Classroom Management

Classroom Management will always be a main issue teachers need to address. There are many ways to manage a classroom good and bad. The main important part of teaching is to make sure you are engaging with your students. This might mean you are up and moving around keeping your students interest with movement (CLT.) You can help keep students on task by standing near students or groups that are socializing (BLT). Anther important point is that you establish class expectations with your students early on so they will know what is and is not expected of them. Along with this, establish discipline if students do not choose to follow expectations (BLT). Routine activities and leading questions will keep students on task more than using strict discipline. If students get in bad habits and start making it a routine to come to class late or misbehave in class there should be an action plan designed to make the expectations clear and establish punishment if their bad actions continue. The key to running a successful classroom is consistency and mutual respect. If a teacher is acting unfairly students will loose respect and they will be less willing to be effort into the class.

 Time management is also very important. Teachers should be efficient work through concepts with students and manage discipline appropriately. Also teachers should make long term goals and have a basic plan of major concepts they need to discuss. Classroom climate is important as well; teachers should have an environment that is appropriate to what subject they are teaching. The look and feel of the room should match what the teacher is teaching. An art room should be decorated with art and filled with resources that the students can use to find inspiration. An art room should also have functional areas, like a blank wall for critiquing artwork and a place to clean art supplies.  An inspiring climate can be made with something as simple as music, this way students feel welcome when they walk in the classroom.

Reaching all the students is important part of classroom management. Each classroom is a room full of individuals and each are at their own development level (DLT). The teacher has to make sure they are using a variety of teaching styles and techniques to encourage everyone to use their strengths. The more variety of approaches a teacher uses the more opportunities different students have to shine. An easy way to reach all students is learn everyone’s name. This is a simple way to show that you care, which will hopefully help build a relationship with your students. The main thing teacher need is awareness. Have watchful eyes for any students struggling to follow expectations and make sure to be creative with lesson plans. A great way to check students level of understanding is by using different forms of assessments. Go over complex concept again if students are still struggling. Check to make sure your assessments are valid. Get input from other teacher and students. Make improvements to your teaching approach. Student must have active mental engagement in order to learn. It is the teacher responsibility to create an environment that fosters active participation and understanding (CLT).  

In addition, teachers need to be accommodating for diverse learners. Whether you are accommodating diverse learners or students with physical disabilities, teachers need to have several variations to their lesson plans. If a student is struggling, make sure it isn’t because you are testing them incorrectly. The student might understand the concepts you are teaching but they can’t verbalize it or the language/wording in the question is too complex (SLT, DLT). Solve the underlining issue don’t make excusses for the student. Everyone can learn. Teachers also need to allow time for students to process ideas. Take discussion breaks or talk concepts over in groups (SLT, MKP). A scaffolding approach to introducing these new ideas of learning will work best. Teachers have to slowly break them of them pre-consumed knowledge of how to learn (CLT and DLT). This introduction to learning for understanding can lead them to have new opinions of self-efficacy. Confidence builds in a person as knowledge builds. Our job as educators is to channel that and to feed correct knowledge so our student can grow into great human beings.