TEFL Gwinhurst Delaware

Classroom management is one of the most feared parts of teaching for new teachers. Lack of classroom management can mean reduced learning for students and unhappiness as well as stress for teachers. There are so many plans out there each emphasizing one aspect of classroom management or another. Some would swear that their version is the best. ‘'Use it and you'll have a dream class”. “No more problems from now on”. I on the other hand believe that there is no magical plan suitable for all teacher/students combination. Each teacher has to develop a classroom management that suits her class and meets her needs. The following are just suggestions that I believe teachers could choose from to establish a well-managed classroom: 1. Present yourself in a likable manner. 2. On the first day and every day onward smile to your students. Make them feel welcome. 3. Learn their names as soon as possible. 4. Establish a feeling of class sprit by having a brief sharing period regularly with your students. 5. Think ahead of how you plan to handle classroom routine and explain basic procedures on the first day. 6. Call attention to classroom rules on the first day .A simple set of rules and consequences hand printed on ordinary board is all you need. The purpose of such a plan is to hold students accountable for misbehavior without having to yell, scold or lecture. It allows you to demand acceptable behavior without causing friction and resentment. Hence, freeing you to build meaningful and influential relationships with your students. - The rules that you establish must cover every misbehavior that you find intolerable and potentially interferes with the learning and enjoyment of your students. You decide what the boundaries are. - The following is a sample of general rules that all teachers can use: a. Listen and follow directions. b. Respect your classmates and teacher. - Teach them the rules. - Give reasons why they are needed. -Show them how you expect them to behave. - Show them also how NOT to behave. - Have volunteers show you how you expect them to behave. 7. Next, you'll need a set of consequences to give your rules the muscle they need to be effective in managing your classroom. - Choose consequences that: - Don't interrupt the flow of your classroom. - Quick and easy to carry out. - Strongly dissuade students from misbehaving. 7. Display the rules and consequences prominently in your classroom where they can be easily seen by all students. 8. To make your classroom management plan effective, you must: - follow it faithfully. - Enforce a consequence every time a rule is broken. The following are recommended consequences that you can alter to suit your situation. a. A warning for the first time a rule is broken. b. A time-out for the second time a rule is broken. c. A letter home for the third time a rule is broken. - Follow through publicly to reinforce the message that you always do exactly what you say. 9. For the consequences to be effective, you'll need leverage. To create leverage in your classroom, here are some proven ways: - Be likable. Keep your cool. - Have fun together. Schedule learning games - Use humor with your students. Be your silly self. -Allow freedom within boundaries. - Create a classroom your students will like being part of. - Build natural and trusting rapport with your students. - Protect the right of your students to learn and enjoy school without interference. - In short, if they like you and like being in your class then classroom management is much, much easier. 10. A fresh start every day. Expect students to behave well today even if yesterday they were naughty. 11. Don't take bad behavior personally. Letting it affect you emotionally will make classroom management infinitely more difficult. Classroom management is a skill that is learned and practiced daily. I shared these tips with you in the hope that you may find some of them useful. References: 1. Psychology Applied o Teaching by Biehler /Snowman 6th edition 2. About.com 3. Smart classroom management.com