1 post tagged “classroom management”

Ok. I'm going to go ahead and admit it.  I have two biggest classroom management challenges.  They seem somewhat contradictory. 

#1 (lately) is my temper.  I get frustrated and angry.  I sometimes let it show.  I'm certainly not the kindest of teachers sometimes.  I let my attitude get very negative, and by showing my students that negative attitude, I cut myself off at the knees.  I speak harshly to a student, and that student is definitely going to be defensive or, at the very least, uncooperative.  I hadn't really noticed this until this past week or so.  I really think that I haven't been quite so bitter before.  (I'm taking a mental health day on Monday. I think it'll be better for me and for the students)  I have been trying lately (ie today) to be more positive in my interactions with all of my students.  (I'm so glad that most of you got started on your Do Now when I entered the room, etc)  It just feels so completely ridiculous to deal with the same problems with the same students every time I see them.  Deep breaths.  Biting my tongue.  PATIENCE.

#2 is my inconsistency.  I wobble.  Sometimes when I warn, I forget to mark it down.  If I forget to mark it down, I have no way of knowing for sure that I did warn.  I give too many second (third, fourth) chances.  I hate sending kids to the office.  Hate it.  They miss class, I lose time.  It makes sense to me that if I send them to the office, they'll hold it against me and be less likely to be cooperative in the future (simply because that's how I would react).  Of course, if I don't send them out, they'll think that the behavior is acceptable (which it isn't).  I have a few habitual troublemakers in my classes.  When I enforce my consequences for them, they complain that I'm singling them out.  It doesn't quite make me crazy, but it certainly causes some significant self-doubt. 

I'm a work in progress.  At least I'm thinking about it and making an effort to improve.  It doesn't feel like I am sometimes, but I am. I promise.