Classroom Management Strategies
Opening the lesson: The teacher started classes by quietly standing at the front of the room until all students were quiet and ready to pay attention. As soon as the bell rang to begin the period the students knew to stop talking and to listen to the teacher. If there were a certain group of students he would stare in their direction to try and get their attention and if that didn’t work he would say their names and ask them if they wanted to participate in the class. I liked that the students generally knew that the bell meant it was time to stop talking and listen to the teachers directions. Also, since he had been prepared before class started it helped the students become focused.
During the lesson: The teacher was more relaxed during the lesson. As the students had a deadline coming up for a draft of a paper he expected them to use their class time wisely: ask questions, get one on one help, and write. He designated a spot of the room where students could come sit with him to get advice or help. If there was ever a question that he thought should be introduced to the whole class he would ask for everyone’s attention to share the important, relevant, and useful information.
Closing of the lesson: The teacher walked around the room and checked in one final time with each student. He also recorded each students progress on the first draft. Right before the bell rang he let the class know what the status of their progress was as a whole and encouraged them to talk to him if they had any questions about anything.
Transitions: During my observation the main transitions happened when the teacher went from talking to giving students their freedom and then going back to talking. In one class two boys walked in right as the bell rang and had no book, paper, or pencil. Obviously, they were unprepared and the teacher told them to leave and come back with tardy passes and appropriate materials. After opening the lesson the boys had still not come back. While the students continued with their work he had to call the security officers to let them know that the two boys were asked to leave and had not come back. They had either left the school or were wandering around the school and he had to make sure that administrators were aware. After making this call he returned back to the lesson and at the end of class the boys returned with passes and their materials. They had missed the lesson and they did not ask him for any assistance. Also, when the teacher was not speaking students knew that it was okay for them to leave the classroom to get something from their locker or to use the restroom. There were two passbooks by the door to the classroom, as long as one was available to take and there was no immediate instruction going on students could grab a passbook and leave to do what they needed to do.
In my classroom: I definitely liked that the students understood that if they gave him their attention at the beginning of class then they would have the majority of the class to do work on their own. As soon as the bell rang most students became immediately quiet and were ready to listen. I think it is important for students to understand that when it is time for the teacher to talk they need to be ready to listen and he did a good job at enforcing that.