Be a Veteran at Classroom Management!

 “Classroom Management is not about having the right rules. It is about having the right relationships.” 

The hottest topic of discussion in a staffroom is a chaotic classroom. A teacher who does not manage a classroom like a pro often faces criticism from his or her colleagues and even the authorities. A newbie in the field often wonders how the other teacher is managing the neighbouring class like a veteran. She puts it down to years of experience and the situation worsens over a period of time. A few other teachers take control of their classrooms from day one and do not face any hassle to manage a bunch of 30 to 35 kids or whatever the capacity maybe. 

 Trust me many a teachers scare setting their foot inside a classroom which is not organised or chaotic. I have seen teachers refusing to take ownership of a classroom because they fear that the students will be out of their control. Any word or instruction will have to be shouted and not said. 

 ‘Discipline’ sounds more of a dictatorial rule than simply understanding that it is all about making the right decisions during a given situation. 

 So let us understand that classroom management is not a 5 tips or tricks away. 

“Classroom management is not about tips and tricks. It’s how we relate, speak, guide and care”-Liz’s Early Learning Spot .

The best thing that has worked in managing a classroom full of students is standing in silence. It spreads like magic. I’m sure you must have tried it out a hundred times. If not go ahead and do it the next time your students are having star wars inside the classroom. 

 I have said it umpteen times and would like to repeat it again-A teacher should plan her lessons in advance before entering a classroom. Also the students know very well that they can take you for a ride. 

You will have to be smarter, more proactive and have a sense of humour when you deal with them. 

 Why do you accept excuses like- 

I forgot to bring my book. 

I went out last evening so I could not complete my homework.

I had lent my notebook to my friend who is absent today.

There are hundreds of such excuses which they give if the work is incomplete or not done or simply that they have been lazy enough not to even blink an eye at the mention of the homework. Instead of getting perturbed, make them write the same in the classroom in front of you. If they do not have the concerned notebook, they can write it in a notebook. The point is to convince them that they have to realise their responsibility of completing the work. 

 “The goal isn’t to get a good class. The goal is to cultivate a good one.” 

Everyone wants perfect students who would not even utter a single word in the classroom. The teachers feel teaching should be like a cakewalk. Well it can be if you develop the right relationship with your students. 

Just like we cultivate a garden, we have to cultivate values, principles, humour, responsibility, integrity, etc. among our students. 

 Don’t you ever play the blame game… 

NEVER! 

The teacher blames the parent and the parent blames the teacher for the behaviour of the student. What each needs to understand is that react to the child’s behaviour after you have analysed the situation. And always remember to react positively. Because any negative or harsh words or your stern body language leaves scars on the child’s personality and character. 

 Leave aside your arguments or issues with the parents of the student. Don’t let the negative perception that you have of the parent come in the way of your dealing with the child. Never judge the child on the basis of your analysis of the parent. Treat the student as an individual identity. Treat the student as wet clay to be moulded until he is in your hands. Now, let your creativity run wild and carve a structure which symbolises happiness, empathy and sensitivity. 

A classroom is a room full of students. 

But take each child at a time. 

Remember it is that one human that you touch counts. 

Try to make a difference to that one student and soon the entire tribe is your fan. 

 You understand them and they will understand you. 

“The number one problem in the classroom is not the discipline. It is lack of authentic learning tasks, procedures and routines.”-Harry Wong 

The environment in your classroom will seem to be in order if you capture the interests of the learners. If the main objective of a classroom is to focus towards a learning environment, then the teaching learning process has to be in place according to the demand of the learners not according to the objectives set by a teacher. Of course, the learning objectives are planned well in advance keeping in mind the learners’ learning styles and quite a few other criteria. 

The students love certain routines which are created by a teacher. For example, the video which went viral which showed a kindergarten teacher giving the preferred welcome to my class as chosen by the student from the symbols pasted on the wall outside the classroom. 

Another example is the circle time which the students look forward to or the class library where they can choose a book to read, if they finish the assigned task or receiving a star or some extra time for games if they bring nutritious food in their tiffin boxes, etc. 

Some interesting learning tasks are experiential activities which the teacher takes up in the class or a poetry reading session in the outdoors. Describing your favourite person or creating a story with pictures are a few others. You can also grab the interest of the students if you can motivate them to be a part of the class magazine. Tongue twisters engage the students equally in the classroom. 

 “It’s the teacher that makes the difference, not the classroom” – Michael Morpurgo 

All said and done.

 I will always conclude that it is the teacher which matters not the four walls of the classroom. The magic stick is in your hands. You need to wave it every time that you feel students need something new or more interesting to captivate their interest. 

 Don’t listen to the rumours. 

Don’t judge by your perception. 

Don’t get intimidated by your students. 

Don’t let them rule the class. 

Don’t make strict rules just to discipline your class. 

Don’t write the classroom rules on the bulletin board and forget all about them. 

Don’t lose your confidence. 

Don’t let others' judgement of your classroom handling overshadow your self-belief. 

INSTEAD-

Be cheerful. 

Understand your students. 

Listen to them. 

Guide them. 

Manage the classroom like a PRO! 

YO! 

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