“Basic Skills in Teaching: A Well-Managed Classroom ” was the theme of the training program organized by the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania for 60 teachers from Kosovo and Albania that was held in Pogradec on 4-6 March 2016. Teachers and school directors from 7 different schools in Malisheva as well as officials from the Municipal Directorate for Education and Training in Kosovo took part in this program. In his thank you speech, Mr. Shefqet Kryeziu, one of the officials of MDET said, “We are very satisfied with what you have offered to our teachers and directors so far. For me this is the first time.” While teacher Fetah Hoti claimed, “I have had about 800 hours of training, but the training we get here is really useful and practical.”
During the training session Deacon Spiro Topanxha from the Orthodox Church of Albania greeted the officials, school directors and teachers from Kosovo and conveyed to them the message by Archbishop Anastasios according to whom “Education and learning is very important to the Orthodox Church, which has been proven by the 30 educational institutions founded by the Orthodox Church to educate the future generation starting from elementary to university levels… So continue your important mission without forgetting how much impact you have on those children who are not only the future but also the present of the country. “
The trainer, Ms. Ann Bryant, talked about the effectiveness of classroom management; the necessity of having well-organized trained teachers, the need to establish and follow certain strategies in class as well as to set discipline according to a specific plan. Among others, she confirmed that, “[according to scientific research,] effective classroom management is the most important factor which shapes students’ learning.” And the well management of the classroom involves all the work that a teacher does to handle the students, the space, the time and the teaching materials in order for the learning process to occur. In a well-managed classroom the students feel safe, get involved into tasks, they know what is expected from them and become usually successful; they are not confused, do not lose their time or get stuck in any way.
She also emphasized that according to scholars, organization is the key to effectiveness. Every school should have a clear set of rules and let students know about the positive and negative consequences in case of obeying or disobeying them as well as their equality before the rules.
The training program closed with the hope to repeat such unforgettable experiences in the future since they have already become part of a beautiful tradition.
Gabriela Hope
Translated by: Juljana Pici
