Saundra, can you share some of your techniques for providing a polite yet firm disciplinary environment within your classroom? Your ideas and suggestions could be of great value to others reading these posts. Thanks for anything you can share.
James Jackson
Mark, great comments here. I cringe anytime I visit a classroom and see an instructor standing in front of a room reading off PowerPoint slides. Students find this insulting and talking down to them versus being engaged and part of the lesson plan. The sage on the stage era of education is over and it is now about being the effective guide on the side. Get your students to be part of your lesson plans versus recipients of your words.
James Jackson
I really learned a lot from this course. Its hard not to be a (buddy) especially when your with some of your students day after day for months at a time. However pairing the buddy with the (guide) and adding a just a little of the (control)seems to be and effective strategy I can utilize in my class room!
Karis, can you share some of your techniques for developing your polished communication skills? Thanks for anything you can share.
James Jackson
Learning to become an instructor is actually a process that takes time. Most new instructors are gung ho and tend to be overzealous in their approach. They often treat students like employees which is wrong and often leads the students to have a level of fear or intimidation. A good instructor needs above all, patience. It is very easy to get frustrated in the classroom or kitchen when students cant seem to follow simple directions. A good instructor needs to be the calming force in the room not the source of aggitation, but must also be able to control the room should it get unruly. A good instructor needs to be fair with all students and not play favorites. A good instructor needs to be available to their students not hidden behind a desk or podium. We must remember that we are here for the students and that their education is the priority, which is why I prefer the word educator to instructor. Instructor implies "I say, you do" where as educator implies that active learning is taking place.
I believe an instructor should be honest, fair and impartial and professional on all levels. I feel an instructor should be calm in dealing with situations, care about the student's progess and well-being and not cross the line of instructor to trying to be a friend.
Jennifer, well stated. Nothing ticks students off more than instructors that have a sense of entitlement or they give off an expectation that trust and respect is expected simply due to their title. The educational landscape is changing and has already changed and instructors have to work hard for the respect and trust of their students. Has nothing to do with if this is the right way or the wrong way, it is just the way it is.
James Jackson
I belive it is important to model the behavior you expect in your students. For example, if you ask them not to have food or drink in the classroom it only makes sence that that rule should apply to you as well. Teachers who model the behaviors they expect tend to gain students respect and have more of a balance in the classroom without having to acutally "ask" for certain behaviors.
"We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give."- Sir Winston Churchill
Good teachers have at least three traits. They have classroom management skills,knowledgeable of the subject matter, and instructional design and delivery skills.
A teacher with classroom management skills knows how to set rules on the first day of school in order to maintain order for the rest of the year.
A good teacher should be knowledgeable of the subject matter being taught. In addition,an instructor should keep abreast with the latest developments through reading, attending conferences, and participating in workshops.
Another important trait of a teacher is to have instructional design and delivery skills.Lessons delivered everyday should be well planned.
Dr/Ibrahim
I believe the ability to create in a classroom setting, the proper mix of flexibility and firmness.
For the most part my flexibility centers around instructional technique and timing and my inflexibility centers on grading and outcomes.
From the beginning, during the classroom introduction and syllabus review, I let students know where I may be flexible and where I am not and I think that helps with proactive discipline. But you must demonstrate consistency in what you do and what you say, again, from the beginning.
This is my second year in the classroom, and I feel that love for the job that you are doing is one of the most important traits a teacher can have. I think this applies to any job that you hold. If you love what you are doing and love the students that you are helping and it is fullfilling to you, that is most the battle. With that said, I am proud to say that I felt before I took this class that I leaned more toward the buddy side. But after learning more about it, I think that if I just maintain a little more control, I can maintain the buddy techniques that come naturally to me. Although I enjoy feeling as if I am somewhat friends with most of my students, I know that I also must maintain more control. The techniques offered in this course will help me in doing just that. I plan to, for one, walk around the classroom more. And I also need to work on the eye contact. I am a court reporting teacher, and I read all day, so this makes it kind of hard.
Herman (Lonnie), knowing your students and their situations can be very helpful in commanding control over your classroom. Be in class early or stay late and get to know your students and understand more about their lives.
James Jackson
Joel, agreed. Perfect example of how critical the first day of class can be to set the stage for the remainder of the course. Get students talking about appropriate actions to take if the class gets out of hand or students do not follow the rules. When students forget the rules you now have a clear action to take as students provided the information on the proper actions to take. Remind them - during the first day of class we agreed that ...
You can get a lot of mileage using this technique.
James Jackson
Richard, well stated. Students can identify a fake in a heartbeat. If teaching is not your first love, find something else to do.
James Jackson
Trinidad, well stated. One size will never fit all but maintaining a positive attitude and always being aware that you are always under the watchful eye of your students will be critical. Lead by example is a common phrase but as an instructor we succeed or fail based on our ability to practice this important concept.
James Jackson
David, you are correct. Set your rules early and then follow through with your policies. Avoid being robotic, one size will never fit all. When you stray from your classroom policies, document the reasons and be consistent. If you provide allowances for a specific situation, allow similar considerations for all students with the same situation. The rules alone are not the true focus, the consistency in how you manage to them is the real key.
James Jackson
Peggy, organization and confidence can go a long way towards instructor success. This requires the instructor to be fully prepared and know the policies and procedures at the institutional level to handle classroom issues. Talking to senior instructors with respect to past experiences and how they managed those situations can also be of great value.
James Jackson
I completely agree-a teachers enthusiasm can make or break it for the student. I remember thinking history was the most boring subject(I had a boring teacher who taught it) and in later years I had a fabulous instructor who brought it to life! I've loved history ever since.
I like the insight behind your comment. I think we all have bad days and aren't up on our game. Being under a lot of stress or pressure or just being overtired and running late can get a person off to a bad start. When something does go wrong with a student in the classroom don't jump all over them. Take them aside for a moment..."That was really out of character. or you don't quite seem like yourself today. You doing okay?" Just a few simple words in private-
1.addresses the issue
2.shows you care
3.and allows them to "save face"
I think an instructor will get very positive results with this method rather than an attack.
Patricia, well stated. Be personable but do not take the job personally. We all as educators put some of ourselves in our work and as such it can be easy to take things too personal. Having access to a good group of colleagues that can keep you grounded and you can discuss various situations can be a very helpful and at times therapeutic experience.
James Jackson
