Our problem of teaching in a public secondary school is the overflowing number of enrollees. Classroom shortage, lack of competent teachers (teachers teaching subjects not their major), lack of textbook and other reference materials.

            With these situations, one problem that will surely arise is large class sizes. However, teachers always provide the best possible instruction to their students. In case a teacher face a situation like this, they may try the following strategies to minimize if not totally eradicate some of the challenges in teaching large class sizes.

• Teachers may form small group works for students. Students will be divided with an assigned concept, topic or skill. Smart teachers know that this method helps students to develop teamwork skill and respect, in addition, disciplinary problems may be minimized.
• Students may be assigned to do Cooperative Learning. In this strategy, the learners work sharing their knowledge and ideas to each other.
• Peer Tutoring/Coaching. In this strategy, the peer teachers are the partners of the real teachers and considered as the students who excel in their class. Through this strategy, students, teachers/tutor can exhibit leadership skills, communication skills and knowledge. The peer tutors assist small groups in learning skills and assessment tasks using checklist. Teachers who would like to pitch in should talk to the peer teacher.
• Individualized Instruction. Based on the pre-assessment results, a teacher can identify students’ placement and where he/she should begin.
• Assigned Class or Group Projects. Teacher divides the class into groups to participate in any task or project. Other groups may be assigned with other project.
• Peer Evaluation. A group of students may observe on assess a classmate until all classmates are evaluated. The peer evaluator will submit the observation to the real teachers.

         Teachers by all means may diminish if not totally avoid classroom disciplinary problems, if all students in a large class size are all performing. If this will be the case, achievement rate of students will improve.

Reference:

Sacdalan, G. Teaching Methodologies and Classroom Management, Principles and Methods of Teaching (2006)

 

By: MARITES D. DE SILVA|TEACHER III|BATAAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL|BALANGA, BATAAN