Classroom Behavior
Managing classroom behavior has to be one of the hardest thing about being a teacher. Our biggest
challenge as teachers is to help
the students learn despite all of the distractions and road blocks we
face
during the day. I know trying to manage
my class, especially that first year, caused a quite a few serious
melt-downs after
school. I was constantly looking to others for
classroom management ideas and was willing to try most anything. I
haven't mastered the art of managing my classroom and I doubt I ever
will. Each year brings new kids with unique and and original ways of
disrupting the class. There's no way to predict how a discipline
technique will work with certain students.
I’ve put together some classroom behavior ideas and reminders that I’ve tried myself and have heard about over the years. Some may work and most may not, but give it a try. You never know what may happen! The simplest idea may work wonders. Just keep trying and don't give up!
Classroom Behavior Ideas
Back to Basics
A list of
basic ideas and suggestions that could be implemented in any classroom.
They may seem simple, but sometimes "Less is More" in the classroom
works great.
Behavior Reminders
Last Minute Tips
Some personal reminders that I like to keep in the forefront of my mind when dealing with disruptive students. It helps me keep perspective of who my students are and what they are dealing with.
My Personal Philosophy
I've come up with my own classroom behavior philosophy as a way of not going crazy trying to control my student's behavior. As I have dealt with different kinds of disruption and negative behavior I found that one word was always running through my head; Peace. At first I didn’t get it. How is there ever going to peace in my classroom with these students misbehaving? But after some deep thought I realized I needed to turn it around. It was me who needed to find peace. This may get a little philosophical so watch out!
There are a couple of quotes that really helped me out that first year and I still keep hung up in my room (and at home!).
“If you have no peace within yourself, it is vain to seek it in external objects or outward sources.” – Swami Sivananda
I first realized that if I expected the students to be calm I needed to set the example. I had to keep my emotions in check before I could expect the student's to do the same.
“Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it.” – Mahatma Ghandi
After realizing I needed to be at peace I read this quote and loved the idea. There is never going to be a classroom without conflict or disruption, but that has nothing to do with peace. Peace is in the way we cope with the negative behaviors. Obviously this is a lot easier said than done. But I think if we make a point to try and be at peace with ourselves and exude it around us, we won’t be so quick to have a melt-down at the end of the day.
