Those Who Can’t Do… Ask

There are two basic categories of teachers: those who have good classroom management and those who don’t. Those who have it either worked hard to get it, or it just came naturally. Those who don’t have it, well, it’s not because of a lack of trying.

In fact, in speaking to some teachers who struggle with classroom management, it is doubly frustrating for teachers to struggle day in and day out to control a class of students with another teacher never struggles at all. Usually teachers lay blame. In fact, all teachers I have spoken to lay blame:

• Bad group of kids
• Awkward age for kids
• Bad mix of kids
• Bad home life
• and so on

The list goes on but in the end it’s lying blame when in fact the only person who can change the situation is the teacher. And all teachers are able to change the situation if they only put their mind to it. It takes a lot of reflection, patience, trial and error and asking for help.

If you can’t seem to figure out how to get a particular group of kids under control, ask someone who has a great class – observe, ask “what if” questions, invite criticism, ask for suggestions, and be open to change.

Stop blaming the kids, start asking for answers.

Related posts:

1. Reflection is the Best Remedy
2. Teaching the Nightmare Class
3. Classroom Management a Team Issue
4. Managing Classroom Space
5. Checklist for Writing Class Rules