How can you manage your classroom
so that the learning environment is fair to all your students?
Introduction
The
social and emotional knowledge environment as well as the physical environment
knowingly influences student knowledge, engagement, assertiveness and comfort
as well. Peaceful, loyal and well-managed environments inspire rendezvous with
knowledge.
There
is a greater relationship between students’ achievement and the learning
environment teachers create in their classrooms. Therefore, as teachers we must
create a positive learning environment fairly among our students. “Effective management is the key
factor to a positive classroom environment” (Hue & Li, 2008). In
order to produce a positive learning environment we must be aware of the
following specific techniques.
Address students need
Firstly,
we have to focus on students need for security and order, love, and belongings,
personal power and competence, freedom and novelty, as well as fun. Students are
motivated to meet these needs every time. Therefore, when we address these
needs in the classroom, students will be cheerier to be in the classroom,
behavioral issues occur far less often and students’ motivation on learning
increases as well.
Create a Sense of Order
As every students wants to know that their teacher not only
knows his/her content area, instead knows how to manage his/her classroom. So,
it is the responsibility of the teacher to provide clear behavioral and
academic expectation right from the beginning. It is important that students
should know what is expected from them all the time. In the meantime, by
teaching operative procedures along with many practical tasks that are
performed in the classroom such as, enter the classroom and immediately engaged
in learning practices, distribute and collect objects, get the teachers
attention without trouble making the class, as well as arrange students’ desks
quickly and quietly to make easier for
different purposes like, in pairs for
cooperative learning, in rows facing the front for direct instruction, in groups of five for cooperative learning,
and in a large semi-circle for class
discussions.
Greet Students at the Door Every Day
When students enter in the classroom, greet each one of them with a smile at the door, make
eye contact on with them by giving verbal greeting according to the age of the
students. By applying these ways students knows/feels that they are special.
Let Students Get to Know You
Classroom management is the process of managing and controlling the classroom environment. To ensure that teachers are able to get through to students in an effective and productive manner, without distractions or disruptive behavior, they use specific techniques. Classroom Management Indicators are used to measure the success that teachers have in managing their classroom and activities (Martin, 2005). Therefore, to manage our classroom as a positive and fair to every single student, we must apply different techniques to create a positive and fair learning environment.
Normally, students come into the classroom with
in flexible observations about their teachers. Occasionally, it can be good as
well as can be a complication. As teachers we wanted to be a trustworthy, believable human
being for our students. In order to get our students trust and make individual
feel special we must try our level best to treat the fairly among all and even
if there is any classroom competition we
must show our support equally in between all.
Get to Know Your Students
It is vital to know our students’ culture, interests, and
personalities, learning styles, extra- curricular activities, goals and
attitudes to reach them. There are some ways that we can build a greater
relationship with our students such as, by educating ourselves about their
culture, talk to them as much as possible, and holding regular class meetings
and by playing team-building games with students as well.
Over 50 years of research has shown that
incentives, gold stars, stickers, monetary rewards, A’s, and other sweeteners
only help to challenge students’ essential motivation, produce relationship difficulties,
and lead to students doing nothing without a promised reward. Therefore,
instead of degrading student’s successes by giving stickers or symbols, make
them aware about how it feels to reach talent and admiration the strength,
approaches, and procedures that managed them to those successes. Then only just
talk about what they have learned currently, definitely that will benefit
students to accomplish their resulting successes.
Avoid Judging
Whenever students feel like they are being
judged, categorized, and/or labeled, they distrust the one who is
judging them. It is very easy for us to judge a student who does not take part
during classroom discussions and activities, as a careless or weak student. But
instead of that as teachers we must talk to them and even talk with their
parents if necessary, to know much about the student. We have to observe and
identify the reason behind that particular attitude and do everything we can to
motivate the particular student. And most importantly, we should not allow
other students to bully the one who is weak or silent. Meanwhile, we must teach
and practice our students to respect and care for each other in order to have a
safe, secure and happier classroom environment.
Employ Class-Building Games and Activities
To create a positive relationship with our
students, it is necessary to give equal importance among them. One of the best
practices is to engage students in non-competitive games and co-operative
learning structures. “Increased physical activity during the school day can help children's
attention, classroom behavior, and achievement test scores. Meanwhile, the
decline of play is closely linked to ADHD; behavioral problems; and stunted
social, cognitive, and creative development.” Darell Hammond.
Be Vulnerable
It helps to develop trust faster than any other approach. Acknowledging our mistakes displays that we are human
and it makes us more sociable. It delivers a message that it’s okay to make
mistakes in this classroom. As teachers we have to make them aware about
learning through mistakes. A simple
spelling mistake never makes a student weak; on the other hand make them
understand that, that spelling mistake is another opportunity to improve you.
Celebrate Success
This is the
most important thing which we should not avoid. Whenever our students get any
reward or achievement, it is necessary to celebrate it. It helps to develop
their confidence as well as motivate them on studies. In order to celebrate
their success teachers can set a goal, like the whole class achieving 80 percent or higher
on an assessment. In addition, teachers can create a chart that
shows students’ progress on the wall chart (percentages, not
individual names). And after each assessment, both parties (teacher and
students) can discuss about what they have learned and the specific areas they
have to improve to get ready for the next assessment.
Conclusion
Classroom
management is the process of managing and controlling the classroom
environment. To ensure that
teachers are able to get through to students in an
effective and productive manner, without distractions or
disruptive behavior,
they use specific techniques. Classroom Management Indicators are used to
measure the
success that teachers have in managing their classroom and
activities (Martin, 2005). Therefore, to manage
our classroom as a positive and fair
to every single student, we must apply different techniques to create a
positive and fair learning environment.
References
By Jonathan C. Erwin, M. (2016, november 29). 10
Ways Teachers Can Create a Positive Learning Environment. Retrieved from
https://freespiritpublishingblog.com/2016/11/29/ten-ways-teachers-can-create-a-positive-learning-environment/
galsser, w. (1996).
Retrieved from
https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Classroom_Management_Theorists_and_Theories/William_Glasser
Vilson, J. (2012,
september 19). Retrieved from Building a Positive, Trusting Classroom
Environment: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/building-positive-trusting-classroom-jose-vilson