The importance of giving the teacher's expectation to all students before starting the activity

Some students have a variety of strategies to do what they want, event though the effects or the results will be negative for themselves and or others.

Teachers can minimise any accidents or incidents, that might occur during the activity, by giving the teacher's expectation to all students, before starting the activity. 

Why? Because the teacher's expectation can act as a brake on negative behaviors. 

All students usually are very excited and only focus on the activity. Sometimes they are too intense with the activity and forget, that they might make their peers unhappy or put themselves in a dangerous situation.

Teachers need to allocate a certain time to explain and discuss about the teacher's expectation to all students before starting the activity. 

For example: 

The teacher will provide playground activity to 15 students for 60 minutes.

The teacher needs to sit all students together and then explain the expectations. Such as: 

• how long will the activity happen at the playground area. The teacher will give 15 minutes reminder to all students, so that there will be a smooth transition.

• all students must share all the toys or the tools.

• all students must sit down properly and hold on the swing's rope tightly. The teacher can open a discussion about why they must sit down properly and hold on the swing's rope tightly. This strategy will improve their thinking skills, so that they can take the best and safe decision for themselves.

• all students must gather at the meeting area, if they hear the whistle blow three times.

• tidy up together after playing. This activity can be done, after gathering together.

• all students must respect, be nice and friendly to others.

• a student, who does not respect or be nice and friendly to others will talk to the teacher about their negative behaviour, until he/ she come up with a positive behaviour.

• how to solve a problem, when a student grabbed another's student's tool or toy. The teacher will show the way using a role play, by involving two students to be the actors or actresses. This strategy is promoting and supporting how to negotiate in a positive way.  

©Tina Adi