Classroom Management.docx
- 1. (WEEK 8: LECTURE 1& 2) Definition of Classroom Management Classroom management refers to the wide variety of skills and techniques that teachers use to keep students organized, orderly, focused, attentive, on task, and academically productive during a class. When classroom-management strategies are executed effectively, teachers minimize the behaviors that impede learning for both individual students and groups of students, while maximizing the behaviors that facilitate or enhance learning. Generally speaking, effective teachers tend to display strong classroom-management skills, while the hallmark of the inexperienced or less effective teacher is a disorderly classroom filled with students who are not working or paying attention. Classroom management involves the teacher maintaining a positive learning environment where each student is able to learn without disturbance. Teachers use to ensuring that classroom lessons run smoothly without disruptive behavior from students compromising the delivery of instruction. It includes the prevention of disruptive behavior preemptively, as well as effectively responding to it after it happens. Classroom management can be defined as the actions teachers take to establish and sustain an environment that fosters students' academic achievement as well as their social, emotional, and moral growth. Let’s consider why classroom management is so important. We all know that if students are not able to listen, they are unable to learn effectively, but there are other reasons why classroom management is important to teachers too. Positive classroom management helps teachers in: · Encouraging students to develop self-control · Encouraging students to be accountable and self-responsible · Promoting student participation through well-ordered and controlled learning experiences · Increasing student interaction through more active participation · Providing better use of teacher time in positive experiences, rather than in disciplinary measures. Instructional Technology Instructional technology is the theory and practice of using technology for education. Encompassing the design, development, use, management, and evaluation of technology in education, instructional technology can take many forms. The term Instructional Technology refers to multiple opportunities for cooperative learning. Instructional Technology is mainly the practice of using technology for educational reasons. While Information Technology is a broad-based term familiar to the business community, Instructional Technology is a little more uncertain.
- 2. Instructional technology is the theory and practice of using technology for education. Encompassing the design, development, use, management, and evaluation of technology in education, instructional technology can take many forms. Instructional technology refers to the theory and practice of design, development, utilization, management and evaluation of the processes and resources for learning. Rules for Classroom Management 1. Establishing rapport Rapport is the relationship between the teacher and students characterized by mutual trust, respect, and understanding. There are several ways teachers can build rapport with students, including: Listening actively. Showing empathy and concern. Respecting the student's privacy. Teacher-student relationships are a very important ingredient in successful classroom management. Some points to consider: · Personal qualities- being warm, natural, pleasant, approachable and tolerant · Quickly learn names, share yourself evenly, get to know the students, set limits and apply them consistently and fairly. In the case of inappropriate behavior, focus on the behavior, not the student. Actions to help students feel good about themselves –Value each student’s interests and special skills. 2. Creating a positive learning environment A positive learning environment is created when you value participatory teaching and learning and when there is trust and rapport among students and between yourself and students. Positive learning environment means a setting where all students and employees experience a safe, healthy, caring environment which fosters respect and high expectations, maximizes potential, and motivates interest and warmth. Classroom rules creating a positive environment the classroom, rules help control student behavior and set the tone for effective learning. Plus, they guide children's actions and promote consistency making the learning environment predictable. This gives children the safety they need to get ahead in their physical, emotional, and social development. At the beginning of your practice teaching, display a firm, confident, pleasant, interested and enthusiastic manner with the students. This is not always easy in a new situation. Make your expectations about learning and behavior clear to the students, and then consistently follow up on these expectations. 3. Promoting student’s engagement The challenges of teaching diverse learners in varying learning contexts puts into perspective the importance of student engagement to the learning experience. Consider using the strategies below to help students increase their engagement with learning activities, build confidence in their community of learning, and increase their comprehension of the course material. Ask open-ended questions. Ask students what they know about a topic before instruction Use more ungraded or credit-upon-completion assignments.
- 3. Incorporate student discussion time into activities. Have students model or explain to other students Our students aren’t engaged by things. They’re engaged by us (teachers). That’s why the best (and easiest) ways to increase student engagement come from you. 4. Having a clear and concise behavior policy Classroom management does not magically take place by itself. Regardless of the size of the school, the economic background of its students, or your resources, student behavior depends on the personality and preparation of the teacher. Children need to feel safe and understand the rules for behavior in the classroom to succeed. The routines you establish from the first day of school make all the difference in how children interact with each other and with you. 5. Implementing Effective Discipline Positive discipline is a more effective way to manage misbehaving students in the classroom, rather than using punishment or rewards. Discipline is defined as the practice of teaching others to obey rules or norms by using punishment to correct unwanted behaviors. Positive discipline allows students to learn and adapt their behaviors to meet expectations in the classroom, while simultaneously teaching them how to make better choices in their path to adulthood. Three main types of discipline are: a. Preventative Discipline As mentioned above, teachers have to explain their expectations and set ground rules to ensure discipline. Measures taken in prior to prevent any unacceptable behavior is called preventative discipline. b. Supportive Discipline It is possible that the preventive measures do not work as perfectly as expected and things may go wrong. At this point, the teachers may give warnings and show the students the right way of doing things. This is called supportive discipline. c. Corrective discipline This comes after supportive discipline. When a student has failed to show any improvement despite numerous efforts at supportive discipline, corrective disciplinary actions come into play. Punishments such as suspension, and likewise fall under corrective discipline.