Classroom Ideas -- Classroom Management

Students of any age may misbehave and may not always follow your directions as you desire. This is something that many teachers find to be universal. No matter what subject, age group, or location, problems in the classroom may occasionally arise and even if you've had experience teaching, they are not necessarily easy to deal with. This entry is dedicated to helping you cope with and manage these problems.

In the beginning...
As difficult as it may be, it is always a good idea to start off each semester (especially if you have a new group of students) somewhat strictly and sternly. It may not be fun or easy for you to be the "bad guy" in the classroom, but you'll almost certainly be able to lighten up as the session continues. Establishing yourself as an instructor that has rules, expectations, but empathy is important in order to have a successful semester with your students. To begin with, it might be a good idea to come up with 3-5 rules and have the students write them in their notebooks. Discuss with them the consequences should they break these rules. Many teachers like to introduce the "3 strikes and you're out" rule. (i.e. Respect others by listening to what they say and if you have something to add, raise your hand and wait your turn to speak.)

Enforcement...
It may seem easy to simply threaten students with punishments that seem very harsh, but it is essential to present them with real consequences should they misbehave in class. The punishment must be real and pose a real burden to them. It might be a good idea to make the punishment connect to the material being taught. (i.e. extra homework). Punishments such as writing a phrase 100 times tends to be somewhat ineffective. If you do not enforce the rules, students will quickly learn that they can get away with pretty much anything. It's OK to have fun, but remember that you are there for a purpose : to immerse students in the English language and help them improve their language abilities.

Serious problems...
Sometimes, you will have a student act out in various (and potentially dangerous) ways. In this situation, it is advisable not to try to handle a situation such as classroom violence all alone. You have co-workers and although they might not be your friends, you are a team. Don't hesitate to send a student not involved in the situation to fetch another teacher to help you manage the problem. Avoid any aggressive physical contact with students at all costs.

Bad language...
Foreign language learners often find it enjoyable and humorous to learn offensive words and expressions in the target language. Especially with younger ages, it's hard to know how to react when something offensive is said. Instead of overreacting and severely punishing the student, it might be a good idea to explain to the entire class the potential consequences of using this kind of language with a native speaker of the target language. It's not a bad idea to make the consequences a bit scary and serious as to get the point across that offensive language is hurtful and disrespectful. If the problem persists, then more severe punishment may be required.

* The most important factor in classroom management is consistency. Empathy is of course needed in some situations, but try your best to maintain your rules and the consequences should these rules be broken!

Any stories of effective classroom management techniques that you know of or have experienced? Feel free to send us a comment!