Managerial Routines



1) Procedures:
            a) SAY and STOP! to bring kids in for an interruption
                             -The term interruption is used because that is how the kids see it and it should be as
                               short and effective as possible.
            c) Have the gym, court and equipment set up before lesson.
                             - this may not always be possible, but time is saved if done.
                             - if it's not possible, to decrease "inactive time", get the students into some sort of
                              warm-up activity, and set up while they are moving.
            d) Give a daily attitude and participation mark to maintain respectful behavior.
                              -The students will stay on task better because they are aware that you are watching
                               for the proper attitudes and great efforts during the lesson, and it will be part of their
                               grades.  Students putting effort into mini games keeps the lesson running smoothly.
            e) When calling in students for further instruction, sit them all down.
                               -This helps decrease distractions while the teacher is talking, and it is harder to
                                 bounce a ball from the sitting position compared to the standing position.
            f)  Give a set water break during the lessons.
                               -This is important so you don't have individual students running to the water
                                fountain all class long.  Tell the class before hand that you will give water breaks so
                                they know not to request one.
 

2) Groupings:
            a)  Pinnies for dividing up students into larger groups.
            b)  Numbering partners "1" and "2" for individual tasks.
               c)  Change students' partners if not working well together.
                                -Lots of tasks in this lesson are performed in partnerships, and if 2 students cannot
                                work together productively, they should be split up.  You can make a mandatory
                                rule of "everyone find a new partner" in the middle of a task so this split up doesn't
                                look obvious.
 

3) Classroom rules:
            a)  No talking or bouncing balls when the teacher is instructing.
            b)  Gym strip must be worn to participate in physical activities.
                            -This includes clothing different than those worn to school that day (runners,
                              shorts/sweats).
            c) Pinnies MUST be put in box if NOT USED.
                            -This is for safety reasons, as a pinnie laying on the floor is very difficult to
                              see, and is very slippery.
            d) Student either is using the ball or it is returned to bin.
                             -It is important for safety and other reasons to not have basketballs laying
                              all over the gym floor.
            e) Bathroom used before and after class.
                              -If you continuously give bathroom breaks to individual students  
                               games will be largely disrupted, because most mini games depend on the
                               participation of all group members
            f) Hands up for questions.
                              -This prevents blurting out when asking probing questions.  If hands must be
                                raised, then the entire class can hear the students' answer and learn from it.
 
 

4)  Kids with no strip
            a) Have students fill out Time-on-Task Sheets for teacher assessment.
            b) Help with equipment and score keeping activities.
                             - setup and takedown of equipment. This keeps these students busy, so it will
                               minimize distractions caused by these non participating students.  Setup and
                               takedown of the equipment may not be very desirable, so this will motivate
                               the students to make sure they bring their strip for future classes.

5) Equipment:
            a)Have the equipment out and ready.
                              -Time efficiency and safety can be may be at risk if students are
                                going in and out of the equipment room.
            b) Squash, tennis etc. balls
                              - for modifying some games/drills
            c)  Yellow, floppy cones
                              - to make grids and playing courts which are easily modified in size if
                                 necessary
            d)hitting with hand, paddle racquet and the real racquet are given as options to allow students to
                extend or simplify a skill however usually only two choices will be available to avoid confusion

 6) Teaching Space:
            a) Use cones (small, yellow floppy cones) to divide gym into smaller courts/spaces.
                               - This will decrease the amount of gym space which is wasted, and will
                                  increase the number of students which can be involved at any one time.
            b) When gathering students, position them so that distractions are behind them and
                stand at edge of circle, NOT middle.
                                -With distractions are reduced, there is a better chance the students will listen to
                                  the teacher and the instructions.  If you stand in the middle of a circle of students,
                                  half the circle cannot hear you (your back is to them) and your instructional
                                  efforts are somewhat lost.
            c) During a drill, set up one group of students on next drill for demo before "stop".
                                -When students see a demonstration they will be able to begin the task in less
                                  time and will have some encouragement to engage as they have seen their
                                  peers performing the task.  Having the demo pre-set ensures the demo will be
                                  performed correctly and is also useful if one group is getting bored of task
                                  and begins to fool around.
            d)  Use the entire space available in gym and squash courts
                               -when space is full in courts modify games in the gym
                                       -switch so every student or pair gets opportunity to practice in court
                               - in half court squash have pairs switch sides to get used to walls on each side
                               -More students can be involved and modified games will more closely
                                resemble full game the more the available space is used to its maximum.
                               -tape lines in the squash court to make two courts from one
 

7) Support materials (time savers)
            a)  Have a quick pre-lesson meeting and introduce lesson.
                                -Students can know the general progression of the lesson, which eliminates
                                  some organizational time during the lesson and the "Are we going to play a
                                  game today?" question.
            c) When progressing from one drill to next, maintain number of students per
                group.
                                -Students can move quickly from task to task if number are the same, or
                                 groups are multiples of previous groups (i.e.: 2's to 4's).
            d) Avoid calling whole group in too many times.  Try to stop them and have them
                           remain where they are.
                                -Students can take minutes to return to task if they have to go back to
                                  space and get re-organized.
            e) Give a maximum of 3 teaching points per skill/drill.
                                -Students can only remember and focus on a few teaching points at a time so
                                  they will be remembered.
 
 

modified from
http://www.educ.uvic.ca/Faculty/thopper/Jason&adrian10BB/Organization/organization.html