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Classroom Management in Middle School is a whole new ball game!
I started teaching back in the year 2000. Classroom management was the toughest thing I had to conquer in those early years. I was given all kinds of programs to implement, systems that were promised to turn a classroom around, and yet, I continued to struggle.
There’s no question, classroom management is tough for most teachers. But there are some basic ideas that go to the heart of what motivates students to behave or misbehave.
When I moved from elementary school to teaching at a middle school, I knew it was time to get serious. That’s when I discovered Frederic Jones. I teacher friend lent me his book “Positive Classroom Discipline” and it changed the tone of my classes from that day forward.
Here are some key points:
- Teachers with the fewest discipline problems spend most of the first two weeks of school teaching specific rules and procedures. They make sure students know the rule for nearly every action students will take in the classroom.
- Rules must then be retaught periodically throughout the school year.
- Teaching the rules is not a matter of being “strict”. The teacher must be relaxed and emotionally warm.
- Do not make a rule that you cannot enforce every single time. Students know how far they can push each teacher they have. They will notice when a rule is not enforced.
- The first rule you teach students in the school year is how to walk into your classroom. Do you allow students to walk in any way they please? Do you let them stand around talking to friends until the bell rings, and then nag them to get in their seats? You are teaching them from day one how you will allow them to do this. Show them over and over again how to walk into the classroom, sit down and get to work. It must be repeated, gently, till the students do this correctly.
- Try to keep your emotions in check. (Not always easy to do!) The fastest way to lose cooperation from students is to show irritation, disgust, or anger. Try to remain calm and warm, whether you’re teaching content or procedures.
- One reason teaching is one of the most stressful professions is the sheer number of procedures and rules that must be taught. You must teach what to do when they need a pencil, what to do when they need to sharpen a pencil. What is the procedure for asking questions? Can you get out of your seat? When is this allowed? Can you talk to others? When is this allowed? How do you move from one activity to another? All of these things must be taught and repeated again, and again, and again.
- Building a relationship with your students is by far the most effective way to manage behavior.
- Show students you genuinely care and respect them. Have you heard the saying, “I don’t care how much you know until I know how much you care.”? When possible, pull students aside and ask them about themselves. Tell them about you and what you’re interested in. Build that relationship from the very beginning. Remember that children, by their nature will test the limits. Respond right away gently, but effectively, and remind them of the rules. Praise them when they follow the rules.
- Try to stay calm and relaxed. Calm is strength. Upset is weakness. Especially when students are trying to provoke you, it’s important to stay calm. Try taking deep breaths when students challenge you.
Most of the disruptions in a classroom are talking, getting out of their seats, and being off task. There are some basic steps you can take to eliminate these types of disruptions.
1. Step One: Moving in. Stop what you’re doing and turn to look at the disrupting students. Make sure there is no emotion in your gaze. Wait. If they get back on task, give them a warm,“thank- you”, and continue.
2. If they resume disrupting, stop again, turn to face them and say their name calmly. Wait. Continue looking at them until they stop. Wait some more. Make sure they are back on task. Again, say “thank-you”.
3. If disruption continues, stop again, and slowly and calmly walk toward them. Again, no emotion in your face or body language. Stand next to their desk and continue to calmly look at them. (They won’t like this!) If the student now gets back on task, wait and make sure they are really back to work. Then slowly and calmly move away. Always warmly say, “thank-you” when they comply.
4. For that student who continues to test your limits, walk back to their desk calmly, and lean in with your hands on their desk. They won’t like the close proximity and will most likely stop. If you have more than one student disrupting, go to the most disruptful student first and wait till they get back on task and then move to the next student. Make sure they get the message that you will continue until they give in and get back to work. (It’s important you do this early in the year before you have too many disrupting at once. Nip it in the bud!)
I learned and practiced this technique over and over when I started teaching middle school. It can be very effective if you stay calm and always warm when speaking to the students. Make sure students know your rules and that you won’t ignore anyone breaking those rules. As long as you stay warm and calm, most of the students will comply.
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