Teach English in Xuliu Zhen - Huai'an Shi

In order to correctly and effectively manage a classroom, a teacher may be required to use several techniques. Above all, students need to feel safe within a classroom environment: no learning can be done if students are constantly worried. When students feel safe many other issues may be addressed. For instance, a classroom can be comprised of many types of students: different races, ethnicity, languages, or behavior disorders. To be an effective educator, teachers need to model behavior: mutual respect must be held between the students and the teacher. Additionally, instructors must find ways to maintain discipline in a classroom. Finally, a teacher must find ways to motivate students to want to learn. Correctly managing a classroom may involve many behavior management methods. First, a teacher must properly model classroom behavior. For instance, a teacher needs to use polite and appropriate language: some races or ethnicities may find some words or phrases offensive; also, when a teacher curses or mocks a student in a classroom, he/she is telling the class it is fine to do the same. Additionally, a classroom requires a mutual respect between the teacher and the students. Students should not be talking while the teacher is addressing the class; conversely, when a student is talking, all others, including the teacher, should be listening. Responses to comments or questions should be specific, and they should not be sarcastic or laughed at. Another way to model behavior is to stay off his/her phone. In this technological age, both student and teachers use cellphones: it is both rude and disrespectful to use cellphones when attention should be directed toward the teacher or students. If teachers desire correct behavior in their classrooms, they must exhibit the same type of conduct. Second, a teacher must find effective methods of classroom discipline in order to maintain control of a classroom. One technique to regulate a class is through nonverbal communication. For instance, keeping eye contact with a student, or students, ensures that he/she is always looking back, and not focused on anything else. Also, using correct body language and facial expressions can be very important: stand up straight, face the students, smile, nod your head when the students are correct. Additionally, when undesired behavior occurs, correction must be immediate. When correcting a behavior, the teacher should specify the student’s name and the undesired behavior. To help correct misbehavior or future occurrences, have students apologize explicitly for their actions: this apology may be verbal, or in the form of a letter or contract. Contracts can be used to monitor performance and offer rewards for corrected behavior. Classroom arrangement also has a large impact on discipline. For example, it may be best to sit students with problem behaviors toward the front of the classroom; furthermore, students with undesirable behavior problems should not be facing each other: when some students see each other eye to eye, they may feed off each other’s behaviors. Finally, when teachers walk around the room while teaching or listening to other students, they are able do several things: maintain student proximity with more than one student, make all students feel as if they are the focus, and give the teacher several different perspectives on the students. Finally, proper motivation may be used to manage a classroom. Enthusiasm can be built through many types of incentive and encouragement. For instance, both parents and students may respond well to praise. Specific praise to positive student conduct and achievements can help students want to try harder and expect more of themselves. Calling to inform parents of successes may help students be rewarded at home. Additional motivation can be found when students see that positive performance at school can also result in rewards at home. Another way to motivate students in a classroom is to use more alternative or exciting methods of teaching. For example, teachers may have the students work in groups to create projects or do research. Some students love to use their hands, others enjoy working with computers: teachers may assign projects and give the students a choice on how they want to present the topic they choose. In addition, learning games, both electronic and tactile, can be fun ways to entice students of all age groups to learn through all types of curriculum. Managing a classroom can be an intimidating task: student backgrounds, languages, learning levels, and behavior can hinder the performance of a class. It is the teacher’s job to make sure the students feel both safe and that they are coming into the class everyday to learn something. The importance of showing the students that they are central to the learning environment is one of the main ingredients in a properly managed classroom. When a teacher can model correct behavior, control discipline, and motivate the students, the class is able to learn and thrive.