The most common challenge that I have noticed with first year teachers is classroom management. Part of this is due to confidence and that can be understandable when doing something for the first time. Probably the best advice that I can give regarding managing a classroom is to keep in mind that this is your space.
PROVIDE CLEAR CLASSROOM RULES AND EXPECTATIONS
As I talked with some recent graduates in education, they expressed anxiety over managing their classroom. A lot of times anxiety is prevalent when we feel like we don’t have any control over a situation. Even if you are a first-year teacher who is getting ready for your first teaching job, you can spend time creating your classroom rules and expectations over the summer. I would even suggest that you go ahead and create a poster for your room so that it is clear to everyone.
HOW STRICT SHOULD YOU BE
Teachers typically choose their profession because they have a passion for learning and working with kids. So, our instinct is to start out the new year with a completely friendly and easy-going disposition. I have found most of my student teachers just wanted the kids to like them so everyone can get to learning; however, this usually leads to the students taking advantage of the situation and the teacher. I don’t really think I can tell someone how to be with their kids because it is different for every teacher. You have to be your authentic self or else the kids will smell foul play.
Words from my past Student Teacher who is Finishing the End of Her First Year:
Be willing to just go with the flow. As a very Type A person, adopting this philosophy has helped me effectively navigate my first year. My mentor teacher from student teaching always told me to “embrace the crazy,” and it has really just become my mantra! There are days where my kids are just on it and want to do the work, and there are days where they can’t sit still and need an outlet. Being adaptable in these situations and just allowing my students to get what they need to learn has made a world of a difference. Also, I think that allowing myself to be vulnerable and letting my students know that I’m also a human being has helped create stronger relationships in my classroom. There are times where I also need a moment to collect myself when I’m frustrated or annoyed—students appreciate the honesty, and I believe that it made a world of a difference in my classroom management. Once my students realized that I cared about them as individuals and as learners, the rest came almost naturally.
I have seen things that never worked for me end up working brilliantly for a colleague. For me, I have found that at the beginning of they year it is best to be strict (but kind) and consistent with your rules and expectations until you develop a relationship with your kids and the class. Have you ever heard of the saying, “Don’t smile until Thanksgiving”? While I am not a fan of that idea, I have found that I get better results with managing student behavior once I have strictly established the rules. Meanwhile, students need reassurance and should see us smile. 😊
Side Note: Make sure you follow your own rules. For example, if cell phones should not be out, you should probably have yours put away too. Be a model.
RESOURCES
The best resource is probably other teachers. If you can, try to observe other teachers in your school. You can always adapt a technique that you liked to fit your classroom. Edutopia does a pretty good job of providing tips and ideas for classroom management.
You can use my red cup, green cup idea or adapt it to fit your style. As you see, even my own student teacher tried to adopt this classroom management strategy, but it didn’t work for her with her current students. That is ok. We have to adapt to our students and the culture of our classroom. If you want to read about the red cup, green cup strategy, I have created a link to that blog below.
Words from my past Student Teacher who is Finishing the End of Her First Year:
I tried adopting using red and green cups to help facilitate classroom management, but it failed miserably. What worked with the 10th graders I worked with as a student-teacher was not applicable to my group of 8th graders. Early into my first few weeks, I realized that having my room set up in groups as our daily setup lead to less productive time in class when we were not doing group work and more of me running around to facilitate independent work. Now, I adjust my room almost daily, based off whatever activities I am doing that day. I have also adopted a “Student of the Week” incentive. At the end of each week, one student between all of my class periods is nominated for consistently demonstrating positive classroom behavior. I bought a pack of certificates in the Target dollar section and have an area on my classroom bulletin board where I hang up the certificate. I have the student take a photo by the certificate, and reward them with a full-size candy bar (two boxes at Costco for $15 each lasts the entire school year!). While this strategy may not work with older secondary students, it allows me to acknowledge a variety of my students and for students to feel recognized by their own peers as well! Another strategy I tried halfway through the school year was balancing routine emails home and emails about behavior—positive behavior, specifically. I decided that I would try to rotate between my classes and randomly contact home to praise the effort I see in the classroom. Not only do students appreciate this, but parents appreciate it even more! Even if you can’t buy physical incentives, I truly believe that students of all ages want some sort of verbal recognition of their efforts.
Student of the Week certificates are easy to create. You can just make a template in Microsoft Word or Publisher or even find designs on-line.
My first year was certainly filled with lots of learning experiences. I had some overzealous and rowdy 9th grade classes. I ended up using Class Dojo as a way to curve some unwanted behavior. I could not believe how well this program with avatars and point systems worked.
Remember, you should “Embrace the Crazy” and take risks by trying something new. I can’t wait to hear your experiences and learning curve during your first year of teaching. If you are getting ready to go into your own classroom for the first time as a teacher, please let our community know how we can help support you.
See You Real Soon,
Erin
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