IMPORTANCE OF CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

GAY D. CUNANAN

According to Doctor Phillip Mcgraw a prominent psychologist, “we can’t change what we don’t acknowledge”. It implies that in teaching we have to get real with ourselves about our instruction and everybody in it. Let us be truthful about what is not working in our profession.

A disorganized classroom without routines and expectations makes it difficult for the teacher to do her job. Students don’t know what to do, so they might get off task or cause disruptions. When the teacher is constantly redirecting students or handling behavioural problems, she/ he loses crucial teaching time.

Classroom management strategies help create an organized classroom environment that’s conducive to teaching. Students know the expectations in different types of learning situations. For example, learners would know that when working in small groups, they talk in quiet voices and take turns talking. They might each have a specific job within the group.

Taking time before school starts to create routines and procedures saves the teacher’s time in the long run. When the children know what to do, it becomes a natural part of the routine. After a few weeks, teachers don’t need to tell them what to do.

The students know they get their planners out, write in homework assignments and gather all of their materials at the end of the day, for example. When teachers train students how to do each part of the school day, they don’t spend as much time giving directions.

A teacher with strong classroom management skills creates consistency for his students. The kids know what to expect every day when it comes to the routine activities. Your students may fare better when you’re gone if you have set expectations for everyday tasks. They know how the classroom runs so they are able to help the substitute run the classroom. For example, if the students know they are supposed to enter the room and start working on a math problem on the board, a substitute doesn’t have to spend his time corralling the students or trying to keep them occupied while everyone arrives.

Teachers can also create consistency throughout the school by aligning your management strategies with the school wide standards. If the school focuses on respect and responsibility, incorporate them into the classroom management techniques. The students will hear those words throughout the school and know that the expectations are the same anywhere in the building.

— oOo—

The author is SST-III at Cristo Rey High School, Division Of Tarlac Province