Philosophy of Classroom Management
I have heard that classroom management can be the most challenging part of teaching. But I believe that once the classroom is managed the students will start learning. Therefore, successful classroom management is one of the most important things a teacher can accomplish. It is difficult to learn in chaos.
I believe that the biggest reason students act out is because of boredom. Creating a classroom that is intellectually stimulating and exciting will eliminate most of the misbehavior problems. Having the classroom organized is a great way to keep students on task and focused.
I see it as an injustice to students to let bad behaviors play out in the classroom. I have been in classrooms where there is absolutely no order and the students run about the room, talking out of turn, and losing sight of the task at hand, and sometimes there was no task at hand! I hated my experience in those classrooms and I always wished the teacher would get it under control. I didn't learn very much in those classes.
I will provide the students with a list of my expectations on the first day of class. My expectations will be:
1. Be on time and prepared
2. Turn in assignments on time
3. No bullying or belittling of any kind
4. Show respect for others and their property
5. No talking out of turn
A big part of classroom management is modeling what I expect. As a teacher I should:
1. Come to class prepared to teach
2. Give back assignments/tests in a timely manner
3. Not show favoritism
4. Always be respectful of others' beliefs and culture
5. Let students have a voice in class
For classroom management to be successful the teacher needs to create a desire to learn and then provide the opportunities and environment for learning. The teacher needs to care about the students' success and the students need to know that the teacher cares. Effective classroom management is at the core of every good teacher.
