Successful classroom management depends on avoiding mistakes that will most likely prove counterproductive to gaining and maintaining control in the classroom. Below are three things you must be aware of if you are going to thrive as an effective teacher.
Rewarding Unsatisfactory Behavior
Beware of giving rewards to students with less than satisfactory behavior. The assumption is that “he or she has done good enough.” However, this is a student who constantly disrupts the class, bother others and defy your instructions on the regular. You may feel a little sympathy for him, but you are doing him a disfavor if you go ahead let him participate in the pizza party.
Let him understand that bad behavior has stiff consequences, not only in the classroom but outside the classroom as well. Making a child see the error of his ways before he becomes an adult or old enough to be held accountable by the legal system could go a long way in helping him to escape worse scenarios in the future.
Ignoring Disturbing Behavior
Beware of ignoring disturbing behavior until later. Many teachers’ novice teachers get so overwhelmed in the classroom that they put off responding to a significant disturbance until a later time. Consider this scenario: you are teaching a very important lesson. I said comes up to you and tell you about a kid who is doing something very inappropriate. However, you tell the kid that you will take care of the matter later. But as time passes you forget about the issue altogether and the situation never gets resolved.
Never ignore the disturbing behavior of a student. I have known Friend educators who faced the wrath of parents and administration for not responding to significant misbehavior in the classroom. Never allow this to happen to you. Respond immediately to disturbing situations.
Tolerating Argumentative Students
Engaging in arguments with students is a big mistake. First, you are an adult. You are the teacher. You command the classroom. You have the power to send the child out of the classroom as well as call his parents.
Why argue word for word with a child who doesn’t know where he is or doesn’t know the purpose for being in school? Such child needs to be reminded time and time again that he isn’t the adult in the classroom. If he attempts to drag you into an argument, don’t fall for it. Neutralize his attempts by sending him out of the classroom.
You will get more respect from other students who see your decisiveness in refusing to tolerate insubordination.
Your goal is to be the best teacher you can possibly be. For every disruptive student, you have five who desire to learn and become the best they can be.
