Funding for education is difficult to come by in the current economic climate. Larger class size, fewer new materials and limited equipment are a few of the things educators face at all times, particularly during tough economic environments.
For educators that are committed to providing a quality education for their students no matter what, some proactive planning can go a long way toward giving a good education with limited resources. If you know the subject you teach very well you can come up with some ideas that can keep your classroom an active learning environment in any situation.
When your class sizes swell, group activities can get students to share and learn together, reducing the amount of instruction you have to provide. This allows students to share materials in small groups when it isn’t possible to get enough materials for every class member.
Changing the arrangement of your classroom may not immediately seem like it can directly help educational goals, but rethinking classroom arrangement can be a practical solution to some classroom problems. If students believe you are up to something they are more likely to pay attention and participate in discussion. This is one small step toward conquering large size classes.
New classroom arrangements can also allow you to group students for rotating activities. This is a good solution for situations when there are not enough materials to go around. It can also help separate students with discipline problems without alienating individual students. If everyone is grouped differently, your attention to their seating arrangement will not stand out.
When material is not enough to meet classroom needs, it may be time to exercise students’ note taking abilities. If you simply cannot copy everything, require students to take notes from your blackboard or lecture.
Computers are excellent educational tools. If your school has them, make sure to fully utilize their impact on your students’ classroom experience. When other materials are in short supply, online resources can help fill the gap.