A teacher sitting on the floor with her students, pointing to items on her teaching board

Managing the lesson

This section is related to 'Planning lessons and courses' and focuses on managing learning in physical and virtual classroom environments.

Managing the lesson

In this section you can find useful professional development resources – including articles, webinars, podcast episodes, research and teaching tips and tools – all to help you develop your skills and knowledge of Managing the lesson.

What does 'Managing the lesson' involve?

This professional practice is directly related to lesson planning and focuses on managing classroom environments and learning in physical and virtual spaces. It includes:

  • adjusting the physical classroom (e.g. layout, temperature, noise, etc.) or online classroom (distractions, technology, turn-taking etc.) to support learning

  • establishing and maintaining a positive, safe and supportive learning environment

  • explaining, negotiating and agreeing the lesson aims and content

  • using inclusive pedagogies and strategies as appropriate (see also Using inclusive practices)

  • making appropriate decisions about which languages you use, and your learners use (see also Using multilingual practices)

  • using language appropriate to your learners' level (see also Understanding my learners)

  • using multilingual and translanguaging pedagogic strategies as appropriate (see also Using multilingual practices)

  • giving instructions effectively

  • checking understanding (see also: Assessing learning)

  • managing the pace and timing of activities

  • signalling transitions between stages of the lesson

  • responding to unexpected events in the physical and online classroom

  • making effective use of resources and equipment

  • monitoring learner engagement and responding to emergent needs in order to maintain motivation

  • establishing and maintaining appropriate classroom discipline

  • setting up classroom activities that include a variety of interaction patterns

  • adjusting plans to take advantage of opportunities for learning that emerge during lessons

  • reflecting on my lesson management, identifying strengths and areas to develop and making adjustments as needed (see also Understanding and developing my professional identity.)

You can follow a pathway through selected materials on managing the lesson.

 

Explore resources on 'Managing the lesson'

“Here is the coursebook. Open it to unit 1. Read the title”

Can there be a more discouraging start to a new class? I, unwisely, did that 12 years ago when I started teaching! Now, that I am wiser, hopefully, I wish to share with you 3 simple ideas to start a new class that require zero preparation.

Warm them up, PLEASE
A black learner smiling at the camera while writing in his notebook

Have you ever prepared a joke to share with your students and expected them to burst into laughter, but ended up merely hearing crickets? I bet you felt embarrassed and thought what a lame joke that I shared! Believe me your joke was so funny, but students who did not laugh or react did not get your message. In other words, these students struggle with listening skills.

Sondos Awadallah-Was it a Lame Joke, or a Lame Listening Skill?
A black woman standing in front of her peers and presenting. She holds a tablet

Listening and hearing are two different skills. People may listen but not hear and they may hear but not really listen. This refers not only to EL lessons but to life in general. I am sharing some techniques which help my students understand spoken English better, and help me plan my lessons during the pandemic. I can also share some of my very short videos.

Listening and hearing
A man sitting in front of a laptop wearing a checked shirt and headphones

In our daily lives, we come across a wide range of texts for reading such as some stories, academic or newspaper articles, reports, emails, notifications and messages. And we all have different reasons for reading these texts to enjoy, to communicate, or to get some new information. And this affects the way we teach. 

A Journey of Learning: Reading
Two young learners reading a book titled Noisy Poems

Research and insight

Browse fascinating case studies, research papers, publications and books by researchers and ELT experts from around the world.

See our publications, research and insight