Archive for September 2008

I won’t smile ’till Christmas! Class Management Failures pt. 2

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

It always amazes me to hear teachers steeling themselves at the start of the year by saying, “I’m not going to smile until Christmas!”…as if their resolve to be unfriendly will help them with their classroom management problems.

This couldn’t be further from the truth.  Teachers who use fear tactics to manage student behavior will find their task of educating their students much more difficult.  Students naturally want to succeed, and when you’re the only adult in the classroom, these students will want to share their successes with you.  If you are unaproachable and distant from your students, you will find that over time, your students’ performance and motivation will decrease.

I take the opposite approach.  I smile broadly, especially when I’m feeling a bit stressed out by my students behaviors.  I find that when the students see your refusal to become flustered, over time they will stop trying to get you flustered.  When your students see that you approach a defiant student will a calm yet firm manner and a distinct refusal to become upset, your students defiant behavior will decrease.

I think what teachers are trying to say by their refusal to smile is that they are going to be very strict in the classroom.  I have no problem with strictness or, as I like to say it, consistency.  In fact, consistency must be the foundation of any classroom management system.

It’s when you combine your consistent implementation of your class management system with a calm, peaceful, and happy demeanor that you will be able to motivate your students to be their best.

Darren Barkett

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The Empty Threat Syndrome – Class Management Failures pt. 1

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

For the next couple of posts, I want to take a moment to highlight some of the classic classroom management failures that plague many teachers.  Heck, I’ve been guilty of some of these as well.  And it’s usually the source of frustration for me, those moments when I failed as an effective classroom manager.  I end up going home thinking over that situation over and over and over, regretting a split decision or a comment made that can’t be taken back.

The classic class management failure I first want to speak of is the “Empty Threat Syndrome.”  If you set up a consequence for your student dependent on their behavior, you better follow through with your threat.  If you tell that student that you’re going to call that student’s parents if their behavior doesn’t improve, you better call that mom the next time that student doesn’t meet your class behavior expectations.

If you habitually threaten your students with some sort of consequence and you don’t deliver on your promise, what are you teaching your students about you as a teacher?  What are you saying about your word, your promises, as a teacher?  Is that what you’re trying to communicate to the students?  It seems like common sense, but in the thick of a stressful classroom management moment, if you don’t have a solid classroom management plan, many teachers fall back on the “old standby” – empty threats.

This just highlights the need for all teachers to have a simple and effective classroom management plan.  When you have a plan in place, it’s easy to avoid getting into the “Empty Threat Syndrome.”  With a solid class management system, you no longer need to threaten.  At most, you would need to remind students of expectations and consequences.  But once you’ve taught these class behavior expectations and consequences, you no longer need to threaten.

All you do then is consistently implement your behavior management system.

Coming next… “The Inconsistent Implementor”  A shocking tale in one part of a teacher torn asunder!

Thanks for coming around.

Darren B.

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