Management Ideas

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Home : 2001 : July : 14

Management Ideas
By Ken Moore

Carol,

Kids will "size up" a teacher the first minute of the first day. They will be able to tell by the second day whether a teacher is for "real" or a "fake".

Most universities do a quick and shoddy job of classroom
management if they address the topic at all. They often take the approach that if "You teach your lesson well, discipline will take care of itself". I have yet to meet an experienced teacher who believes this.
So... how do you get a room full of little bodies to follow rules and routines: share, take turns, raise hands, hustle to class, complete homework, pay attention, stay on task,

not talk to neighbors, bring materials to class, walk in the halls, line-up, pass and collect papers, help with chores, and all the other 500 nuts/bolts demands that will be made upon them in a typical day? Consider:
1) Sit down and brainstorm a list of all the rules and routines you will have to teach the first weeks of school - from where to put backpacks to what to do with notes from home - don't assume anything (I usually come up with about 20)
2) Priortize the list into "What is the first routine they have to know the first minute of each day?" (for me, it's "How to line-up")
3) These ARE the LESSONS for the first weeks of schools or until the kids get them right. They should be taught as carefully as any lesson with all the elements of Lesson Design and lots of practice.
4) Get your hands on a copy of TOOLS FOR TEACHING by Fred Jones (www.fredjones.com) - the best source (bar none) for any teacher who wants to "teach" vs. "manage".

Regards,
Ken