Tag: classroom management

Hands on top. Everybody Stop! – Crowd Control Tips for Group Leaders

Personal Development, Programming

You’re in the middle of the lesson and from the back of the room you hear a loud burp. The room erupts with laughter and chatter. Suddenly you have lost the attention of the class and the focus of the kids is now on the child that burped. What do you do?

Crowd control is a skill that everyone who works with kids needs to develop. Whether running games, teaching a Sunday School class, or leading a small group, as the leader you need to have control of the group.

There is a difference between crowd control and individual misbehavior.

When kids are chatting and messing around – that’s crowd control. Use crowd control techniques to get everybody back on track.

When a child is not keeping his hands to himself and distracting other kids – that’s individual misbehavior.

Crowd Control Tips

Use an Attention-Getting Technique

I am the games leader for kids in kindergarten to grade two at our mid-week club program. The first week of clubs we were in the gym playing. I didn’t tell the kids what to expect or what it meant. I just said it – in the middle of a game. The gym was loud and the kids were running around and I said, “Hands on top. Everybody stop.” I put my hands on my head. The kids stopped and put their hands on their heads and looked at me. Amazing!

There are many different ways to get kids’ attention. You can dim the lights; blow a whistle; use a call and response; clap a sequence that the kids have to copy. It doesn’t really matter. What matters is that you pick one and use it consistently for that situation. So, for game time, when I need the kid’s attention, I say, “Hands on top. Everybody stop.”

Positive Reinforcement

Crowd control is all about teaching kids how to behave in group situations. One great way to do this is to reward those who are behaving well.

If you notice kids doing what they are supposed to be doing, let them know it! Thank them for behaving well. Reinforce positive behavior rather than negative behavior.

Verbal affirmation is great. Every once in a while, reward the group with candy or a fun activity. Mix it up and have fun with it.

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6 Tips for Dealing with Discipline

Teacher Training

behave yourself! - teacher1. Be consistent but handle each case individually.

By this I mean that it’s important to learn the circumstances of the situation as you discipline. Despite how you might feel in the heat of the moment, most children aren’t acting out just to make your day more difficult! Children are responsible for their actions and need to accept the consequences, but it is your job to find out what lead to the outburst. Discipline is not about punishment; it’s about discipleship. The child may have heavy things going on at home or be dealing with difficult situations at school. Take the time to talk with the child and give them ways of dealing with their feelings that are acceptable.

2. Always handle discipline in private.

Don’t embarrass the child by reprimanding them in front of the other kids.

This doesn’t mean being alone with the child. It means showing respect by speaking with the child off to the side and not in front of the other kids.

3. Discipline out of love, not anger.

If you are angry, give yourself a time out before you deal with the issue. Discipline that is handled in the heat of the moment when you are not in control of your emotions is not true discipline. If you are angry, you are not in a position to offer a child effective discipline. Remember, it’s not punishment, but discipline.

When you discipline out of love, rather than anger, you are training in a way that will mold character, behavior, and values.

4. Make sure the child understands why they are being disciplined.

Most children know exactly what they did! However, there are times when kids don’t know what they did that was wrong. They may be so focused on one thing that they do not realize that their actions resulted in hurt bodies or hurt feelings. When you discipline a child, ask them if they can tell what they did that was wrong. Remember, you are training to mold character and behavior.

5. Give kids a chance to make things right.

Part of the discipline process should be the opportunity to apologize. If a child has hurt another child, they should be encouraged to apologize. If a child has stolen an item they should be encouraged to return it. Whenever possible, give kids the chance to apologize and make things right. In your discussion, talk about how and when they might make things right with the person they have wronged.

6. Always welcome them back to the group.

Children need to know that we love them and care for them no matter what. This doesn’t mean that we ignore issues that arise. It means that we deal with them and then move on. Welcome the child who has been disciplined back to the group.

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Cell Phones in Sunday School

Teacher Training

Teenage Girl Sitting Outdoors Using Mobile PhoneRecently I was looking for a picture of a child reading on the stock photo site that I use. I got a good amount of photos to choose from. In the first row of options was a picture of a child “reading” from their phone.

