Monday, January 31, 2011
Classroom Management
It has been said that classroom management can be the key to a successful classroom. Why do you think that could be true? Classroom management is used at all levels of instruction. What classroom management techniques have you observed in your university classes? How are these techniques similar to or different from what you experienced in elementary, middle or high school? Have you seen very effective and ineffective techniques used at all levels? What made them effective or ineffective? Explain.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I think it is true since classroom management is the procedures, strategies, and instructional techniques teachers use to manage student behavior and learning activities. Classroom management shows the students what is expected in the classroom and how to follow them. Teachers are able to show students the expectations of them with good classroom managements. With good classroom management a classroom can run efficiently for the students and teachers. Without classroom management, a classroom would be a negative place of learning for students and teachers.
ReplyDeleteI have notice classroom management in college course by the rules set by the teachers. These include not talking too much, being tardy to class, skipping class, food and drink, and etc. The rules in college classroom are different in ways from other schooling but the similar. A lot of the rules are the same but have different consequences for the action. For instance, in some college classes, teachers allow students eat in class. In other school experiences, food and drink were not allowed in school. We would get in trouble for chewing gum in certain classes. The rule of being tardy to class in college is similar to being tardy in high school. In both situations the student would get in trouble but the punishment is different. In high school and junior high, if someone were tardy, they would get a detention. In college, a lot of teachers just count points off of the final grade in the class.
I have seen both effective and ineffective techniques at all levels of school. There were many factors in making the techniques effective and ineffective. I noticed in past experiences, keeping consistent is an effective technique. When the teacher is consistent on the rule of the classroom, the class follows them. It does not set good classroom behavior when the teacher only has some students follow rules and others not. I also noticed being organized is an effective technique for the classroom. In the past I have been taught by organized and not organized. It was a lot easier to succeed in the classroom when the teacher was organized. An ineffective technique of a classroom is raising the voice level. When past teachers would raise their voice to myself and the other students, it did not help us in the classroom. Another ineffective technique is having the teacher insisting he or she is right. I remember I had a teacher who acted like that and it made me not want to ask any questions in the classroom.
Classroom management is very important to a classroom environment.To me classroom management is so much more than just the way that a teacher runs a classroom, it is also about the atmosphere that a teacher creates. One of the most important things about classroom management is giving students a sense of security, and an environment that will be conductive to their learning.
ReplyDeleteI have noticed some classroom management in college. This would mainly be a professor's rules and regulations. These include things like tardiness, absences, talking, and cell phone use. I feel that the rules in college are different because of the way that college classes are set up. In elementary through high school you are in smaller classes and much more intimate rooms, where as in college a professor may be limited in the rules they can make and enforce because of the size of their class. An important factor of classroom management is how students are arranged, and it is rare that a college professor has a classroom that they can manipulate in a way of their choosing.
i have seen both effective and ineffective classroom management throughout school. Most effective classrooms that I have seen that are effective because the rules that are created are constantly enforced. The teacher makes sure that the classroom never gets out of hand, and that rules are enforced consistently. Effective classrooms also create an environment conducive to learning. Ineffective classrooms often have a problem with rule enforcement. The teacher may not always enforce the rules, and when they do they may be inconsistent with their punishment or who they are punishing.
I think that classroom management is key to a successful classroom because it helps create a learning environment. By having classroom management, the teacher is enriching the students’ learning because they will be on task and learning to their best abilities.
ReplyDeleteI have observed good and bad classroom management in my university classes. I have had some teachers who lecture the entire period. When these teachers ask a question to the class, everyone hesitates to respond because they are intimidated (which does the students no good). I have also had teachers who have great classroom management. They are constantly involving the students in discussion and inviting them to share their thoughts and opinions.
I think that at lower education grades, students are not able to have as much freedom as college students. If younger students were given a lot of freedom there would be no guarantee that they would handle it responsibility. So in younger grades, teachers tend to keep things more under control and calm.
I have seen effective techniques at all levels of education. I think that depending on the grade, there are different needs and purposes for the way teachers teach but all in all the teacher’s goal is to give the students an education. Teachers may not have the best classroom management skills but they are there to teach and, I would hope, to their best ability.
I like the way Kyle put the difference between college and younger ages. A college professor usually doesn't have the ability to manipulate a classroom. A professor also does not always have the option to enforce certain regulations in a class the size of some university classes. I also like what Kyle said about sticking to your punishments. If you tell your students consquences, you need to stick to them or they are not going to take your seriously.
