Today I had the dreaded "Open Class." What is that you ask? An open class, in my case, is used for renewal purposes (with Epik) where principals, vice principals, other teachers, district superintendents and any other person who could possibly intimidate you, are given the opportunity to sit in on your class. In order to be renewed for a second year, I must pass an open class and interview with my vice principal and principal. For the record, it is graded and the passing mark is 80%.
My day started off horribly. I burned my breakfast, rolled my ankle on the way out the door and didn't realize until I tried to read a subway sign, that I had forgotten to put in my contacts. Already a recipe for success. I got to school, cleaned up the room, hyperventilated for a bit and then put on some reggae. Reggae always makes me feel better.
When it came time for my open lesson all of the kids were sweaty and full of way too much energy returning from gym, the room was about 90 degrees and I was working with my loudest, craziest group of kids. Ironically, they are also one my favorites. The lesson was on world food and consisted of me putting up flags just to have them loudly shout the country names back at me. Surprisingly, they were 10 for 10 and repeated each food name, excellently. So far ,so good. When we got to partner speech and group work I knew I'd be in for some trouble. A lot of the lesson consisted of getting them back on task, directing them towards using English and classroom management. Realistically, this is how I spend much of my time with my first years. I love their energy and when I find myself getting frustrated, I remind myself that I am lucky to have students so eager to participate in the first place.
I stopped paying attention to the adults in the room, who were there to observe me and had an excellent time with my kids. We completed the top chef challenge and they came up with some great foods. These included "cheese and onion sushi," from Japan "kimchi ice cream" from South Korea, "7 meat curry" from India, "Spaghetti many fish soup" from Italy, " and "cheese grilled octopus " from Brazil
Obviously each teacher will encounter different criteria for their open class, but if you have a listening/speech focused English class, as I do, these tips may help you. These may seem very basic, but it is easy to lose your cool and forget the basics when you're being observed.
Open Class Do's & Don'ts
1.
Dont panic! You want your class to go as smoothly as possible, but you also want to remember this lesson isn't a throwaway. Regardless of who's watching, you still want the kids to learn.
2.
Do make sure your classroom is clean. If the room is clean and presentable it is just one less thing to stress about when you're teaching. It sounds basic, but a clean room, with lots of light really helps.
3. Do discipline kids in the same manner you would if no one were watching. Hopefully, your kids wont act up, but if they do, treat the discipline the way you would in any other class. It isn't a sign that you can't manage your class, but rather a part of teaching. Everyone knows each lesson comes with some management.
4.
Do encourage kids to speak. Sometimes kids will be silent if they know there is someone observing the class. Let's face it, an open class without participation is a bit of a nightmare. I strive to make all of my lessons interesting but I made this lesson particularly interesting/interactive. This way my students would be compelled to speak, even if the principal/vice principal is in the room.
5. Don't focus on the people observing your class. They are there to watch you teach the kids, if you are focusing on them instead of the kids you will lose your connection with the class. This is typically when behavioral issues arise.
6.
Do consider a lesson that highlights speaking and listening. I know this isn't always possible as some lessons are review, but you want to feel comfortable and confident with the lesson you display. If you can highlight different aspects of your teaching and show versatility, it will help you to feel more accomplished.
7. Don't talk too fast. Sometimes when I'm nervous, I have a tendency to speed up my rate of speech. When this happens I find my students more confused and it messes up the amount of lesson time I have.
8. Do something that calms your nerves before class. For me, that is listening to reggae. All morning I played Bob Marley, UB 40, and Inner Circle. It put me in an excellent mood and helped me relax and focus.
9.
Do remember the reasons you teach. I teach because I love teaching and I wouldn't want to have any other job in the world. If you love what you do, it comes across in your passion and your lessons. People who love what they do, need not worry, as they will always be doing the best that they can.
10.
Have fun! If you're being graded and you're getting paid to do it, why not make the best out of the situation. Don't be afraid to joke, talk with your kids the same way you would if no one was observing. It shows the relationship you have with them and you will have a great time, feeling more at ease.
Next up....Renewal Interview!
