My Classroom Management » Classroom Management Resources

Two Classroom Management Camps

jenniferw — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:22:20 +0000

There are two basic camps when it comes to classroom management plans: Punishment and Reward.

Using Punishment Method of Classroom Management:

Student all start out on green or happy face or whatever is the “good” behavior indication.
Students receive a warning for negative behavior.
Students receiver consequences for misbehaving increasing in severity.
Students behave out of fear of consequences.
Students have a visual representation of who has broken class rules. (Name on chalkboard, yellow card, etc.)

Using Reward Method of Classroom Management:

Students start at a neutral position at the start of each day.
Students “earn” something for following rules (whether it be tokens, check marks or climbing a ladder, etc.)
Students behave in order to receive a reward.
Misbehavior results in the lack of a reward.
Students have a visual representation of how well they are doing through accumulation of “rewards”
There is a “big” reward to strive for.

Many teachers combine these methods in some way shape or form, as I have not met a single teacher who does not have consequences for some bad behavior. My challenge to you is to look at your classroom management plan and add one aspect of “reward” to your plan that is not there already.

Two Musts for the End of the School Year

jenniferw — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 20:47:05 +0000

As the last days of school pass, there are two things that you need to do:

First, do not leave your patience at home. Both you and your students are eager for summer vacation, and while you students may have checked out, you can’t afford to. You want to leave your students on a good note, so take a deep breath, count to ten, and find creative ways to keep your students focused on learning – even if this means more games, more breaks and more recess time.

Second, evaluate your behavior plan. What worked? What didn’t work? What would you like to change for next year? What do you want to remain the same? Did you find any great tips that helped? Write them down! It is helpful to journal each part of this evaluation, writing any reflections down and it will become clear what needs to be done for a successful school year.

Don’t forget – do these now! Don’t wait!

A Critique of the Thomas Gordon Model

jenniferw — Wed, 19 May 2010 19:13:37 +0000

The Thomas Gordon model of classroom management is an interesting classroom management model that asks teachers to become equals with their students, throw out class rules, teach problem-solving skills and use “I-messages” when behavior problems come up.

Lets take a look at each of these four aspects of Gordon’s model:

Become Equal with Your Students

The idea here is that a good leader will not dictate to his followers but come from another angle that creates mutual respect. Teachers are to engage in active listening where they repeat back to the student what the student said, in the teachers own words, to indicate that he understood.

The benefit of this concept is that in an adult situation, leaders who do not dictate get a better response from followers. The issue is that students are not yet adults. In fact, research shows that the decision making part of their brain is not fully matured for quite some time, making it vital for the teacher to set boundaries and limitations on the students.

Throw Out Class Rules

The actual concept here is that students will together come up with what Gordon calls “agreements” in place of teacher dictated “rules”. They are to be hung where all students can see them.

This is not dissimilar to hundreds of teachers who have their students come up with the class rules at the beginning of the school year, with the exception of the name. The benefit of calling the rules “agreements” is that this might make children who are driven to push the rules, to instead, follow them. The problem with this is that in the end, agreements are nothing more than class rules.

Teach Problem Solving Skills

There is a process to solving a problem:

Identify the problem
Identify several solutions to the problem
Choose a solution mutually agreeable to all involved
Implement solution
Determine the solution’s success

I see no problems with this at all. In fact, I think more parents and teachers should use this problem solving strategy in their classrooms and homes. Children need to learn how to solve problems.

Use I-Messages

An I-message is one that explains how one person’s behavior affected you and made you feel. For example, “when you do that, it makes me feel this way”. This is the method that teachers are to handle discipline issues in the classroom.

The only benefit, if it is a benefit, that I can find with this is that it does not confront students head-on. It does help to identify ones feelings, but in the end, many students couldn’t care less how their teacher felt about their behavior. This aspect of Gordon’s model of classroom management has the potential to make a lot of teachers very permissive.

Find out more about the Thomas Gordon Model of Classroom Management:

Using the Thomas Gordon Classroom Management Method

The Gordon Model

Thomas Gordon (this is another critique)

Gordon Training International (the official website)

Three Classroom Management Mistakes

jenniferw — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:43:25 +0000

With so many different students and teachers and schools, it might seem hard to pinpoint the top three mistakes teachers make in managing their classrooms. There is some basic same-ness that allows for such a broad classification, though.

1. Raising your voice.

Raising your voice will only serve to escalate the problem. Even if the students quiet down or listen for a moment, it is only a temporary fix and will in fact cause more classroom management problems down the road.

2. Ignoring students.

This is different than ignoring student behavior, something that is sometimes necessary. Instead, a teacher who ignores students, or who is checked out, not caring about what happens in her classroom, is doing her students a huge disservice. If this is you, it is time to find a new job.

3. Relying on Parents.

This one is a sad truth about the culture of America today and in some situations is not true. While some parents are involved and do discipline their children, even for actions done at school, the age of a parent backing a teacher is in the past. It is time for teachers to find new ways to discipline children because threatening with a note or phone call home is becoming a useless act.

Is your Management Style Good Enough?

jenniferw — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:15:57 +0000

Sure, you make it through each day, and you feel your students are pretty good most of the time, but have you ever sat down and reevaluated whether or not your management style is good enough? It’s time to find out if things can be better than they are, even if you think they’re ok as they are.

