Submitted by Pamela Rezach, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Idea posted April 2, 2004
This might sound like an unusual idea, but it has worked 100% of the time for me when I've needed to use it (which, luckily, is not very often). This is something I used for the first time three years ago, and my classes have been 100% perfect the last two years! Here it is:
Anytime the class wouldn't cooperate I would say, "Stand up." Once everyone was up, I would say "Sit down." I continued doing this until there was total silence as they were standing and sitting. The first few times it took several ups and downs. (My students sit on the floor, therefore the ups and downs were a lot of trouble.) I wouldn't say "Stand up." until everyone was sitting on the floor with their legs crossed. Immediately, I would then say "Stand up." At first the class laughed, then slowly but surely they realized it wasn't as much fun as they first thought. By the third day of doing this, the whole class changed. Yes, it did waste a bit of precious time, but the end result was well worth the few class sessions it took to "set them straight"! I have never had to use it since then. (I actually did this with three different classes.) Expect them to laugh at first, but you stay serious, then enjoy as their facial expressions change.
One day I had college students observing when I did this. I just heard that one of them, who is now teaching, uses this same approach with much success.