How to Use Nonverbal Communication in the Classroom

Nonverbal communication is an important way to achieve attention and focus in your classroom. Your students send out their own messages throughout your lecture and give you vital clues to understand whether you are reaching them or if you need to alter your teaching style. Your own nonverbal messages can inspire your students to participate in your lesson, an important part of your job as a teacher. Other nonverbal commands can help you get control of a disruptive student and ensure peace in your classroom.

• 1

  Set the tone in your classroom. Smile and remain upbeat. This provides a calm environment in your classroom and lets your students feel safe to add to the discussion. Angle your body towards your students when you speak to them and turn towards students to whom you are speaking directly. This says that you are willing to hear them and interested in their responses. Other distractions in your classroom, such as discouraging remarks from other students or noises through the walls, can damage this tone but you can do your part to open the atmosphere of your class.

• 2

  Touch your students as an encouraging or discouraging gesture. Younger students respond better to touches than older students. This is most effective during individual work times when you can approach a student's desk, smile and pat them on the shoulder to show approval and encouragement. Similarly, rowdy or disruptive students respond to discouraging touches such as grasping their arm in a firm but respectful manner by calming down and disengaging from disruptive activities. Touching becomes less appreciated as students age and can be seen as inappropriate. Alter your technique once they reach their middle school age by reaching towards them and touching their desk instead. During lecture times a similar gesture of reaching towards a student or touching their desk has a similar effect.

• 3

  Establish eye contact with your students. This engages them in the discussion and diverts their attention to you. Cycle through your students throughout the lecture. Focus on students who appear fatigued. These may be at risk of falling asleep and eye contact can raise their attention and focus it on your lesson.

• 4

  Watch your students for signs of their nonverbal communications towards you. Flickering eyes represent tiredness and may lead to falling asleep. If their eyes wander around your room while you are speaking, they are unfocused and not listening. Looks of discomfort or outright disgust represent offense from your lesson. Surprise or excitement on a student's face tells you that they know an answer to a question and may enjoy answering the question verbally to the class. These clues provide information that lets you know how to proceed with your lesson in order to reach your students.