ReplyDeleteI think that classroom management is a big part of what makes a classroom run smoothly. If the teacher and students set the classroom rules on the first day of class then there are no "hidden" expectations. This also gives the students input on what they want the classroom to be like. This takes me to my next point which is that I also think it's important for the students to have a positive learning environment. If they feel safe and comfortable to be themselves then they are less likely to act out. When it comes to management at the college level, it's kind of hard to see what every student is doing during class, when the classes have so many people in them. I have noticed that the students talking while the teacher is, seems to happen a lot. It's weird because teachers never seem to do anything about this unless it's right at the beginning of class. When it comes to elementary school, I have noticed that it's important to keep the students busy; give them something to do once they are done with the assignment they are working on first.(I like how there is a poster in the classroom that shows the students what they can do after they are finished with something.) I think this is effective because if the students are constantly working on something, then they will have less time for goofing around.
ReplyDeleteI like how Kyle talks about the teacher needing to constantly enforce their rules. I have seen some teachers that punish a couple students for doing something they shouldn't have been, but when some other students did things like that, the teachers would look the other way. I think it's important for teachers to follow through with their punishment with all students, not just a certain few. It isn't right for a couple students to get punished, but not others, when they act out.
ReplyDeleteI like how Jenna included having both the teacher and student set the classroom rules on the first day of school. This gives the student an input in their classroom management. It also lets the students know all the rules. As Jenna put it, there are no “hidden” expectations. I agree with Jenna, with the students feeling comfortable and safe in their classroom, they are less likely to act out!
ReplyDeleteI like what Brooke said about organization. I agree that an organized class creates an environment that is much more conducive to learning, while an unorganized classroom may be disruptive to students and the teacher.
ReplyDeleteI believe that classroom management can be the key to a successful classroom because learning cannot take place without classroom management. If the teacher does not have control of the classroom, it is not an environment conducive to learning. Students constantly talking, goofing around, and being disrespectful are all distractions in the learning environment that will hinder learning, and as a teacher, you want every distraction taken out of the classroom. In my university classes, I have observed different types of classroom management techniques. The students in these classes are treated more like adults because by now we should know how to act in a classroom. We are older and have no reason to not know right from wrong. University students aren’t always reminded to turn in their papers or to be at class on time. Either we do it, or we don’t and our grades will show it. However, in lower levels, students are still learning how to be students and to be responsible. They may need an extra reminder here or there about being respectful to others, to do their homework and to remember to bring their lunch money. It is all about learning and growing up as a student, and along with that comes expectations and it carries over to the classroom management. I have seen ineffective and effective classroom management techniques. Some teachers have no control over the classroom. Students know they can get by with too many things, and are constantly testing the teacher. The teacher needs to show authority and that they are not afraid to use it. This can be done by effective classroom management techniques, such as setting rules on the first day of class, stopping students from acting out right away, using consequences, all while showing the students you still care about them as an individual and making the best learning experience possible for them. I have found that if teachers are consistent with their classroom management right from the get-go, it will be a much more positive learning experience.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jenna about being upfront with the students right away about their expectations. She put it in a very good way of having no “hidden expectations”. If the teacher lays out all the rules on the line right away, there is no reason for the students to not know. Along with having these expectations, it is also important for the students to know the consequences of these actions. Therefore, before a child even acts out, they will know exactly if it is right or wrong, and what will happen if they follow through with this action.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that classroom management is and should be the base that is laid down for all classrooms. I believe that a classroom cannot run without it. Classroom management is not only having things in order and students attention. It is knowing your classroom and students inside and out and being a step ahead of the game at all times. Showing that sense of stability will give the students reassurance that you are a capable teacher. I had a professor once say to the class "you are not here for me, I am here for you. I am here to teach you all, you owe nothing to me". This was a statement that has stuck with me for years now. By showing students that you are here for them and their successes will prove to them that you are capable to manage this class.
ReplyDeleteI think that management of a classroom in college classes is much different from classroom management in Jr. High and even high school. I feel that in college there is always that need and passion to do good. It is a very self motivated time in a student’s life. If you are going to slack in college your teachers are going to let you. In high school there are always teachers that are behind you and asking about your work or assignments. There is never really room for error in high school I personally feel. It is also a self motivated time, but you are still being managed and disciplined by your teachers more. The responsibility is all on you. But I do think that classroom management in college also falls into the discipline category. In college there is an attendance policy just as there is in high school. In high school you may receive a pink slip or a tardy if you are late to class, where are in college there are also tardy and absent marks against a student, they just end up affecting your grade in the end.