Evaluating your Management Style:

When you ask a student to stop doing a behavior, you ask:

I never have to ask, my students are perfect!

I don't ask - I threaten to take away recess or anything else I can think of

Once

A couple times

Transitions between two activities are:

Smooth and take about a minute

Sometimes smooth, and take a couple minutes

So smooth you can't even tell we are transitioning it goes so fast!

Never smooth and take a while

You have to utilize your discipline system:

A LOT!

A couple of times a day

Several times a day

Never!

You remind students of the rules:

I never need to!

When necessary but not often

Several times a day

Probably once a day

Your students:

Never step out of line, so they must be the most respectful students ever!

Have a big problem respecting others

Respect authority most of the time and respect other students as well

Are usually respectful of authority and other students but have problems frequently

Free Classroom Management Ebook

jenniferw — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:51:00 +0000

For a limited time, you can download my Classroom Management Ebook for free! Learn the basics to effective classroom management, how to motivate your students and more. Special section for substitute teachers and special’s Teachers.

Take advantage of this limited time offer today!

Download Classroom Management101

101 Classroom Management Tips

jenniferw — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:42:56 +0000

Smile
Be positive
Greet each student by name
Hold your head high
Make eye contact
Be gracious
Be patient
Be firm
Be consistent
Have students
Help each other
Demonstrate important behaviors
State clear rules
Predetermine consequences
Make learning fun
Know your student’s names
Over plan lessons
Involve parents
Genuinely care
Ask questions
Know which questions to not ask
Demand respect
Open lines of communication
Hold classroom meetings
Take time to be silly
Encourage sharing
Diversify lesson activities
Be aware of culture
Be there when students need to talk
Post rules where students can see them
Read to students
Be genuine
Be committed
Collaborate with other teachers
View each day as a new day
Give second chances
Apologize when you make a mistake
Praise student effort
Be specific in praise
State intentions clearly
Re-teach rules and consequences as necessary
Be strong
Do not show fear
Leave troubles at home
Be present
Explain expectations
Never give up
Eat lunch with students
Create individual behavior plans when necessary
Allow students some say in positive rewards
Allow students to earn rewards
Set goals
Ask students to set goals
Encourage students to help each other
Take time to have fun
Share jokes
Laugh
Expect more from students
Ask for advice
Learn from other teachers
Take time for your own family
Believe in your students
Make lessons obtainable for all students
Provide visual aspects to all lessons
Provide auditory aspects to all lessons
Provide kinesthetic aspects to all lessons
Try a new seating arrangement
Rewrite class rules
Have students decide on class rules
Have students decide on class consequences
Never raise your voice
Avoid showing frustration
Do not show anger
Listen when students talk to you
Provide uplifting activities for students
Discourage tattle tails
Teach students not to bully
Teach students to treat each other properly
Do not repeat warnings
Make consequences fit the crime
Make the classroom a safe place
Be a trustworthy confidant
Send positive notes home
Encourage students to share with the class
Look for the reason behind a behavior
Find ways to encourage every student each day
Prevention is the best method
Have a plan in place
Keep a June box for confiscated objects in class
Relax!
Count to 10 before responding to a child pushing your buttons
Ignore attention seeking behavior
Develop a good relationship with the school counselor
Remember that learning is fun
Create fun and engaging activities
Do not beg students to obey
Expect obedience
Respect students
Don’t be afraid to change
Learn how to say no
Practice transitions
Have fun!

Teach your students to focus

jenniferw — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:08:33 +0000

Total Focus is one way that classroom teachers can revolutionize the student behavior in the classroom. While it does take an initial investment of about $150, this program will provide the tools that any teacher or parent can implement with any child to improve focus and concentration.

While Total Focus is written with the ADHD child in mind, any student can benefit from the attention and focus training. The skills that parents and teachers learn while implementing this program are similar to those skills that special education teachers use.

For more information on the Total Focus, read my in-depth review here, or find out how you can get a free trial.

Handling Holiday Excitement

jenniferw — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:43:55 +0000

Student are going to only become more and more excited as Christmas comes closer, causing teachers to have to work extra hard to keep students focused on the lessons. Here are a few ideas to help focus students and minimize unruly behavior.

Focus lessons around a holiday theme. For example, for math class, find ways to tie the lesson into a holiday related theme. For more ideas check out: Christmas Math Lessons
Bring Christmas into the Classroom. Create bulletin board displays that get students involved and participating in the preparations for Christmas. Here are some Christmas Bulletin Board ideas.
Start some Christmas related traditions in the classroom. This will not only help teach students about the true meaning behind Christmas, but keep them excited and focused on the activity, minimizing behavior issues. Here are some ideas for Christmas traditions that teachers can implement in the classroom.

Undersand Your Teaching Style

jenniferw — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:04:53 +0000

When you understand your teaching style, the student behaviors will fall more easily into place. Additionally, you will be able to better manage the misbehavior’s in the classroom.

Questions to ask yourself:

Do you prefer students to be silent while you teach or can they interrupt with questions?

Do you prefer students to work in groups or individually?

What kind of relationship do you have with your students?

Does your teaching reality match what you want it to be?

Does your student’s behavior fit how you want them to behave?

Understanding the answers to these questions will help teachers begin to build a framework around what kind of teaching and student behavior they will expect in the classroom.