Kids today have cell phones. Cell phones can be distracting, so it can be tempting for teachers to prohibit the use of cell phones in the classroom. However, people sometimes have their Bible as an app on their cell phone. So simply prohibiting their use is not the answer.

A better response would be to limit the distraction, but teach good Bible skills for cell phone users.

Limiting the Distraction

1. Create rules.

In order to limit the distraction that cell phones can be, you need to create some rules for using them in the classroom. It will be up to you and your students to create specific rules for your situations.

Here are some parameters that should be covered in the rules:

  • If a student has a cell phone, but not a Bible app, then the phone needs to be turned off and put away. Exceptions to the rule (ie. a child is expecting a call from their parents) should be dealt with by the teacher on a case by case basis.
  • If a student  has a cell phone with a Bible app, they may use it under these conditions:
    • the phone needs to be put on silent
    • when not using the Bible app, the phone needs to be face down on the table or under their chair.
  • There will be a consequence for breaking the rules. For example, “If your phone becomes a distraction it will be taken away until the end of class.”

2. Teachers should model proper cell phone use.

Teachers can become distracted by their cell phones as well. Make a point of leading by example.

  • Put your phone on silent.
  • Use only the Bible app (if you don’t have one, put your phone away.)
  • If you do have a Bible app, teach your students Bible skills for Bible apps.
  • Don’t be distracted by your phone as students are arriving or as they are leaving. Show them you care about them by being prepared and focused as they arrive.

Teach Bible Skills for Cell Phone Users

Students may not realize that using a Bible app still requires Bible skills. Continue to teach Bible skills for hard copy versions of the Bible. These skills are useful regardless of what type of Bible you use. Talk with your students about using a Bible app for Bible study.

Here are some topics for discussion:

1. The advantages and disadvantages of using a Bible app.

Some advantages include easier searching, the selection of versions available, the ability to compare versions. Some disadvantages include limited text on screen (esp. certain devices), loss of context, some difficulty in comparing texts (esp. if they are from different books of the Bible.)

2. Can you use both a Bible app and a hardcopy Bible?

You can use both. If you are looking at two different passages of Scripture you can look up one on your phone and one in your Bible. You can use a different version on your Bible app then the hardcopy Bible available as you study a passage. You can choose to use just the Bible app on your phone or just a hardcopy Bible or both.

3. How to Choose a Bible app

There are a lot of options when choosing a Bible app. This is an important discussion to have with your students.

When choosing an app:

  • Ask for help from your parents or your teacher.
  • Be aware that some apps are free and some cost money.
  • Some apps are not Bibles, but are devotionals, daily Bible reading plans, quotes, or trivia.
  • If you already have a Bible app, your teacher can review it with you.
  • Some apps have many versions; some apps are a single version.  If it is a single version, make sure it’s a version you are comfortable reading.
  • Different religions also have a bible. Watch for this when choosing an app.
  • Teachers, find some Bible apps that you can recommend to your students (if you don’t know any, find someone in your church who can help)
  • Don’t get distracted with the bells and whistles. Choose a Bible app for its content.

4.  How to Use a Bible app

Bible skills are Bible skills. They are transferable from hard copy to apps. Reinforce these skills with your students.  Also talk about using the bonus features of these apps, for example making use of reading plans, etc.

5.  How to Choose What Version of the Bible to Read in Your Bible app

This is an important discussion that includes educating your students and teaching discernment.

Talk about:

  • Translations versus paraphrases
  • Some versions available could be Catholic bibles, Jewish bibles, Morman bibles, etc.
  • Some versions include the Apocrypha
  • Some versions are more difficult to read.

Have some recommendations for your students of versions that your church uses or versions that are easier for students to read.

Cell phones are a reality in our Sunday Schools. Whether kids use a Bible or a Bible app, let’s continue to encourage Bible reading, Bible studying, and Bible skills! Our goal is the same–making disciples!

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