Chapter 5 - Classroom Management

Synthesis 5 – Classroom Management

Classroom Management can make or break the success of students. I strive to maintain a pleasant classroom atmosphere and learning is my top priority. Managing student behaviors, however, is not always easy. My classroom is generally a safe haven for the majority of my students. My students often come to my classroom without having seen an adult since they left the high school on the previous day. Due to parents’ workloads, shift conflicts, and single parent families, discipline most often occurs in the public school classroom. A vast number of my students have not been taught RESPECT. The hard core fact is that students do not understand the word respect, because few respect or admire the adults around them. I have always combated this problem with LOVE. All students in my room are deserving of my devotion, but this generation is so eager to prove they don’t need or want anyone’s help, that they become more hungry for attention every day. In a classroom of almost 25-30 students, it is impossible to conduct a one on one exchange with each student every day, but eye contact is definitely one approach I utilize to acquire and maintain their attention. I look each child straight in the eye every day they walk into my room. From the student’s perspective, it is almost impossible not to respond, whether negatively or positively, to smiling and knowing eyes. Eye contact lets the students know I care deeply for them, even if I am not happy with their incomplete homework assignment or their disruptive behavior.

 COOKY’S CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS:

1.         WHEN I AM TALKING – YOU DO NOT!!!!!

2.         Be here and be on time.

3.         Be prepared for class.

4.         Be actively involved in class and use your class time wisely.

5.         Be responsible for your work and your actions.

6.         Be respectful of yourself and others.

7.         Give EVERYONE a chance to express his/her opinion.

8.         Follow the guidelines for academic integrity             (ABSOLUTELY NO PLAGARISM!!!!).

9.         Follow the SCHOOL RULES as outlined in your student handbook.

            I have to admit that some days managing the classroom exhausts me due to the students being boisterous, noncompliant, and antagonistic. Although a large majority of these students have ADHD, they are mentally sharp, have terrific thoughts and ideas, and possess the potential to be tremendous students. The struggle is their desire to control and my relentless battle to be the one in charge of the brigade!

            I have read Chapter 5 focused on searching the techniques of other teachers to improve my own difficulties.  I have 9 classroom rules. The text stresses that the rules be clear, concise and as few as possible. I definitely need to fine tune. I am constantly rearranging the seating and adjusting the seating chart of my students because their behavior tends to deteriorate rapidly if they are seated beside the same individual for too long. I love the Color Wheel Classroom Management Strategy!  I would love to use this technique with my 9th graders. Do you think it would work?  I also feel compelled to enforce “TOOTLING,” because my freshmen students love nothing better than to tattle on their peers. By introducing this procedure for positive peer reporting, I believe my students would eagerly report the positive behaviors of their classmates.