Classroom Management

[bjones4252]

Hello everyone

I am brand new to Waygook, and also to Korea. I am an EPIK teacher in Angang. My first week has been great so far but I would like to share, in my opinion, the most important of getting to know my class.

During orientation we had about 16 different lectures about Korea, teaching, eating, living..etc. I have found that BY FAR my most important lecture was classroom management. I have needed basic classroom management skills far more than making a great powerpoint, learning how to catch the bus, or handle relationships with my co-teacher.

My classroom management was tested as soon as I walked through the door to greet the students. And classroom management was also needed right now, not later. Many of the lectures discussed things that can be learned or done later while you are in Korea. Classroom management cannot wait.

Here are a few examples of things I had to do so far....
- take away an eraser (student was taking it apart and throwing it at a student)
- take away a sculpting razor
- move a student to another location due to talking
- stop class and do the "stare at the student until he stops" trick
- Ask students to put cell phone(s) away
- etc

Now some of you may think that is being to "tough" on the students for my first week. But I am in the honeymoon stage where they still love me, and are interested in me no matter what I do. So now they realize I take my class at least serious enough to set boundaries, but I also let them know I appreciate their efforts, look forward to working with them, and hope to have a fun year.

Please respond with any thoughts...positive or constructive

[RosieWilliams]

Hi

I am also relatively new to teaching, about three weeks I guess, and I am having issues with getting my classes in relation to classroom management. My co-teacher tends to handle most of it, which is good and bad, I find that they respect her and tend to ignore me.
I teach middle school boys and was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to regain some control over my classes?

[jngdani]

Hey I'm a newbie too but the Claping system really seems to work at my school. To get their attention say and clap "1, 2 Look at me" and they should respond with something like "1,2 look at you" so far its worked for all my classes.

[ahartley288]

I have some experience with middle school education, but I really want to get it right with my boys' school.  These students are pretty noisy and a little defiant.  I asked some KETs in the building for advice and they seem at a loss too.  A couple mentioned losing control when corporal punishment was outlawed and have only offered the solutions of yelling and threating.  Right now I'm trying to incorporate positive reinforcement and competition into my lessons.  This requires more work on my part, but I think it will be worth it.  For example, I'm thinking of carrying a score card with me to have whole clasees competing against one another.  The class with the most points at the end of the term will get a movie.  If this doesn't work, I'm really not sure what else to do.  Suggestions would be much appreciated!

[flukeriffic]

Stamp charts all the way!! Didn't do it last semester, started this semester, and it's made a huge difference. Students raise their hands constantly now. I also made it a point to try and give stamps to the worst students right away. That way, they don't just think that it's another thing that they wouldn't have a shot at completing. And when students are volunteering, they are much more engaged and less likely to lose focus...

Other classroom management tactics I've used:
- Co-teachers! They work wonders for me, and I couldn't teach without them.
- 3 strikes. Write three boxes on the board. Explain that once you get to 3 strikes, the rest of class time will be spent writing lines. Have never gotten to three.
- Write down VIDEO on the board. Every time class is getting bad, erase one of the letters. If it gets erased completely, no video.
- Public humiliation. Make the student stand up, have him stutter trying to answer your question, embarrass him, usually gets them to be quiet for the rest of class. (Harsh, but effective)
- Send students outside. Usually just one sent out student will get the class in line for me.

I teach at a middle school and these have worked for me. Why can't they just be good??? Sigh...

[hilarity ensues]

If they're behaving like that for you on the first day then it's usually because someone else has established that pattern with them. You did the right thing... but don't take things from the students right away-- it wastes time and you can easily get to the point where the whole class is nothing but discipline. Tell them to put them away and if you see it again you'll take it-- two warnings should be enough, and on the third time take it away. Warnings are a good way to not seem too nasty... and if they keep doing it after you've warned them, you can tell them that you gave them warnings and they'll have to accept more responsibility for their own actions.

And I'm not sure what you did exactly but in teacher's college my mentor told me to never go to the students... wait for them to comply or come to you... you waste time and energy going to them or handling individual students or chasing kids down, so stand your ground unless it's serious.  I'm not trying to sound critical just that I think it's a good way to go.

Stamp charts and great lessons are fine, but like anything students are mostly going to respond to you if you look and act like a real teacher. This takes time to get right-- but something that helped me is to think of my favorite teachers growing up.

With some classes you'll probably always have to ask them to put things away and behave... it never ends. You shouldn't expect perfection-- even 30 year old adults aren't 100% attentive in classes. Just keep in mind that at that age a lot of kids will always be pushing to see how much they can get away with and they haven't figured out who they are yet so they go through different phases... most of them won't go on the offensive if you're polite and set your boundaries, but you also can't let it frustrate you too much, and if you do have a day where you flip out-- and everyone does-- try to get over it and never carry it into your other classes, and the next time you see that class, try to keep an open mind and don't assume the worst. 

Sometimes you'll have to let things go as well... there will be weeks around exams and before vacation where you really can't be too demanding or you'll have a breakdown.