Get Your Students Hired
I began my teaching career 27 years ago at the age of 26. In that time, I've transitioned from buddy to controller to guide. That type of change does not happen quickly. The biggest change came with beginning and ending class on time. I was more casual about that in the early years of teaching. I learned over time that it is an essential element in providing a solid learning environment.
If you make a career of teaching, you'll learn that you never settle. To be effective, you need to monitor and evaluate yourself and the success of your classroom.
As I gain experience, I find that I am trying to improve my classroom management. Since I started incorporating more active learning in my classes, they are going better and as a result, I don't have the same need to be super rigid with the classes. There seem to be less discipline issues. My only issue I still struggle with is the attitude that some student get when they are in their last class and they want to start slacking off. That remains a challenge. Mindy Smith
I totally agree. I do the same with my class. The main keys I think are handling the student on a one on one basis, and being consistent and fair with each student.
I started out being a controller when I first started instructing adult students. Harshly enforcing the school rules, and causing me and my students undue stress. I have found that being more of a guide and mentor has had much more positive results. First of all I apply all rules to all of my students equally, and also to myself. You can’t expect someone to obey a rule that you won’t obey yourself. My biggest problems are sleepers (especially early morning classes), talkers, and cell phones. Usually by respectfully asking the students to put away their cell phone, and walking around the class for the talkers, and sleepers with a tap on the shoulder I have had good results.
I have been in instructor for just less than 1 year. It has been such an incredible experience. I have never wanted to be or thought that being the "controller" or the "apathete" were the best approaches for me. I have always naturally felt myself to be the teacher who was the guide. In reflection over the past year I feel I have sometimes been a little on the "buddy" side of the classroom. I recognize this and feel everyday that my classroom management skills grow stronger. Every student is so different, such different expectations and perceptions from each one. Each new student I have just adds to my experience and helps me grow professionally.
I have definitely noticed that once you allow small things to get away from you they definitely get out of control, and are much more difficult to reel in and put a lid back on.
I like to be well prepared. So I make sure my lesson plans are well designed and are realistic. I go over the syllabus too, so the students have a clear understanding of my expectations. The expected behaviors are outlined as well as consequences of not following the expected behavior. That way things are not left to chance.
Murielle,
Consistency is the key. Following through with policies and rules is the key to managing a successful class. Keep up the good work.
Angie
I have learned that consistency is key. You have to clearly communicate your expectations from the get go. Your students will test you from time to time and while you need to be flexible, it is important to adhere to your class policies. I do my best to adapt to each class because non is the same as the last. I remain approachable, yet set certain professional boundaries whenever needed. Students like to see that you care about them.
Sadly, at my school, there is a custom of students NOT attending the first week of class! It is crazy. So they miss very important information regarding class structure, rules and grading policies. I have tried sending everyone welcome emails before the start of the course that explains the importance of being there the first few days but this does not help because students at this school rarely look at their school-sponsored email accounts (the only ones that teachers are given and the only ones we may use). Ideas?
I find that not putting up with disruptive behavior is necessary because it affects those that are trying to do a good job.
I put a lot of emphasis on discussing class and school rules on the first day of class. I then give the students time to ask me questions regarding anything they are not sure of. We have incorporated a Contract for Success agreement that outlines behaviors and guideines for the school. After they sign it, we store it in their temporary files. The student cannot say during any time in the program that they were not aware of a policy, rule, or regulation.
Classroom management is so important and often overlooked by instructors and administrators who are not trained teachers. Due to recent curriculum changes, we lost the time at the beginning of our new terms for establishing our classroom environment and expectations. In doing this we were being set up for failure and a term filled with challenges. I shortened some of the first week's lessons in order to provide time to create a positive classroom environment with clear expectations. Extensive lessons are of no value if the classroom management isn't in place and the learning environment is disrupted.
When I first started out teaching, I had more of a buddy style way of teaching, but I got very frustrated by not getting things covered in the class or lab. It was easy to be "friends" with my students because I teach at a career college and a lot are my age or very close. Then students started taking advantage of my kindness and generosity. I got blamed on certain occasions for things that the student didn't want to accept the accountability for. It grew harder and harder to be fair equally to all of them. I took a step back and evaluated this out of control situation and what I realized was that I needed to go about this similar to the way I go about teaching my children. Firm, direct, with compassion and caring. So I transitioned into the Guide over about 3wks. Some students bucked the system on this but overall it was very successful. We were able to cover more and focus on the tasks at hand instead of drifting off on other subjects. I got more respect from my students and we were finally able to meet classroom objectives.
The first day of class I set clear the rules in the classroom. I also have a open discussion on how they feel about certain rules I see challenged the most, so I know how to approach if needed in the future with those students.
In the past I have called a student by name and asked them to please stolp talking because it is disruptive to the class. Before class starts I have separated the students that talk to each other.
When I first started out in my career, I sometimes vacillated between the buddy and the controller. After expercing this myself in a class I was taking I had to evaluate my own classroom management. I found that if I was the guide and only the controller at the times that it was truely needed that the classroom enviroment went more smoothly. After this class I am going to use the techniques present to further evaluate what I need to like increase the active learning to incorporate student driven activities.
I have implemented ways to incorporate collaborative learning. I have found that students work well in group settings. However, it is very important to keep these group learning projects topic focused and make sure students remain engaged. I often times give a time limit. In addition, the students also are responsible for reporting what they have discussed and learned concerning their topics.