Classroom Management

My Thoughts

      Classroom management is the most important thing for teachers to establish in their classroom. Without it, teaching can become completely ineffective. The approach may differ from year to year, and even class to class, as every group of students differ. However, there are still a few key points that remain standard no matter what the students are like.
      First, the rules must be short, concise, and posted somewhere in the classroom. They should be established with the students as to what they mean on the first day and enforced from that moment on. No students should be exempted from punishment or receive unequal punishment for the same offense. In addition to verbally stating the rules, having a syllabus that includes a section the student and parent must sign saying the student will abide by the classroom rules and the parent will support the teacher’s stance in enforcing them.
      Secondly, there must be documentation to prove when there is a chronic problem, or how serious a one-off incident is. Offenses, as well as actions taken due to the offenses, should be written down and filed. This is to prevent exaggerations on behalf of the student and teacher. Conferences and phone calls with parents should also be well documented, including the time, issues discussed, and their reactions.
    Thirdly, particular students with severe behavior issues are not simply the one teacher’s problem, but also for many other teachers, as well as the student’s parents. In cases such as these, it is important to take a team approach in working on improving the child’s behavior.
      Finally, being a teacher of adolescents means that you are there to help teach them pillars of character and mold them into a good member of society as well as teach them the material they need to graduate. Modeling good behavior and incentivizing it in the classroom can help students create good habits and become better people. If the student struggles to learn the material, at least they will have learned how to become a better person.