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Competition is my secret tool in managing kindergarten classes of all ages and sizes.
Let me show you my favourite classroom management game.
At the beginning of every lesson I divide the class into teams. This is usually the
tables that they are seated at or, in large classes, areas of the room. The team could
be made up of about 4 to 6 children.
I give the class a topic and ask them to choose a team name. For example, I might say, 禅oday,
you are all fruit. Choose a team name. They will choose names like, team banana, or team
apple.
Write the names of each team on the corner of your board.
Throughout the lesson you will award the team a star for everything that they do well.
I usually give stars for speaking English, tidying up first, sitting up ready, handing
in their papers, helping each other, being polite to me and to each other, not running
in class, lining up quietly and so on. It can be anything that you decide.
Remind them throughout the lesson that they could get their team a star. They will instantly
listen!
The team with the most stars at the end of the day gets to line up first and leave class
before everyone else.
I try to distribute points evenly and get different groups to win on different days
so they continue to remain interested.
It痴 a real team effort so they all work together to try to be the best.