Classroom Management

This is every new teacher's nightmare, they teach you theories of this in college, however I never seem to remember them when a student is throwing a chair, jumping off a desk or cursing at me.

In a way I am lucky, I had a trial by fire. I started my career in a low achieving inner city school. Everyday I wanted to quit and everyday I drank. Really I did, my nerves were SHOT... but my reflexes improved! I can remember the first day I had to see my classroom, I was so excited... I went right to the school. The building was ominous and huge! Beautiful architecture and tile work that made it possible to imagine the artisan who carefully created these mini works of art.

I was escorted to the top of the building to a corner room and there it was, my room hidden behind an ugly dirty wooden door with a slit for a window. The room was huge and was stripped bare, no sink (in an art room) shades missing from the windows, parts of the molding broken off, doors kicked in, broken handles and ways to lock the door bent and broken off. I didn't notice all this until much later because I was standing in the corner, arms crossed watching the 7th graders totally disrespect the substitute in the room. The students were moving about the room and doing what ever they pleased including going in and out of the classroom I was thinking to myself, there is no way I am going to put up with this behavior... well within the first month I was assaulted by a little girl. She wanted to get out of my classroom to fight another girl in the hallway and I stood in front of the door holding the handle so she could not exit, so she started punching me in the arms and in the body. I was terrified, for many reasons, one I could pick this child up and throw her, she was so small, I could really hurt her, even if I was to restrain her. I was afraid of what my boss would say, my adrenaline flowing out of control, so I was shaking, I was afraid of the bigger kids in the hall way. In the confusion I had reached for the phone and she ripped it out of the wall. I had no contact with anyone who could help, I was alone on that floor during that time of the day.

In that school it was do or die, but there was always a line, and if you crossed it lost respect, if you were nice you lost respect, if you had money you lost respect, if you didn't have the right clothes you lost respect, if you were a student that did well, you had no respect... it is a culture with all of its own rules of how to interact. By the end of my fifth year there I was the only teacher that could leave the door open all day and kids would ask to cross the threshold.

I am a Philly "show kid" meaning I went to the punk rock and hard core shows at the Trocadero, City Gardens, colleges, OJ's, and any other little dirty place that would let kids get together and be kids. We moshed (which is not like the moshing of today) in what is called a pit. This is where I learned NOT to be afraid of physical contact and also how to fend off huge amounts of weight coming towards me.

That being said you can imagine the type of presence I came to the job with and the amount I had to make up or act like I had. I did learn to hold my ground quickly. However, no matter what life experience you have or what behavioral specialist you studied, NOTHING prepares you for evilness that can spew from children because of their environment and neglect.

This post was prompted by a fellow teacher, after a discussion about classroom management she said I should do a best practices post about our conversation and the tactics I use... I will probably not remember all of them and I plan to edit this post to add to my list.

The following are things I use in the classroom to create a safe and creative environment.

• Debates are good, but never argue with a child, if an adult argues with a child it is loss of control.

• Kids feel safe when an adult is in control.

• When grading or making expectations remember Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. If the bottom two parts of the triangle are missing from your student's life, they are in survival mode. Children in survival mode learn in a whole different way. I used games and mini very achievable competitions. I also used what I call "back doors", these are teachable moments or ways to get good information to the student, without them even knowing it.

• Let students know when they are wrong but NEVER hold it against them. Everyday for me is a new day and it makes it possible for that student to change that behavior or never return to it.

• Have transparent boundaries, let students know where they stand and where you stand at all times. This also makes the classroom a safer place, the students never have to test the boundaries.

• Be dramatic, especially when a student has stepped over the line. I do this in funny and serious ways. With lateness I go way over the top in a stern way. With a cell phone going off in class, it is more silly like "OH NO YOU DID NOT JUST INTERRUPT THIS HARD WORKING GLASS?!" This one is hard for me because naturally I am not a drama queen and I usually can't stand people who are, but it works with teenagers... they remember what you did and how you feel about things more often.

• Be human, I show my shortcomings and ask for help. I can not spell, my students love to correct me! I also try to always apologize if I think I handled a situation incorrectly or badly. I have never been let down when I have said to a kid I made a mistake, they have always given me good feedback, it still amazes me.

• Talk to kids but don't try to be one. Kids can see a fake a mile away and if they feel disrespected or talked down to they will let you know, usually this is acted out in defiance or rudeness.

• Call the student out when you see meanness, bullying or inappropriate behavior. I do this two ways in front of the class (usually) or in a sidebar. How else will they learn what is acceptable in your presence.

If you have some to share please post them, I will put up more as I think about them and read them.