Saturday, March 21, 2009

Classroom Management Tips - Time Management

We all know that we only are given 24 hours in a day. Usually only 6 of those hours are spent in a grammar or high school classroom. About 40 minutes of those are given to each class. For a 12 year old that may feel like a lifetime but really with taking attendance, calming the kids down, and the occasional emergency drill the 40 minutes seem shorter and shorter. Due to this time management is not only essential it is really critical in order to run an effective classroom. In this article you will get some tips that will help you to manage your time effectively.
The first thing that you should do is make sure that your lesson plan for each day is prepared in advance. This does not mean just having the information down on paper. This means actually practicing what you want to accomplish and make sure that you have enough time. As you know sometimes what you think looks good on paper is actually totally different when applied in real life. Of course you will also want to provide time for any questions that students may have.
Next you will want to make sure that any equipment that you will be using like projectors or computers are in the classroom and set up in advance. The worst thing that can happen to a teacher is to enter a classroom expecting to see an overhead projector and discover only an empty space where the projector should be. This only wastes valuable trying to locate one. Or if one can not be found either the class is wasted or you need to change plans midstream. One thing is for sure, this is definitely not effective time management.
If you are what they refer to as a traveling teacher, which means you move to different classrooms, there are a few things you should do. Make sure that the classrooms you are going to have the items that you need to conduct your class. If they do not, you can arrange for them to be brought to the class or bring them yourself. You will also want to be sure that you bring your books with you at all times. This can be tough when you do not have a classroom and teach a few different subjects. If you are teaching the same subject all day it is a lot easier.
Below you will find a review of a great classroom management resource that I think you'll find extremely helpful in getting and keeping your classroom organized.
Classroom management does no have to be stressful. Click here http://surviveinclassroomreview.blogspot.com to read a review of a resource that will help you achieve successful classroom management http://surviveinclassroomreview.blogspot.com/ with ease.

3 Easy Classroom Management Tips
By:Joe Coleman
You hear the same story from teachers again and again; their classroom is a nightmare to manage. There are kids that do not have support at home, who do not want to learn, and state and federal regulations that only increase the burden. One thing is for sure in this day and age nothing comes easy. It is my hope that this article will make your life a little easier and a little less stressful by helping you to manage your classroom. To do this I will outline three tips that you can implement right away to achieve results.
Deal with Disruptive Students
We all know that one of the biggest and most difficult issues in the classroom is the disruptive student. These are the students who no matter what always have a smart answer or like to talk back when told something. When this happens do not engage in the conversation. Remember, it takes a fool to talk back. It takes two of them to make a conversation out of it. To deal with a disruptive student do not feed into their behavior and instead ignore them while continuing your lesson. When the student sees that his behavior will not earn him or her any attention they will stop. If they still do not stop the behavior then write the student up, send a letter home, and then force the administration and parents to deal with the issue. You need to make sure that it does not affect your classroom.
Keep an Organized Classroom
The best way to keep an organized classroom is to use consistency. This means you must consistently enforce the policies that you set in the classroom regardless of the situation. A common mistake that many teachers make is to ease up on students on Friday because the weekend is coming. When students see this they expect it all of the time. Students need consistency and stability in the classroom if you want them to behave properly. The structure and ground rules create a safe and open environment for everyone. This is the type of environment where children can thrive.
Set the Right Tone
The teacher should set the tone of the classroom right from the first bell. If the teacher's policy is that students are required to have their books open ready to work when the first bell rings, then the teacher needs to reinforce that expectation daily. Do not simply wait for the students to follow the directive. The teacher should immediately get right into the lesson. If you do this the students will eventually, realize that they need to have their books open or they will be left behind. You can not afford to waste time at the beginning of class waiting for students to get settled. The teacher must set the tone from the beginning.
These three tips merely scratch the surface of this topic. Below you will find a review of a great classroom management resource that I think you will find extremely helpful.
Your classroom does not need to be difficult to manage. This is a free review of a resource that will teach you many classroom management strategies http://surviveinclassroomreview.blogspot.com/ that will make managing your classroom a breeze

The Heart of A Teacher
By:Amber Wilson <Show E-Mail>
The Heart of a Teacher
What is heart? Passion, desire, and drive combined to form an intense intrinsic motivation to act. This is the foremost quality of a good teacher and the first thing I look for in a teacher on my staff.
As I conducted countless professional development sessions, created numerous growth plans, and counseled teachers in coaching sessions, it became apparent that the heart of a teacher is what matters—everything else can be taught. For some reason— maybe the seemingly short workday, frequent vacations, or job stability—professionals flock to the field of education. These newcomers to teaching are from all professions such as accounting, business, engineering, and some are even new graduates from college. Not all of these transitions are willing; some are desperate in light of harsh economic times and they feel, “Since I have a degree, I can teach”. Unfortunately, the salary of a teacher hardly makes the job worth it. Therefore, in the schools we see apathy, burnout, and despair in teachers who really did not want to be in the classroom in the first place. Yet, we are stuck with them. Despite advanced degrees and certifications, no amount of professional development and coaching could make these teachers better because their heart is not in it, though they keep teaching year after year.On the other hand, take a new teacher, one who has always wanted to help children and teach, yet has little or no experience and may not even be certified. Who would you rather on campus? Many would choose the veteran who has experience, but at what cost? In this age of society, education is continually changing, evolving, moving steadily towards putting (and keeping) the student first, and campuses need teachers who are willing to do the same, teachers with heart.This “heart” that good teachers possess moves them to continually put students first. This naturally leads these teachers to attend whatever professional developments, listen to whatever advice, and employ whatever strategies necessary for the benefit of their students. This motivation to adapt and evolve cannot be taught and does not automatically accompany a certificate of certification.Teachers who possess heart take heed to counsel and advice. They embrace new teaching models, such as co-teaching and technology in the classroom. They self-evaluate, study, research, observe, and adjust, all without prodding from department heads and administration. They are thirsty for information and seek to not only hone their skills, but to share them with others. Students cannot help but benefit from these teachers who are open, resourceful, and ready to learn.Where do you find teachers like this, ones who possess the heart of a teacher? They are probably already on your campus, waiting for an ignition to their fire by supportive administration and staff or are already taking the lead in producing student achievement and simply making good things happen. Otherwise, they are fresh out of school or working an unfulfilling job in another industry, seeking to get onto your campus as soon as possible. Keep your eye out for teachers like these because only this kind of teacher, a teacher with heart, will ultimately bring about student achievement and success.
Amber Wilson is an administrator on a high school campus with a background in English/Language Arts. She holds a masters degree in business administration, founded a nonprofit organization that helps teens earn their diploma which can be found at www.advance-edcenter.org and is currently publishing a novel.

No comments:

Post a Comment