Classroom Management

Classroom management is such a tough thing for me. I think it is because I am constantly teaching in a new environment. Each of my classes are taught in a different room, especially with my elementary students. It's hard to come in to a classroom where there are complicated reward systems and management styles in place and have to navigate through them, to find your own way of doing things. I would like to explore my classroom management techniques for my various classes to see where I could improve.

For my elementary students, students are expected to listen quietly while I give instructions and remain in their seats. If they get disruptive,  I start subtracting minutes from their recess time, which they dislike a lot. One suggestion I got from my principle, and that I need to implement,  is having short reports for the disruptive children that they can do in the neighboring teacher"s classroom if they cannot control themselves in class.  I've also had children write "I'm sorry" letters for their behavior, instead of working on the art project, where they tell me what good behavior looks like and where they've not made good choices. I've also had a class just sit in silence for 5 minutes continuously, so we can practice what good behavior looks like and drive home the point of needing to listen to the teacher. (I only ask them to listen for such short amounts of time, that it's frustrating when they will not comply!)

I've also learned that each classroom is different and it mostly depends on the mix of kids in the class, and not necessarily the teacher. I've got a class that I cringe going into because of the mix of the kids, and yet I have others that I absolutely love! Part of my classroom procedures would include the cleanup process. I usually have row captains that are responsible for picking up artwork and supplies from their rows and returning them to my cart.

As far as my junior high class, our procedures start with the students lining up in the hall until I make it back from my elementary students' classroom. I greet all of the students as they walk in the door and they sit in their assigned seats while I give announcements and directions for the day. If they are good, then I usually allow them to move around the classroom and sit with their friends while working. They were responsible for making their own portfolios to hold all of their work, so it wasn't scattered about the room. They also have a box that they keep their sketchbooks in. I made templates this semester that went into their sketchbooks, so I wasn't making multiple copies of assignment sheets, once the students lost them. One expectation I have, is that when I'm talking they must look at me, and I will call them out if they are not. They are a noisy bunch and I have them right after lunch ;)

Overall, this is the area that I struggle with the most. I've heard of some great strategies that I would like to try in the future. And I think it takes time to figure out what really works for you and your students. It's a learning process and you can always do better the next time. In the end, I guess I'm not doing too bad because at my last teacher observation, my director commented on how good my classroom management was. I wanted to chuckle on the inside, because at least it appears I have control, because on the inside I feel frantic at times!