Classroom Management

In the old days the school system was a lot more strict than it is now. Some say that this strictness has been the cause for students to act out, feeling like their freedoms are being taken away from them. The reality is that this is not so, but there is a high possibility that students these days will act out and even be rude to teachers if there isn't some form of a hierarchical order and classroom management in place.

Today's students are bombarded with information, fast paced lifestyles, and with the digital era upon us making the information age the overwhelming information overload age, its safe to assume that many students are both overwhelmed and impatient because they may be struggling to deal with what is expected of them. Any setting where you put a bunch of generation X and Y students into a classroom, there is potential for chaos, but there are some very easy ways to manage your classroom in a way that students actually do what they are supposed to and do so proactively.

One of the mistakes many educators make is not trying to connect with the student one on one at some point. As overwhelmed students they may need some guidance and at the very least feel like they are not there alone dealing with adolescence on their own. By connecting to your students one on one you can over the course of your year with them develop rapport with them and this creates more effective ways to approach different difficult situations.

If those inspirational movies "Dangerous Minds" and "Coach Carter" taught us anything it's that there is no such thing as a bad student, just one that may need a more individualized type of attention to their needs and especially their concerns. It's not that students don't want to learn and grow but not all students fit into the same template and as individual as each person is- their needs are also individual. When a students needs are ignored and they are overwhelmed, it's likely that they will give us and become rude, despondent, or refuse to do the work regardless of the consequences.

By approaching each student as an individual but also as a part of a group- you appeal to them in two very powerful ways. As a person and as a piece of a synergy. Having rules is great and having a plan is even better. If you, as a teacher, don't connect to your students, you will have a far more difficult time getting them to listen and this is a prerequisite for getting them to thrive in their school work and aspire for more!

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