Hi Deborah,
I love your outlook! I firmly believe that you get from students what you expect. As educators we should raise the bar high, yet attainable so that our students will rise to the challenge. Anything worth having is not going to come easy is what I always tell my students. Education is no cake walk.
Patricia
Over the course of my teaching career I have developed a comprehensive class managment plan which includes two critical elements: high expectations and high aspirations. I believe in those goals for myself and attempt to create an educational environment which will foster those elements for my students as well. My students understand that I go the "firm but fair" route and I expect 110% from them as I do from myself. The world we live in will accept no less. I give homework consistently and I expect students to go above and beyond,always. Thankfully, my students have, for the most part, responded quite positively to my standards and many have appropriated those same standards for themselves. When their hard work pays off, they return to my classroom to share how their concentration and hard work has served them well.
In my opinion, students who are disruptive unfortunately also indirectly challenge the teacher's authority as the students know intuitively that the disruptive behavior is not appreciated by the teacher and the continued behavior is a subtle way of declaring that they do not care!
Hi Kellie,
I concur! What have rules if you are not going to enforce them? Rules are made to be followed, therefore the instructor must enforce them.
Patricia
I agree, you need structure in order to provide a great learning environment for everyone. If you constantly allow students to walk in late and disrupt the class or answer their cell phones in the middle of class, not only are they affecting the learning environment of everyone else, but it is also harder to manage that class when they've been allowed to "break" rules.
Class management is is critical because students need to be in an environment where they are able to learn. The instructor needs to be organized and prepared for class with the proper material and assignments. Also an instructor needs to have a handle on the students so that other students don't have any distractions that would get in the way of their ability to learn.
Hi Anita,
I concur! It is the instructor's responsibility to produce an environment that is conducive for learning to take place.
Patricia
Unless the class is managed effectively from the first moment the students enter the classroom on day 1, we are compromising the ultimate success of the class.We must establish ourselves as the leader, and convey the fact that we are in Professionalism and preparation must never be compromised.control.
Class management and educational planning are necessary for successful instruction to occur. Students who are aware of class expectations, assessment standards, deadlines, and the end goal are more willing to concentrate on the task at hand rather than trying to distract the instructor or other students when there are long periods of disorganization or inactivity.
Hi Mamie,
It is certainly our job to produce an environment that is conducive for effective learning to take place. It is the instructor's job to control the learning environment.
Patricia
Class management is crucial to the overall learning and learning experience of the students. It allows you to prioritize tasks, as well as show your students effective time management. To assist them with their schedule, I provide a course outline with the syllabus. The course outlines specifies upcoming readings, assignments, exams, projects and the due dates. I've found this tool to be helpful in assisting students with their time management skills.
M. Allen
Hi Brian,
I concur! Make a strong presence on the first day so that students know that you control the class and not them. It is all in your presentation and demeanor as to how students look at you.
Patricia
The class must, from the first day, know that you are in control. The must see you as the authority. If they do not, they will develop the attitude that they already know more than you do.
If you don't have class management and rules and policies for students, the class will become unruly and chaotic.
Many of the students in the class want to learn, and have the right to learn. So if someone is disrupting the entire class they need to be given a warning and if it continues removed from the class.
So the students know the rules and consequences up front. No surprises. Class room management is a way to let the students know that you are there to teach them valuable information, they also respect you when you deal with the disruptive student.
In addition,it also shows the other students that you mean business. I am a very strict instructor, especially during lecture and hands-on, this is when they need to listen and take notes.
All students need to feel they can succeed and that they are all equal in importance. The major goal of Class Mgmt. for myself is to reinforce that they all have the abilities to attain that success. I try to engage them at all opportunities to get them interested in the subject matter. Class discussion and question - answer periods help me provide this. I am not as concerned with rules and regulations of conduct , If I make the course interesting and engaging , I will have their attention.
Hi Mike,
I agree! Students know that I will not tolerate their foolishness, but I care about them truly. Students really have more respect for those instructors who are hard on them versus the ones who let them get away with murder.
Patricia
I have noticed that too many instructors start off really nice and then loose control of the room. I start off as a "no nonsense" teacher. That way I can always lighten up later. My experience has been if you come in too soft you cannot go the other way. I do not have nearly the problems many of my peers have.
It is very important that students know where there are going, so by giving them a managed road map of what is to be accomplished in each class they can feel more secure in their progress.
Hi Kleinkauf,
It is crucial to have an atmosphere so that learning can take place. The instructor is in full control of the classroom. Never let a student control the classroom.
Patricia
