Enforcing Classroom Rules

I have seen Debbie put these classroom management skills in order. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't, but I feel strongly that consistency is the key here. Students will test your limits regardless, and based on many different factors (makeup of a particular class, pending break from school, testing period, etc) each classroom really wants to learn and know that they can do this in the classroom setting that you have provided. Debbie mentioned giving verbal cues and using the bell as a signal that things are getting out of hand and taking away participation points as a consequence. I think this has been a successful method, thus far. I would suggest calling out the names of particular students that like to instigate things. Whether or not you came into the classroom at the beginning of the schoolyear or in the middle of the term, these rules should still be enforced ie. respecting each other, you and time.

Classroom Management

Do you have a set of rules in your classroom? How do you put them across to your class? How do you establish authority/ discipline? What do you do when a discipline problem arises?

The class that I am currently student teaching in has a set of classroom rules already. Student are to respect people, respect property, and respect time. Moreover, finding a way to put the rules across has probably been the most challenging part of student teaching, because I am coming into the middle of the school year and they know that I am fresh meat, so they test me a lot. I establish authority by signaling them by saying words like “ escuchen” or ringing the bell. After this, I wait till everyone is quiet before I start speaking. If a discipline problem arises, I first I warn the student first, then I deduct participation points, next I change his/her seating arrangements. However, I understand that everyone is entitled to a bad day so sometimes I try to reason with them before I start disciplining them.