TEFL Altus Pennsylvania

Classroom management is an extremely difficult and important aspect of education that most people don't consider until they step into the role of teacher for the first time. Making sure students are following along with the material, checking their progress and addressing individual needs, meeting the deadlines imposed by the educational institution you work for, and keeping your sanity intact all at the same time is not an easy thing to do. One of the most important tools for a teacher to use to assist with classroom management is discipline. Well-disciplined students will follow along with the lesson, listen to directions, and (hopefully) complete any assignments they have on time. While this is rarely the case of an entire class numbering more than one student, teachers implementing strict and fair systems of controlling the flow of class and handling any misbehavior will help teachers make this more of a reality. Ultimately, this all starts with the teacher. In order for a class to act as a disciplined, functioning unit, students need to feel like they are subject to the same regulations and conditions. A solid rule system is one way to bring the class together. Students respond well to rules and authority as long as it is implemented from the beginning of a course. As Melissa Kelly writes, “rules should be stated as clearly as possible so that students can understand what behavior you expect of them” (Managing Student Conduct). The key is having a system in place that is consistent, fair and works for your class. There are a number of techniques to improve the general flow of lessons. Budd Churchwood references another teacher's methodology in his article “11 Techniques for Better Classroom Discipline.” While each is useful, number 5 stands out as prudent to this essay. Number 5 discusses the importance of using “nonverbal cuing” to bring the students to attention or to refocus them on the lecture (11 Techniques). Tapping a marker on the board, flicking the light switch off and on, or even something as small as raising your hand can signal students that you mean business. Again, for these techniques to be effective, each cue should be explained to students at the introduction time of your class so they know what to expect and what is to be expected of them. Problems in the classroom are not necessarily the teacher's fault, but there is a reason why a student behaves in one class and misbehaves in another (Managing Student Conduct). One of the reasons could be teaching style. Students who don't feel like a part of the class can become bored, disinterested and restless. Each student is an individual and needs to be treated as such while maintaining the community feeling of the class (Classroom Discipline). This is one of the main responsibilities every teacher has to their students. Personal problems also play a large role in the class. Life is tough and full of challenges, and students with especially challenging personal lives can have a hard time focusing or studying at all (Classroom Discipline). teachers need to keep that in account when addressing issues of misbehavior. If a student's personal issues are beyond your level of responsibility, report them to the appropriate authorities. In conclusion, there are a number of ways for teachers to manage their classrooms effectively and maintain a level of discipline over their students: establish and follow a fair system of rules; use nonverbal cues to refocus student attention when necessary; treat each student with an adequate amount of attention. If a teacher implements these techniques, they will be able to successfully manage their students and make the most out of class time. Sources Cited: Discipline by Design. 11 Techniques for Better Classroom Discipline, 2009. http://www.honorlevel.com/x47.xml. March 15, 2012 Kelly, Melissa. Managing Student Conduct, 2012. http://712educators.about.com/od/discipline/a/student_conduct.htm. March 15, 2012 Rohrer, Ken. Classroom Management and Discipline, 2011. http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/links/toolbox/discipline.html. March 15, 2012