By: Frances Zia A. Pidlaoan
Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Social Studies
They say a teacher has more than ten roles inside and outside the classroom and one of the most important roles is being a classroom manager. Managing the class is one of the everyday struggles of a teacher because she needs t make sure that everyone has the sense of readiness most especially if we are handling a large volume of students. As teachers, we should think of techniques on how to catch the attention of the students and maintain their interest for the entire class hour. But how can a teacher manage the class well?
Teachers and students should agree on classroom rules at the beginning of the year. Creating classroom rules on the first day of class will make the teachers avoid a long term misery because as the teacher and the students agree on set of rules, they started to create a systematic classroom setting that will make them responsible for their own actions especially the students’ actions. This also serves as preventative measure that can help the both parties to create positive classroom climate from the start. Teachers must check in with students at the start of class. Communicating with the students in their level won’t lose the professionalism of a teacher but it adds a characteristic that make her loved by her students. When a teacher is talking with her students casually, and humbly, she make the students feel secured and appreciated. Teachers should be consistent about expectations. Fostering consistency in expectations, and discipline methods, throughout the school year will prevent confusion to the students that may lead to misunderstandings and chaos. Next, teachers should maintain student dignity. Whenever the teacher is correcting a student, she must be sensitive on the things that she might say and should consider the emotions of the student. And a teacher should avoid a fearful environment because a more fearful classroom will lead to low expectations of discipline. And also, if a teacher creates a fearful classroom, students wouldn’t be able to learn better and they will have this fear to be engaged in learning experiences that make the classroom management unfriendly. When conflict arises, a good classroom manager will let both parties to explain their sides and never let someone to be degraded. And also a teacher can promote good classroom management if she never stays on one side but knows how to listen and take the views of all of her students.
A good classroom environment does not only promote discipline and respect among students but it also recognizes each one’s differences and still appreciate it. When a teacher manages the classroom positively, it doesn’t only help the teacher to build positive relationships with the students but it also helps her to understand well the differences and attitudes of her students. And also, if there is a positive classroom, better learning will occur and the responsibility of the students is present.
I know few years from now, I’ll be an educator and I’m already thinking of ways on how I will have a good classroom setting that promotes better learning, accepts everyone and avoids biases and judgments. One thing I learned is the importance of setting rules in the classroom. But setting of rules is not only done by the teacher but it should be agreed upon between the students and the teachers. As teachers, we should involve our students in setting the rules and it will help them to be responsible for those rules because they are the one who impose it. And also, when students are engage in setting the rules, they will tend to follow it not because of fear but because of awareness and self-responsibility. As teachers, we should know how to manage the class properly, not for our sake but for the benefit of our students and for them to have better learning. In classroom management, there are lots of things to consider like the interests of the students, their background, their differences, etc. because considering those things will help us to think of effective ways to manage the class and to promote discipline in the classroom. Classroom management is one thing that all teachers should consider because a good content, teacher’s mastery and interesting learning activities are nothing if there’s a poor classroom management. Teachers should bear in mind that sensitivity, respect, discipline and the ability to appreciate the students and to know that each one of them is special, should be present for her to have a good classroom setting.
No comments:
Post a Comment