The way you end your class has a very strong impact on the perception the student has of you as a teacher and of your ability to help them meet their learning goals.
We have reached out to some of our most active Verbling teachers for tips on how to end your lesson on a high note and this is what they have very generously shared with us.
Towards the end of the lesson, let your students know that the lesson is coming to an end and invite them to ask any questions they may have. Make sure you set aside 10 minutes at the end of each class to carry out the below actions and to avoid rushing.
Points to remember
- Go over the points that are worth remembering from your lesson. It’s always a good idea to elicit these in order to provide your student with a sense of pride and accomplishment. This can also be done using recap activities and games, which allow the students to realize how much they have learned.
Kudos!
- Commend your student for their work. Make a positive remark on something your student spoke about in this particular class or on your student’s overall performance and progress.
- Follow the pattern of “Sugar, Salt, Sugar.” Not everything you say can be positive. If all you say are good things, the students won’t think you are really doing anything for them. At the end of class, tell them something they have done well, something they can get better at, and then follow it up with something they are incredible at.
- If it is a child, a short video or game is always great to end the lesson, as is the built-in Verbling firework and confetti party options.
Check with your student
- Ask your student if they find this material and approach useful and remind them to feel free to make any suggestions or bring in any material – from work or otherwise - or topics they might find particularly interesting. Learning as much as possible about what motivates your student is key.
- Make this your everyday job. A motivated student is a regular student.
It’s not over yet
- Give homework designed to achieve the student’s learning goals and always complete Verbling’s student assessment form.
- As per the above section, ask your student if there is anything in particular they would like to study or practice next time. Students want to feel the teacher is in control, so it is important that you also make suggestions based on the student’s strengths and weaknesses.
- Describe the plan for the next lesson and confirm its date or remind the student to book a new lesson.
See you soon!
- Mention objectives, materials, and activities you have in mind for future classes. This creates a sense of purpose and helps your student look forward to the next class.
- Make your “goodbye” a “see you soon” message. This reminds your student that their learning process is in progress and it helps them build this idea as a mindset to be a regular, productive student.
Our thanks go to:
Anonymous | Spanish Teacher
Marie Richards | English Teacher
Emma Segev | English Teacher
Charly | French Teacher
Chad Hansen | English Teacher
Charlotte Friend | English Teacher
Anonymous | Spanish Teacher
Jackie Guiter | English Teacher
Odessa May Fontenelle | English Teacher