Some effective techniques that I have seen in classrooms are basically teachers that can connect with students and talk to them as if they are at the same level. Teachers who do not speak down or show lots of authority are teachers that students are going to communicate with. They are the teachers that are going to motivate the students to be on task and do their work because the students will want to show that same respect and bond with their teachers. I think that the most ineffective way of teaching is to speak down to a student and try to show your authority. I can say from personal experience that a teacher who would talk down or find "time" to explain work to you was a teacher who didn't care and most of all didn’t believe in me as a student. I think communication is special gift that all teachers need to have.
I agree with what Carly said about how learning cannot take place without classroom management. I do feel this is very true. We have all been in a class that there is no instruction and no structure. I think that she did make a good point about students who goof off and distract other and how it can hinder the learning of other students. But, at the same time how is it going to help the students if the teacher is stopping every 5 seconds to correct behavior. "Pick your battles" was some good advice I received. There is not always going to be the perfect classroom. Some things are just better left ignored and not brought to the open to give the trouble student(s) at the time attention.
ReplyDeleteI believe that classroom management is the key to a successful classroom. Classroom management is the base that you need to make sure everything else runs smoothly. Without classroom management, students are more likely to act out and not pay attention while your trying to teach. Classroom management is like the glue that holds everything together. If you don't establish the classroom rules at the beginning of the year, then the students are more likely to act out because they are not sure of what the rules are. It is also important to be fair when you punish and praise students. It is important to do both to run a successful classroom but it is important not to over do it on a specific student or group of students.
ReplyDeleteIn my university classes, the professors treat you more like adults. They have certain expectations based on the maturity level that the students should be at. They still set their ground rules on the first day of class though. They talk about attendance, assignments, exams, etc. For example, when you are gone for an exam due to an illness or you are going out of town, they stress that it is important that you talk to the professor before hand to set up a time to make up the exam. If I was going to miss an exam because I was sick, you usually didn't have to tell the teacher ahead of time and would just wait to set up a time to make it up when you got back. Only if I was going to be out of town, would I have to make it up.
So high school expectations were different than those in college. My teachers in high school would still discipline students for talking while the teacher was talking, while professors aren't as likely to do so, which part of that has to do with the size of college classes. What has been similar is that my teachers in high school would let us sit wherever we wanted and then eventually those would be our seats for the semester. The same has happened in my classes in college. The professors would let us sit wherever we wanted but eventually would have us fill out a seating chart so they would have an easier time learning our names.
I have seen effective and ineffective techniques used in the classroom. The effective techniques, I've noticed, usually consist of the teacher enforcing their classroom rules and being fair to everyone. They build a good relationship with their students while also keeping their classroom structured. Some ineffective techniques that I've noticed have consisted on teacher not keeping their classroom very structured. If you don't enforce the rules, the students are less likely to take you seriously and more likely to act out.
I agree with Carly that the teacher needs to show authority and not be afraid to use it. Helping keep the students on task and establishing the classroom rules let's the students know that you are serious about learning and that you want the best possible environment for them to learn in. If you don't show much authority and leadership, students are going to notice that and will most likely act out.
ReplyDeleteEffective teaching requires considerable skill in managing the numerous tasks and situations that occur in the classroom each day. Skills such as effective classroom management are central to teaching and require "common sense," consistency, a sense of fairness, and courage. These skills also require that teachers understand in more than one way the psychological and developmental levels of their students. The skills associated with effective classroom management are only acquired with practice, feedback, and a willingness to learn from mistakes. Classroom management is the most frequent thing new teachers struggle with understanding and presenting in their classrooms. A teacher must learn the best ways for classroom management in their class rooms by experience and guidance form seasoned teachers.
ReplyDeleteIn my university classes there are a few techniques that stick out to me. For example, the rules professors have for skipping class and being tardy. These rules are a lot stricter than they were in high school and have harsher punishments. Another technique I see in college that I do not see in other classrooms, is the late homework policies. Some teachers do not except late work and with a lot of homework submitted on elearning students do not have the option of handing in late work.
I agree with Jenna. Exception for the classroom should be presented to the students immediately. This should be one of your main priorities on the first day of school. This will let students know that you are serious about your classroom expectations.
ReplyDelete