Teaching Strategies and Classroom Management

Setting Up and Running a Class

• Establishing a regular format and routine is critical for improving the learning experience and class control
• Goals:
  • Layout a standard model for group guitar lessons
  • Provide necessary knowledge and tools to run a successful class
  • Ensure a correct format for every class
  • Increase teacher's confidence and control

Guitar Class Preparation

• Importance of being prepared:
  • Set up room and materials
  • Be organized and prepared to handle setbacks
  • Allow for efficient teaching and minimal improvisation
• Teacher preparation:
  • Wear smart casual clothes
  • Bring acoustic guitar, guitar stand, tuner, stamp, and fretpoints
  • Arrive at least 30 minutes before the first class to set up the room
• Room setup:
  • Arrange chairs in a large horseshoe shape
  • Place equipment on a nearby desk
  • Get guitar out and put on strap

Beginning the Class

• Start each class on time
• Student arrival:
  • Students wait outside the classroom
  • Let students in and have them take out guitars, books, and practice journals
• Roll call:
  • Announce roll call with "Listen Up!"
  • Call the roll using the class list in Acuity
  • Mark absent students in Acuity
• Practice journals:
  • Go around the room and check each student's practice journal
  • Give out fretpoints and praise progress

Running the Class

• Tuneup and Checkout:
  • Announce Tuneup and Checkout
  • Explain no talking during this part of the lesson
  • Go around the room, tuning up each student's guitar and giving checkouts
  • Repeat the process until every student's guitar is in tune and each student has had a checkout
• Games:
  • Run games to lift students' spirits and engage them
  • Examples of games: Simon Says, Who's That String, Fretboard Bingo, and Fretboard Hide 'n' Seek

Ending the Class

• Announce pack-up time
• Have students pack up guitars and books
• Ensure students leave nothing behind
• See students out and ensure they go to the right place

Student Behavior and Engagement

• Goals:
  • Improve student engagement
  • Outline rules and consequences for student behavior
  • Give guidelines for class control
• Student engagement:
  • Build rapport with students
  • Care about each student's progress and interests
  • Use games to teach fundamental concepts
  • Make class fun and balanced with serious activities
• Class control:
  • Be professional and maintain a level of control
  • Use repetitive class format and lesson structure
  • Use fretpoints for minor offenses and report forms for more serious offenses

Behavioral Guidelines

• Minor offenses:

  • Students speaking while the teacher is speaking
  • Students playing their instrument while the teacher is speaking
  • Students talking to others during checkout time
  • Students remaining idle and not practicing

• Major offenses:

  • Behaviors that cause major disruptions and distractions to the class or another student### Class Administration and Management

• Maintaining good class administration is crucial to running successful classes, including proper use of Acuity, punctuality, parent relations, equipment and supplies, etc.

• Good admin helps to avoid feeling overwhelmed, making mistakes, causing confusion, and looking unprofessional.

Admin Duties

• A complete list of admin duties for a school's program guitar teacher includes: • Acuity scheduling • Student departure • Parent liaison • School hire • Teaching supplies • School keys • Fretvision keys • Guitar hires • Fretvision bags • Practice journals • Lesson books • Fretshop orders • Student reports

Acuity Scheduling

• Use Acuity to show scheduled classes, enrolled students, and mark student absences.
• Perform a roll call at the beginning of each class based on the list of enrolled students.
• Mark absent students accurately and immediately.

Student Departure

• Ensure students leave the classroom in an orderly manner.
• Use Acuity to confirm each student's destination (e.g., afters, pickup, walk home).
• Take responsibility for students until they are picked up or arrive at their destinations.

Parent Liaison

• Briefly discuss student progress and any issues with parents during pickup.
• Mention any misbehavior or difficulties with behavior if necessary.

School Hire

• Respect the hired space and equipment.
• Follow the hire agreement and return equipment to its original state.
• Notify reception if there are any issues with equipment or supplies.

Teaching Supplies

• Ensure you have all necessary supplies for classes.
• Notify reception if you need to restock or request additional supplies.
• Fretvision will provide supplies; you are not financially responsible.

School Keys

• Obtain a key for the teaching space and school gates (currently applicable to Charles Weston School).
• Sign out a key from the school reception.

Fretvision Keys

• Obtain a key for the Fretvision Studio.
• Use the key to access the studio for supplies, books, student bags, and hire guitars.

Guitar Hires

• Distribute and collect hire guitars to/from students.
• Ensure each student receives their allocated guitar.
• Report any broken or damaged guitars to reception.

Fretvision Bags

• Distribute Fretvision bags to new students, containing a practice journal and lesson book.
• Students only receive one bag; lost bags are not replaced.

Practice Journals

• Distribute new practice journals to students at the beginning of each term.
• Ensure students fill out their journals and have them signed by parents.
• Use practice journals to track student progress and provide feedback.

Lesson Books

• Distribute lesson books to students on their first day.
• Ensure students bring their lesson books to each class.
• Replace lost or damaged books, but charge a $10 replacement fee.

Fretshop Orders

• Students order prizes from the Fretshop online.
• Receive and fulfill orders, and give prizes to students.
• Mark off orders in the Microsoft ToDo app.

Student Reports

• No written reports are provided to parents at the end of each term.
• Provide verbal feedback to parents after a few lessons.
• Write a detailed report when leaving a class or school.

Class Management and Behaviour Control

• Serious misbehavior warrants an immediate report to parents and a warning.
• Examples of serious misbehavior include: • Physically hurting or fighting with another student • Using profanities or offensive language • Discussing inappropriate topics • Damaging property • Receiving multiple warnings for the same minor offense### Running the Class
• Introduce new students to the guitar with a crash course, covering the three main parts of the guitar, string numbers, and fret numbers.
• Get new students to play string one and fret one, correcting fingering issues.
• While new students practice, check out existing students and tune their guitars.
• Keep an ear on the rest of the class, giving warnings for talking or idleness.

Tuition Strategies for New Students

• Get students playing as soon as possible, with minimal theory.
• Focus on technique and finger placement over string and fret numbers.
• Demonstrate on your own guitar to help struggling students.
• Introduce the four keys to effective practice: going slow, breaking songs into chunks, focusing on hard bits, and looping.
• Share fun facts about songs to add context and fun.

Games

• Play games, such as Simon Says, to make the lesson enjoyable.
• Give new students second chances to maximize their chances of winning.

Ending the Class

• Pay close attention to new students, ensuring they haven't left anything behind.
• Have students pack up their guitars and books, assisting those who need help.
• Don't let anyone leave without your knowledge, and see that each student goes to their correct destination.
• Pack up the room, restoring it to its original state, to make a good impression on the school.

Discover the importance of effective classroom management and student engagement strategies. Learn how to tailor learning to individual needs and maintain a positive learning environment.