Classroom Management – Helping Teachers Grow

Here’s a copy of an email I received from a member of our community I thought you might like to read.  It really highlights the need for an effective classroom management system that provides a framework for addressing all of the situations that come up in the classroom.

OK “What if” you tell the student  he has a mark for not following the rules, and you try  to move on, but he/she yells (and I mean yells) “What? I didn’t do anything,tell me what I did, I’m not the only one….”

I try not get caught up in verbal confruntations (it’s hard) but how can you continue teaching with this going on? Usually his friends will join in yelling to defend their friend. Jr. High is obviously not my happy place…but can I do to to teach through this?

I think all of us who have worked within a classroom management system have had to deal with this.  The thing to remember is that it is of primary importance that you remain calm and in control of your emotions.  So many of our students are used to the verbal confrontations and power struggles that plague their lives.  If we refuse to be drawn into these power struggles, our classroom management will be able to take effect and cover these difficult situations.

When I have a student who gets extremely upset at receiving a “mark” I explain very calmly to them, looking at that student directly in the eye, “If you don’t understand why you received a mark, I will gladly discuss it with you after class.”  And then move on.

 This sounds simplistic, I know, but over time, this approach reduces the number of times the students act out after being disciplined.  When the students see that you will not be drawn into a power struggle, they will eventually stop trying to draw you in.

Now if the student continues to make a scene, I give them new directions.  “Johnny, I need you to sit there quietly while I continue with this lesson.  If you do not, it will be another mark.  Do you understand?”  Then, if the tantrum continues, calmly give the student another mark, and remind him that another mark means they are out of Fun Friday or whatever reward you’ve established.

And if the student becomes completely uncontrollable, give them the ultimate directions with clear consequences.  “If you can’t control yourself in my classroom, I will have to call _______ to come remove you from my classroom.  Do you understand?”  Again, you’ve done all this with the utmost calmness and neutrality to your voice.  Typically, the student will regain control.  If not, you can either have an administrator come and take the kid from your class, or you can send that student to an already arranged other teacher’s classroom for some time out.

 Remember, you must be the voice of calm and cool in the classroom.  When the students see that you won’t get upset at their childlike behavior, that childlike behavior will begin happening less and less.

 Now doesn’t that sound good?

Darren