Teach English in Baishui Zhen - Yueyang Shi

Discipline in the classroom is a point of concern for any teacher be it new or experienced. Since it is a learning centre we expect the students to be disciplined. Which is absolutely correct. However, in order to expect the same from the students, it is a core responsibility of a teacher to set the right expectations in student's mind and is important that the students are following the same. Every new teacher is worried and in split thoughts regarding what to follow and what not to. As there is a fine line in between being strict and being disciplined teacher. If you are strict you are hated, if you are liberal you are taken for granted. But bare in mind that it is not a fast track process and would take time to fetch right and sure results. As and when a teacher invests time and emotions the bonding between the student teacher becomes strong, and the teacher can handle indiscipline by the students very well. Apart from all the confusion spread around, I would like to share my personal experience with you and tell you how did I manage my first ever classroom. It was very crucial for me to give my students the right environment to be able to study with concentration and not have any disciplinary issues in my classroom. Hence, I always started my first lecture with self introduction and telling little about my past experience, including the difficulties I faced on my way. That gave my students a bit of confidence that it was ok and normal to get difficult times everyone's life. What matters is to face them with determination. I gave each student little time so that I understand them and placed my faith in them gradually to get them with me on the same page. So, whenever I gave any instruction, it was followed. Home work was completed on time. I made my students why it is important to be disciplined and how it helps them achieve their goal on time, taking everyone along and not leaving any student behind. I set my expectations in terms of discipline and that I was ok giving breaks in between a difficult unit and was ready to take some fun activity in case students were getting bored. Like this I had gathered a good support of my students. I always showed that I cared for them and that it affects me if they are in some king of pain, disbelief, or any personal issues. I believe the classroom and the students become an extended family for any teacher. For any teacher to receive respect from students is flattering and fulfilling. In order to gain that we also need to treat our students with utmost respect. Students should know their limitations in terms of discipline, and setting that is teacher's responsibility. As the guidelines are set for all, it is understood that how and what needs to be done. Punishing strictly is not at all a solution for an indiscipline act of a student. However, in case of it does happen there are ways to tackle them. If the teacher can set the procedure for the class to follow, students would know what needs to be done after what. The initial confusion is eliminated like this. Lack of the set procedure will bring the class in a confusing state and the class overall looks out of discipline. Once the procedure is set and students start following it, but except for one or two, you can identify the area where you need to focus. Next step would be to adjust those students in such a group and position from where they are easily seen and observed by you. In case these students aren't observed properly, they can simply disturb the entire class and the flow of the lecture hampering the learning ability and concentration of the entire class. Things to keep in mind for the teacher here is that a student cannot be humiliated in from of the class, as it can trigger a different set of personal issues in the student. Small ways to handle those behaviour issues are to start interrupting problematic behaviour since the start. Make the consequences clear to the class, for a change you can discuss it with the class that what will be the consequence in case a student disturbs other student. Strict punishment is not advisable. A better way is to distract the student with some other activity, for example giving some responsibility to them which will help in the class activity. That ways the student feels having missed participating in the fun activity and will focus on the future classes also wouldn’t disturb the rest of the class. The consequence of behavioural issues can be discussed and shared openly in the class so that each student individually manages self and surrounding. It is important to find out why the student is not able to concentrate in the class. There are possibilities that there are some personal issues, or the lecture is not understood by the student and he is unable to share it with the teacher. Again, the responsibility lies on the teacher's shoulder to build rapport with the class on an individual level. The teacher in the end must be approachable, loving, considerate for all. Rewarding a student for good work in some or the other way always helps building confidence in them. That not only motivates the class but also boosts the teacher's confidence as well, in turn fetching wonderful results from the class help multiplying number of students and giving the school a good fame and name because a teacher is the face of school.