Communication isn’t simply vocal. In fact the verbal aspect makes up only a fraction of the interaction between two people. Body language or non-verbal communication is something that adds significant context and multiple extra layers of meaning to our words. A firm understanding of body language can be a real asset in the classroom – a lack of understanding can leave you with some real issues.
Space between people (proxemics) is an interesting place to start. Personal space is something that, as adults, we hate people encroaching upon. Similarly, getting physically too close to pupils may cause a negative reaction.
Be mindful of the space between you and the pupil you are in communication with. Realistically, most classrooms are relatively small – but you can still judge the situation. Getting close during a telling off could result in excessive intimidation, causing an outburst. However, being too far away could mean that the message is misheard or not fully understood.
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