On the first day of my school year, I was appointed to my ‘first class’. Yet, as I explored in A Teacher’s Story, this position was destined to last a mere six days. In this post, I share my memories of Room 11, and the lessons I learnt in those six hectic, stressful, yet wonderful […]
Continue reading →In today’s guest post, Sam Rangel (@samrangelSITC) from SuccessintheClassroom.com explores some of the key elements of an effective classroom management approach, sharing the benefits of his 20+ years middle school (Yrs 6-8) teaching experience in California, USA. As a new teacher, I’ve found the SuccessintheClassroom blog to be an extremely relevant & practical professional learning […]
Continue reading →My Experiences, Philosophy, & Reflections Thoughts on Classroom Management A Process of Trial & Error – Developing my Management Approach My Jigsaw Approach to Classroom Management The Conscious Competence Ladder (Skill Development) The Four Stages in My Teaching Practice Classroom Management – Summing Up The 3 R’s of Effective Learning Environments Setting the Scene Overview […]
Continue reading →As a relief teacher, I’ve come across many tough and extremely challenging classes, taught by graduate and experienced teachers alike. Walking into, and taking control of the ‘hard class’ is one of the greatest challenges of my job, and I have learnt that there is no “one size fits all” approach. These classes are hard […]
Continue reading →This is a tongue-in-cheek look at effective instruction and classroom management. It’s well worth watching. (Click to view)
Continue reading →The classroom teacher’s attitude, demonstrated through their words, actions, body language and management approach, is the most significant factor in successfully working with challenging students. My father taught me that “when dealing with people’s problems, you need to lift the bandaid to understand why they behave as they do”. I believe teachers can play an […]
Continue reading →As a relief teacher, I meet and work with challenging students on a regular basis; and it is fair to say that my 2008 school experience and 2009 relief teaching experience in a TRIBES school have defined my attitude and management approach towards these students. My experiences, observations, and professional learning in these schools underpin […]
Continue reading →The “Theory of Bumps” (Bennett & Smilanich, 1994) is a framework which guides teachers’ responses to student misbehaviour along a continuum of severity. The Key Principles of the “Theory of Bumps” An effective teacher expects and plans for student misbehaviour as a natural part of the learning process. They aim to prevent or reduce the […]
Continue reading →The 3 R’s: Relationships, Respect & (Shared) Responsibility In the course of their everyday work, a teacher takes on many roles – teacher, guide, role-model, learner, authority figure, confidante, disciplinarian, communicator, and the list goes on. Teaching is so much more than “chalk and talk”, and our students are not the “empty vessels” of Charles […]
Continue reading →Back in 2008, my reflections on my school experience and professional reading led me to develop a practical construct to describe my classroom management approach. The result was: My “Jigsaw” Approach to Classroom Management Key Ideas 1. The classroom teacher’s attitude to student misbehaviour underpins the effectiveness of their management response. 2. A safe learning […]
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