Juanita, well stated. For any instructor that feels teaching gets easier by always teaching the same topic is in the wrong profession. You can teach the same topic for years and never repeat the same lesson plan for a course if you do it correctly. Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing.
James Jackson
Jeanne, do not confuse knowing your students with being a buddy. Guides know their students well but know the difference between being a friend and taking the role of a mentor, guide and leader. Friends tend to not challenge each other or take friends out of their comfort zones. Guides are experts at taking students outside of their comfort zones and to just the correct levels to enhance the overall learning process. Continue to learn all you can about your students but use that information to challenge them and take them as far along the learning path as possible. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance to you, I am eager to assist those new to teaching. You may want to consider visiting the MaxKnowledge Lounge located at http://www.careercollegelounge.com. You can always find other instructors willing to share ideas and provide suggestions with any situation you can imagine.
James Jackson
Kimbely, great attention to detail and this is important to ensure a smoothly running classroom. I am sure you have heard that failure to plan is planning to fail. Looks like you are doing a great job at strategically planning for the success of your students. Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing.
James Jackson
I have made my lesson plans hour by hour instead of daily. This helps to make sure that I have planned enough activity for the class period as well as gives me a detailed plan of what I will be doing for the day. I can further manage my class by paying more attention to the "problem" areas of my class. Certain students sit together and create disruptions and instead of constantly trying to break up the disruption, just arrange students in a different way (seating chart).
First day of class I ask my students why are they here individualy and then I can see how the students as a class will interact with me and the program.
This was a very informative class. I learned that my style is that of a "controller" with occasional spurts of "buddy" - depending on the student. I do try to give students the feeling of openness and willingness to help. Some students actually do respond but most don't. I will continue to be open and friendly and perhaps by combining controller with more buddy I'll near the style of the guide.
I can not agree more with Mr. Garcia in regards to teaching at a young age and trying to be the controller. I myself was even younger than he was when I first started teaching.
I decided to go back to school and get a masters in Teaching. This really helped me understand how to be a great leader in the classroom.
One thing that stuck with me is that no one style is effective. You need to teach to the students and not teach the class/course. Go into every class with high and clear expectations! I have done that for years now and personally, I think things are working out well.
I think as eductors we can stil enhance our classroom management style. I do this by watching other instructors and getting tips on what works for them with a particular group of students. I also once heard from a veteren teacher that the best teacher is the one who steals ideas and uses them in their own classroom (If it works, use it).
Allowing the student to state their peace, however, then explaining the reasons why the discipline is inforced. Example: shouting out answers instead of waiting to be called on. I explain that some students are more shy and will never have opportunity to participate if I do not call on them.
Past improvements have been during lecture time, I ask questions directly to a specific student. This makes them aware that they can be asked questions at any time and it makes them pay more attention and there are less interruptions. Rearranging chair and walking around while lecturing works a lot.
Further improvements can be to assign working stations and have them move around once a week, this will minimize the number of times students get to work next to another student that provide opportunities for talking and wasting time.
The expectations for the class are set, you introduce the type of teacher you will be and the expectations are clear.
I am a fairly new instructor, and I try hard to not be too much of a "buddy". However, I have very, very small classes (3 students this semester) and it can be difficult not to get too involved in the students personal lives or to let them into mine. Also, I keep the students for two semesters at a time, so we do spend 5 hours a day together, four days a week, so the class becomes very close. Over this next semester I will continue to work on balancing the my classroom management style, with a new group of students. I will have a much larger class this time , probably 15, and wondering how I will handle things differently, or if the same strategies will apply?
At the begining I wanted to be their buddy but realized the line between intructor and student became very blurred
I have learned through out the years that you have to adjust to every class and you will have to teach it differently every time depending of the make up of the class, thus still accomplishing the same delivery and outcomes. Adujusting to every day lives with thier problems, every student has challenges but some are just not visible or we know about, i always tell my students that i am here to help them Succeed in thier dreams and i will be there by thier side guiding them.
This has made me a better instructor, i always let them know that i have an open door and if we get in a bind we will figure it out together.
The biggest changes I've made over the years are 1. Making sure I watch my tone of voice when communicating with students and 2. Making sure I communicate with all students regardless of whether they are my "favorites" or not. I've found that I had trouble makers in the groups of students that I never really interacted with on a personal level and when I did, it was always with an annoyed and "Controller" tone of voice.
Now what I need to work on is making sure that I am the same management style with every student. I have noticed after doing this workshop that I am actually all four management styles but it differs per student. I am controlling and often apathetic toward my younger students who may only be in class because they are forced to. I am a buddy and a guide to the students who take an active interest in the course. So trying to narrow down my management style is what I am going to begin working on in hopes that I am not losing the younger students and not giving the more mature students the impression that I can't manage the whole class. I also need to be more consistent with my expectations and stop letting the younger ones just go through the motions.
All in all it has become a little difficult to accurately define my management style. I find myself possibly "changing" my style too often to meet each particular classroom environment. I am trying to simply define a "style" for myself to stay consistant in all classrooms. From class room to classroom I feel each requires its own style... Does this make sense?
Mary, what action steps will you be taking over the next 30 days to put what you have learned into practice? Writing out your goals and setting milestones and accomplishment dates can be a great way to greatly enhance your chances of changing behaviors.
James Jackson
Dawn, well stated and thanks for sharing a great technique. As instructors we need to be part of a larger community where we can share ideas and be willing to try new things.
James Jackson
I took this course to give me more perspective and a better understanding of how to management the classroom. I am a guide in the classroom but sometimes I veer into the "Buddy" category. I know that this isn't the best for the classroom but being able to distinguish between, and know my style is going to be beneficial in my future courses.
I agree every time I start a new class I teach differently from the previous one. I try to correct any mistakes I made with the previous class, as well as respond to the nature of the lesson and the type of students of that particular class.
My last semester was very much into multi-tasking. They would lose focus at times since they had nothing else to do. I learned, in a previous management class, of one way to handle this. I actually went to the craft store and purchased 750 pipe cleaners. I handed them out to the class and they were able to use their hands (multi-tasking) during the lecture. I was able to regain their focus on the topic(s) being discussed. For me, this worked extremely well. I am always looking for ways to improve my management of the classroom. Also, I am willing to try new things to improve my style.
