I must start somewhere. Let me start with this question. Do you believe it a teachers job to teach? Bueller? ...Bueller? .... Duh, right? That answer is obvious! YES!!! Yet year after year, teachers struggle to do it. Let's face it. It's simply not possible if you can't control the dang class! Some teachers are lucky enough to get down the mysterious art of classroom management in the first few years of teaching and we stand it awe as if they are some teaching ninja. While other "experienced" teachers never seem to get a clue. While I do not profess to be perfect, I do have the basics down of classroom management. Each year I must make adjustments based on the dynamics of my lovely angels. Each teacher however must have some tried and true strategies to go to each year that serve as your foundation.
The foundation of my classroom management starts with expectations. Come on teachers... what is the base word of expectations? That's right. Expect. Let's take a look at how Merriam Webster's defines it:
1: to look forward to
2: to anticipate
3: to consider probable or certain
4: to consider reasonable, due, or necessary
5: to consider bound in duty or obligated
In order to have a successful year, you must start with expectations. The first step in thinking about your classroom expectations, you must first VISUALIZE. In a perfect world ... In a utopian classroom world, if you will ... what do you see? Let's look at the definitions above and how they apply to expectations in the classroom. The following are some questions to reflect on as you visualize:
1: What do you look forward to seeing each and every day, throughout your day in this successful classroom?
3: What must certainly be seen in this successful classroom ?
4: What do you consider necessary in a successful classroom?
5: What will you obligate your kids to?
Answering these question may be a little vague right now so let's zoom in a bit. You must have expectations for every movement your students make. Consider this list of movements in your room:
Getting in line for lunch
Going to the library
Sharpening pencils
Taking out books
Getting water
Answering the door
Answering questions
Going to the bathroom
Working in partners
Working in groups
Each of these movements require their own set of expectations. Let's focus in on the dreaded lining kids up. Oh come on ... you know it is a pain! I'll share my list of expectations for lining up. Before making them, I visualized what I wanted to see AND I anticipated what the students may do wrong. Look at my list and see if you can see what I visualize and what I anticipated happening.
You must be standing with your arms crossed.
You must not be touching the person in front of you.
Your shoulders must be lined up with the shoulders of the person in front of you.
Your mouth must be closed.
You must be alert so you don't run into the person in front of you.
You must keep up with the line without running to do so.Now you must create a similar list for every movement. I'll tell you right now. It will take some time. Yes ... stop whining. Good things come to those who ...err...You get the picture. It is better to be proactive then to spend your year being a fireman(woman) all year putting out fires ... and at times what seems to be forest fires.
Once you have these lists, you must explicitly tell all your students the expectations. Then you must model, practice, praise, model again, practice, practice, practice, praise, practice, model again if needed, practice. Trust me, the time invested reaps a harvest of peace and quiet.
Your homework: Create a list of all the movements that your students will take. Create your list of expectations. VISUALIZE and anticipate. Got it? Good. ...........................................................................................................................................................................................
You're still here? Go. Make your lists. :)
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