*It is imporyant to get to know your students and their interests.*Be positive about good behavior, even when aweful students are being good. *Know the school disipline policy and use it. *Have simple rules that apply to everything. *watch your body language, could be negative when it shouldnt be. *take control from before the kids enter the room. *enforce the classroom rules fairly, so when good kids break them they get punished too, not just the 'bad' kids. *Know your lesson plan and dont let the kids get bored. *Have a sense of humour!!! *Try and have interesting lessons, at LEAST once a week.
libby | (144.134.112.98) | Wednesday, 19 June 2002 3:31:04 PM
oops,my computer kept telling me that it didnt post, but obviously it did!
Joanne | (203.166.96.237) | Tuesday, 25 June 2002 7:50:01 PM
Philosophy of Classroom management
I believe that classroom management should be structured around the expectations of the students, teacher and school.
Eg. ‘class rules’ and ‘expectations’ could be set in the first lesson through teacher - student negotiation - based on the school behaviour policy.
The way the class operates would be dependant on the learners age, maturity, cooperation and the subject context.
I believe that there will be a lot less problems to ‘manage’ if the following principles are persistently displayed in my teaching.
Present content that engages as many students as possible. This includes relevant contexts, time management of tasks based on attention spans, personal teaching manner
Allow talking that is not disturbing (at a low hum)
Apologise and admit mistakes if required - i.e. don’t feel threatened
Build a friendly and respectful relationship with each student i.e. get to know their names and show an interest in them inside and outside the subject
Be involved in extracurricular activities, such as sports coaching, so you are seen in a different light to in the classroom.
Value what the students say and listen to what they have to say (don’t be dismissive)
Frequently administer positive feedback at all times - this includes making wrong answers feel valued
mike horsley | (144.132.157.235) | Wednesday, 26 June 2002 5:57:44 PM
really like your 10 commandments ( i counted them ) - though i think i would rearrange them and have the last as 1 and the second last as 2 - all the way back to first as 10!!!! They are a really useful list that could help - but each situation can be so different that our and students individualism shine right through
well done libby ( as usual )
Cass | (63.60.242.212) | Wednesday, 26 June 2002 9:11:54 PM
I agree with much of Libby's philosophy but there are a couple of points I'd like to comment on. Firstly, regarding Libby's last point, I would have to say that every lesson should be interesting and relevant to the students! I would try to provide positive and motivating management though focused, lively teaching and learning. I would also say that in response to '...even when awful students are being good...' it is important to reinforce all kids' good behaviour, perhaps more especially those who are often disruptive, but not so that looks like I am amazed they are behaving well! Regarding the school discipline policy I would also ensure the students understand it so that, if the situation arose, the discipline process implemented would be seen as consistent, fair and not unexpected.
Judith | (203.166.96.236) | Thursday, 27 June 2002 9:54:13 AM
I also agree with Libby's list - thank you for it. I think that it, and the other comments on this tread, allude to another point I believe to be really important which is the notion of building trust between you and the students and between the students themselves.
I don't think students will behave well and be engaged in a lesson unless the environment is safe for them to talk through issues they don't understand. To build that safety in a classroom requires the students to trust the teacher and to trust each other. This, I think requires the teacher to present themselves consistently in a professional, enthusiastic and fair manner, and to set the tone of the classroom by valuing people's comments as representing where they are upto in thinking about this topic. Gradually, as kids start to feel safe the level of exploration of the topic can deepen.
Conclusion: I think that making classroom safe for people to speak in will make it easier for kids to engage with the work, and therefore easier to manage. Hopefully!!
Ossama Harris | (10.0.22.167) | Tuesday, 2 July 2002 1:41:37 PM
Sounds Like a very practical plan to ensure that your class is well managed
and their is a lot of learning taking place. The only thing that i would be
careful about is generalizations. To say for example that you are going to
enforce the rules the same for everyone sounds good but in reality you will
need to make exceptions from one child to the next according to inndividual
needs and personalities. The important thing is that you keep afloat this
Myth of Equal treatment. THe students need to believe that you are treating them
all the same but in reality you will treat some students verry differently to other
students