same behavior confidently with
understanding.
These
ideas can help you manage your classroom activities better. Do not
despair, if the kids fail to respond to your cues. They will eventually,
as they become more and more familiar with classroom activities.
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