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Classroom management is essential to its overall function and health. There are several skills and techniques that teachers use to better educate the students. A strong teacher-student relationship helps this process immensely. When a teacher pours into a student, the student has a desire to be present in the classroom. They want to be there and enjoy learning more than if they see the teacher as just a “head of the classroom” figure. Of course there can be a fine line between being too much of a friend versus a teacher. You want to have a good relationship with the students, but they have to know you still are in control. Poor classroom management can lead to an overworked teacher and stressful environment all around. The teacher could be more likely to have a short fuse and be less patient with the students. It is best to go over the classroom guidelines in the very beginning. Be polite to the students, treat them as you want to be treated and always keep good eye contact. This helps the students know you care and are focused on each of them. One of the most important things I have learned from being in a classroom is to listen. Students want to talk, and that is necessary in learning a second language. A student who is listening will be more comfortable with the teacher, as well as in the classroom as a whole. They will know that they are important and valued. In the early stages of class, you can also ask the students to give their own ideas of how a classroom should be handled. It is a good idea to involve them, and it helps them to be engaged. With a good student-teacher relationship, the students have a sense of belonging. A student who is able to easily come up to their teacher is a happier student. Keeping a classroom attentive and focused can be done in a multitude of ways. If students are talking among themselves, the teacher can ask a question instead of pointing out the talker and telling them to be quiet. Use the whiteboard to hold the student’s attention. You can have them come up individually and write the answers themselves. I have found that the more engaged and involved a student is, the smoother the class goes. Praising students can go a long way to keep them motivated. You can even have a reward system. Something as small as a sticker, or a point system that when added up would have them choosing a prize from a box at the end of the week. The latter is a good option because it gives the students a goal to aim for. A tiny bit of praise can over power a punishment any day. Punishments can be embarrassing for the student. Calling them out in front of their peers is one of the worst things they can face in the classroom. But praise them, and they will have a smile on their face for the rest of the day. Focusing on the positive more than the negative leads to a productive classroom.
