Simplify Instructions

Monitor Your Rate of Speech

Pay attention to your rate of speech and lower it, espcially when you are communicating a complex concept or theme. This will help increase students ability to understand your message.

Shorten Your Message

• A shorter message is easier to understand than a longer message. It is easy for students to miss something when you are using long sentances that are packed with information.

• For example

  • Instead of: "Get out your red science book and write your name in the top right hand corner, and then write the title of your science project in the box marked heading."

  • Use: "Get out your red science books" (Pause). "Write your name in the top right hand corner" (Pause). "When you've done that, write the title of your science project in the box that is marked heading."

Use Simple Sentences

• Oral sentences with a simple structure are much easier to understand than complex sentences.

• For example

  • Instead of: "Before you can go to lunch, I want the students from the red team who made the blue tower and the green team who made the steel bridge to write their results on the board"

  • Use: "Students who made the blue tower or steel bridge need to write their results on the board. Then you may go to lunch"

Repeat Key Messages

• To ensure students understand your message it is often important to repeat key sentences and phrases or to paraphrase your comments.

Pay Attention to Your Body Language

• Approximately 70% of communication is non-verbal and is often overlooked as a means of communication.

• Being aware of your body language helps to simplify classroom language.

• Some tips include:

  • Make good eye contact with the whole class

  • Use hand and body gestures to help communicate your message

  • Use pauses

  • Use vocal variety and a warm tone to communicate your message