When working with young students, physically bending or squatting to work with a student at eye-level focuses his attention on you. This form of non-verbal communication indicates interest in the student and what he has to say. The student then learns to mimic that behavior.
However, some Latin American and Caribbean cultures avoid eye contact as a form of respect. In a multicultural classroom, it is critical that teachers understand this and communicate expectations to the student and his parents.
When communicating with students, it is much more effective to praise positive behavior than criticize negative behavior. Positive reinforcement should be delivered consistently and immediately for maximum effect. Simple phrases like, "Good job" or "Well done" show you notice a student's improvement and effectively communicates your expectations. Actively seek incremental improvements in struggling students' work, but avoid false praise.
Children have limited vocabularies and attention spans. Long lectures and discussions may leave them overwhelmed and confused. Promote student understanding by breaking up lectures, lessons and tasks into smaller segments with specific instructions and specified time limits. Phrase instructions several different ways, clarifying unknown terms and providing both written and verbal instructions.
Sometimes students feign understanding in a group setting to avoid embarrassment, but sensitive and early intervention prevents this behavior. Take the time to ensure understanding by asking students to repeat back what was said or even write it down. Be sure they repeat it back and/or write it down correctly before going to the next step. Students who exhibit long-term problems in this area may require additional interventions.