You can ask any one from 10 to 100, who their favorite teacher was and most can answer in a heart beat. What makes those teachers so memorable? There are so many qualities that make teachers successful in the classroom. A teacher with charisma is likely to captivate students immediately and they will strive to please. A compassionate teacher will steal the hearts of her students and she will be the one they approach when they need support. A funny teacher will have students looking forward to class. Most importantly, a successful teacher will make any subject fascinating. What people may not realize however, is that one thing that allows great teachers to make a class absorbing is a subtle classroom management plan. Classroom management can make or break the success of a classroom. The level of management will determine the amount of learning that will take place. My ultimate goal as a teacher will be to have a successful classroom management plan that will work for both my students and me.
The first step to a successful classroom is an interesting curriculum. If your lessons are captivating to the students, then there are fewer chances for discipline problems. As a teacher, I will make the curriculum interesting and captivating to my students by creating exciting games and activities that will focus all my students’ attention on the lesson. There will be no room for distractions in my class, due to the tremendous amount of learning that will be happening at all times. I will make sure to reach every student in my class by being aware of the different learning styles in my room. I will create multiple lessons for new concepts so that my students can approach new ideas in a way that works best for them.
As a supplement to my rich curriculum, I will be proactive in order to ensure a successful classroom. I will not wait for setbacks to occur. I will think things ahead to ensure that time is well spent in my classroom. For example, I will make sure that students have two or three sharpened pencils in their desk everyday before class to reduce sharpening time during lessons. I will have specific line-up procedures that students will learn the first week of school to ensure graceful entrances and exits. To reduce the wait time experienced when handing in homework, I will have a collection system that will make the process efficient and quick. By preventing problems before they occur, I will avoid short-term solutions that create more problems in the end.
No matter how proactive teachers are, there are always setbacks that can not be prepared for or prevented. Because teachers are role models to their students, they have to be positive under pressure. Sometimes students behave in ways that are not conducive to learning, so I will handle those situations with button-pusher escape strategies. These strategies will help me remain calm under pressure so that I can handle a student’s behavior in the most positive way possible. I will be sure to acknowledge my students’ ability to choose, and encourage them to positive choices. I will also be sure to use humor as a button-pusher escape in order to show my students that the problem should be addressed without the stress that often comes with discipline. I will keep button-pusher escapes in mind, so that I can always be poised and set a great example for my students.
Parental involvement is critical to a successful classroom. Therefore, I will keep in constant communication with the parents of my students through newsletters, e-mails, and a classroom website. In addition, I will regularly host teacher-parent-student conferences where we will all communicate as a team with the success of the student as our common goal. Because I speak Spanish, I will encourage Spanish speaking parents to become an active part of our class as well. I will encourage parents to attend open house, and will frequently invite them to join our class for breakfast. I will use these events to create a clear channel of communication between parents and I. Together, we will help their child be successful in my classroom.
Classroom management is the subtle tool that makes great classrooms tick. By having interesting content and being proactive, I will save class time and avoid problems. By remaining calm under pressure, I will be a positive role model to my students. Through communication with the parents of my students, I will create a dream team of support that will ensure success in my classroom. Through this combination of elements, I will be the type of teacher that students remember for years and years.