When a lesson bombs...

[tesoljon]

Okay, here's my current solution.


I have my own classroom and usually get to class before the students (I have to unlock it and get things set up). I'm going to put up one of the attached slides so the students can see it when they come in and while they’re waiting for class to start. Some are duplicated for morning/afternoon classes. The first week I do this, I'll have to tell the students what's going on. But after that, I plan on it being passive instruction unless they have a question about it.

This accomplishes a few things:
1) I don't actually have to do a lesson on greetings.
2) Does a little bit of greetings everyday.
3) Shows variety in greetings.

The speech bubbles and text boxes are grouped. Also, the first slide loops. Found the instructions here: http://msmvps.com/blogs/tohlz/archive/2006/09/10/Looping-a-slide-with-multiple-animations.aspx
First, click Slide Show > Set Up Show.
Put a checkmark to Loop continuously until 'Esc'.
Click Ok.
Now, Click Slide Show > Custom Shows.
Click New.
Select the slide you are looping, click Add.
Click Ok and Close.
Click on the slide you are looping.
Click Slide Show > Slide Transition. In Office 2010, Transitions have their own tab.
Under Advance slide, put a checkmark to Automatically After. This will allow the slide to loop automatically.
Do NOT Apply to all slides.
Right click on the thumbnail of the current slide, select Hide Slide.
Now, you will need to insert a new slide just before the slide you are looping.
On the new slide, insert an action button.
Set the hyperlink to the custom show you have created.
Put a checkmark on "Show and Return".
Ok your way out.

[notes408]

For me, my first lessons of the week (Monday) are usually hit or miss. They either go decently or they just plain out bomb. From there though, I'm able to get a sense of what works and what doesn't and just variate it from there. For the most party you want to get all the grades you're covering on the same level, but it's pretty hard especially if you're a noob like me. When it doubt refer to the book though and use the cd rom. It may be boring but add rewards/candy because that is a game changer all on its own. It's amazing how coerced children can be with sweets.

[kungfuxander]

For me, my first lessons of the week (Monday) are usually hit or miss. They either go decently or they just plain out bomb. From there though, I'm able to get a sense of what works and what doesn't and just variate it from there. For the most party you want to get all the grades you're covering on the same level, but it's pretty hard especially if you're a noob like me. When it doubt refer to the book though and use the cd rom. It may be boring but add rewards/candy because that is a game changer all on its own. It's amazing how coerced children can be with sweets.

Same but my first class of the week is also my lowest, so it's hard to get read on them

[KristaU]

I'm really new to teaching and have a small fear come over me before I teach my first lesson of the day. But I found that if my first class is rough, then I modify my next class a little bit!
For instance, some of my co-teachers like to stick with the book which is usually really dry and the students react with expected unenthusiasm... but if you have a list of games (songs, activities, etc) stored up in your head and test them out on the class then you can end up with a really fun lesson!
I guess just always being prepared like a good Girl Scout is your best bet! 

[hockeyfan_inkorea]

I'd like to revisit the topic, but I'm not sure when I should. Next week feels too soon--2 weeks in a row too much of the same content? Later in the semester doesn't seem right for greetings. I suppose I could wait until the beginning of next semester, but I'm feeling crummy NOW.

I wouldn't put too much emphasis on when in the semester you teach greetings. Just because greetings are one of the first things people need to know in a general sense doesn't mean your students will need them anymore today than they will in 8 weeks.

[sweet&spicy]

I agree, you should try a different way of teaching the lesson if it's bombing.  And you can tell when that is happening, I noticed it in a lesson which was predesigned for me to teach that the way I was instructing it was not going well for many of the students, so you throw a little spice in it.  I do just a tiny bit of improvisation to help the students get back to focus and excited.  You can definitely do that with greetings.  Perhaps if you have hats from different places or can make hats that represent moods/tones they may respond to that.

[anixela]

I'm probably just shirking the responsibility but the students can make or break a lesson.

Agreed. I teach three beginner classes with absolutely no English once a day three times a week and one of my classes always bombs my lessons because of three little GRRRR boys who disrupt my class all the effing time and laugh in my face because I'm such a waygook hahaha wow look at her she talks so funny (and because I'm not allowed to punish and my co-teacher does nothing to help me). No matter how much planning I do, no matter how motivational I am, no matter how exciting the classes. I actually experimented recently with my schedule, teaching them my prepared curriculum last, and the previous classes were successes but they broke my lesson 

So, frankly, I'm shirking responsibility here. My lesson was awesome and these boys broke my effing lesson gdi.