Classroom Management
Correct management of your classroom is imperiative to a successful learning enviornment.
If you allow your students to behave in an unprofessional manner,this behavior impacts the other students learning experience as well as their own.Since I deal mainly with adult learners, I open my rules explanation with,"since we are adults, I do not feel we will experience any unprofessional behavior". If someone starts talking during a lesson, I will say, "We have a limited amount of time to share this important information and I, as well as your classmates, need your full attention. If this is not successful, I will have the student remain after class and will address the matter as needed.
Hey James-I completly understand the stance you take in your classroom and I applaud you. I, too, teach adult learners and in order cut down on behavior problems, we use a contract for success that covers behavior issues. It is a really nice tool to accompany our syllabi for class. It sets the tone, day one of class, the instructors expectations.
As a program director, this is a theme that I routinely discuss with my instructors. Clearly defined expectations combined with consistency are vital to an environment focused on learning outcomes. The differences in student outcomes between well managed classes and those that are not are remarkably clear; students are more content, and the classroom more productive in a well managed classroom.
Tips in this class are useful for all of us in the adult teaching field. Thank you!
James, I totally understand your comments and the use of adult speak. One thing to keep in mind is being an adult is not directly related to chronological age. You may just as easily have a 25 year old adult as a 45 year old adolesent. Adult behavior is a matter of mental maturity and not always your birth age. May be also a good idea to just define what you consider to be adult behavior. If your students want to be treated like adults then provide to them the characteristics of adult behavior such as working independently and in teams when the situation calls for a specific skill, being on time and starting class activities on time, attending classes, participation in classroom activities. Those students that for one reason or another feel they cannot commit to these traits may need to be managed differently and there is nothing wrong with just letting them know day one of your class how things need to work.
James Jackson
