Classroom management problems

LegacyUser

Unfortunately, the otherwise informative Teaching & Lecturing forum here does not allow anonymous posting even though it is something that could help many teachers, not least because it would encourage other teachers to be honest about their own experiences in a way they usually wouldn't be willing to do with their established username here. Hoping this gets the attention of some other secondary-level teachers, as I wouldn't feel comfortable talking about my issues with fellow colleagues.



I'm having considerable difficulty with my classroom management. I've spoken to the principal who has suggested that I do a classroom management course. I checked the PDST website, but the whole thing is focused on the new JC/SPHE etc, with nothing offered to those of us who need new strategies for actually teaching more effectively. Does anybody know of any such course? Or indeed, is there a better way to rectify this problem than attending inservices? Would they be of any help at all? What supports can I access to help me with this?


My subject knowledge is excellent and I know I help many students, but particularly with 2nd years my classroom management could be much better. If I don't get on top of this soon it will be the straw that breaks me and makes me change careers (too many inservices that have nothing to do with helping me to become a better teacher, and far too much paperwork generally compared to when I started teaching 10 years ago).

rainbowtrout

What exactly are the issues you are having in classroom management? Maybe if you detailed them here it might lead to specific advice.

Shoebox1926

Some more information would be helpful, what approaches have you already taken with the group? Are there any special needs learners in the class? Have you spoken to other teachers to find out how they manage the group? Why can you not talk to other colleagues? Is your school unsupportive? The principal doesnt sound particularly supportive if that was his response. Have you spoken to the students?

Second years are a tough age group to teach. Having taught in Youthreach with sever behavioral issues and students with adhd and odd and also with a very difficult class in mainstream ed ive got some experience in classroom management but im not teaching as long as you have been so youve probably got more experience than me but regardless ive a few suggestions that may or may not work, ive found them to have a positive effect although not with every student.

In my experience the best ways to keep them engaged in lessons is to include lots of different activities and keep them short, methodologies like group work, short youtube videos and clips and games like Kahoot. include projects like presentations were they have to work together to design an advertisement or tv show based on the subject.

Talking to the students can be beneficial. Explain to the students as a group how you're feeling as a teacher and how their behavior is disrupting the class and making teaching difficult and explain how its also effecting the other students who are trying to learn.

Introduce a group discussion on acceptable and appropriate classroom behavior, write a question on the board and ask students in groups to discuss the question, bring the class back together and ask them to share what was discussed.

Get a large A1 sheet of paper - each student has to make a classroom rule and write it on the paper, include some rules yourself and encourage the students to work together to decorate the page. Hang it up in the classroom.

Talk to difficult students individually after or before class - Don't approach them as an authoritarian, try to take a student centered approach and ask them if there is something wrong, why they are misbehaving, how they feel their behavior might be effecting the class and ask them what ways they think they could improve their behavior.

If you makes threats of punishment such as bad notes in their journal or phone calls home, follow through and be consistent in how you approach the students and deal with the behavior issues in class.

Encourage the students and praise them when they do well.

Dont shout or lose your cool, once the students know theyre getting to you and pushing your boundaries it will only encourage them.

If students are continuing to talk over you when you're giving lessons, stop talking and look directly at the chatty students until theyre quiet.

Give extra homework to the group if they continue to misbehave.

I had a very difficult group of teenagers before the Summer, I dreaded going to that class everyday but after a couple of weeks some of the students started warming up to me, then a few more and eventually they were telling the disruptive students to be quiet and listen. I think its really important to build a relationship with the students and try to have understanding for difficult learners.

AndrewJRenko

Try the Voice For Teachers page on Facebook or Twitter. You can send your query to them and they will post it without identifying you. You will get a bunch of responses from teachers.

afkasurfjunkie

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Try the Voice For Teachers page on Facebook or Twitter. You can send your query to them and they will post it without identifying you. You will get a bunch of responses from teachers.

Replies are generally identified though so puts some people off replying. I normally don’t post there for that reason.

AndrewJRenko

afkasurfjunkie wrote: »

Replies are generally identified though so puts some people off replying. I normally don’t post there for that reason.

That's your choice of course, but there are generally a good number of good responses too.

mtoutlemonde

You could always open another account. You would probably get more responses there.