CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

Good classroom management helps to create a safe, nurturing, positive, and comfortable learning space for students. Establishing good classroom management for any class must included positive relationships and relationship building with students, clear objectives, rules, and consequences, importance placed on respect and integrity on the part of both the students and the teacher, teacher preparation, and good communication with parents and the community.

            Any good classroom management plan must first start with positive relationship building with students.  This entails learning not only their names but showing interest in their lives, their likes and dislikes, their interests inside and outside of school and showing genuine interest in their well-being and development as human beings. This will allow me to gain insight to their motivations; more accurately tailor the lesson material to their needs and keep the student more actively engaged in their schoolwork. I will assure them that I will assist them in any way I can to succeed. Students who are engaged in learning do not become classroom management problems.

            I believe that most classroom management problems or issues can be resolved before they start by everyone knowing what is required and expected of them, including what the student can expect from the teacher. Classroom rules should be defined and displayed in the classroom.  The rules, expectations, and objectives for success should be defined with the help of the class (depending on the age group- younger students will need more scaffolding) starting with the common values of respect and integrity. The consequences should be clearly articulated for both the students and the teacher.  The teacher must always keep their word to maintain integrity with the class.  Work must be handed back in a timely manner and always when promised.  I will be available during class and school hours for any assistance students may need.

                        I believe that creating a positive and safe learning environment can prevent most classroom management problems or issues, but as teachers we cannot be responsible for every aspect of our students’ lives and as such we must ask for help when we need it.  A community of educators, a school must work together to provide for all our students, assisting each other when needed.