As a future educator it really hit home when one of the teachers explained that you can't teach unless you have a well-managed classroom. So many times in our education program we are simply being told that classroom management is important, but not receiving any instruction or tips to having good classroom management. This is why I was very grateful for the panel this week!
At the same time, I found it interesting that some of the most important management techniques are things that we were already taught like proximity control, eye contact and putting a hand on the student's shoulder. I know that I am contradicting my first paragraph, but I am seriously wondering why so many education candidates feel that they are not prepared for classroom management (myself included)?
I think it starts with a few important points from the panel. First off, we have to know our students. Unfortunately, we don't currently have relationships with the students we teach and for myself specifically, I have to observe different classrooms at different times of the day due to my busy schedule. It would be extremely beneficial for me to watch the same class throughout the week and see what their strengths and weaknesses are. Another teacher on the panel explained that classroom behavior depends on each individual student as well as the time of day and what has happened throughout the day. I have a feeling that the classroom management pieces won't click for us until we are able to fully integrate into a class and interact with the students on a constant basis.
The most important advice that I took away from the panel was to ask for help! It is better to ask a veteran teacher for advice and help than to have a small problem turn into a huge issue. I can totally understand the feeling of wanting to do everything right on your own (I often feel that in my personal life), but I can see how important it is to get through to the student(s) before their behavior escalates. We need to always have our students' best interest at our core, even if it means admitting that you need help.
If you are still stressing about classroom management, I found this great link to 6 Classroom Management Tips for every teacher. The first one "take charge of your class" really made sense to me. The author explains that this doesn't meant telling everyone to be quiet, but simply engage the students so they are focused on you. A statement like "how many of you saw The Hunger Games this weekend?" will get the students to be quiet and engaged in what you are saying. From here, simply transition to the lesson and you should be in a good position.
Jessica, I understand how you feel because I too have had some anxiety when thinking about how I can successfully manage my classroom. I think this is something that we will be able to get much better at with practice. I think one of the keys is to set non- negotiable rules from the start of the year, and to stick by them without any gray area. I also think that if we are respectful to our students, they will be respectful to us in return. Also, thank you for adding the link to the article on the 6 management tips for each teachers. Like you mention, I have found that the teachers I've had who ask us about how are weekend or day was, earn the students attention and respect. It shows the students that you care and are interested in hearing them speak.
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