Classroom Management Techniques and Expectations

It is hard to say exactly what classroom management techniques might look like in all classrooms since I don't know where your classrooms are! Classroom Management techniques will vary a bit from school to school, but the basic strategy is the same. School policy and atmosphere have a large say in how I can ultimately run my classroom and dispense consequences. The same goes for academic expectations and student attitudes. The classroom management, academic expectations and student attitudes where I work right now are very different from the homogeneous dream world that most new teachers think they will end up in at their first job.

One of the biggest expectations in my classroom is that students show up for class prepared. It is not an unreasonable to expect students to show up with pencil or pen, paper, and the required text for the class. The consequences for failing to do this? On the first offense, the student will be provided with a replacement for the period and a refresher in what the student is expected to bring to class. If it becomes a recurring problem, a call home is definitely in order. In my room, there is also the understanding that once the call home is made, no further loans will be made. If the student forgets his materials after that point, that student will have to do without for the period.

Another expectation in my classroom is to be on time. Students are provided ample time to move between classes and I feel there is no excuse for not being in the room and seated when class starts. The first two infractions would receive warnings. After that point, students would receive detentions for tardiness on a one for one basis. If the problem is chronic, a call home would have to be made. An office referral could also be used at this point.

The third expectation is a bit more nebulous. I expect that a student be respectful. Insults, backtalk and insubordination would all fall under this umbrella. I cannot state strongly enough that I have no tolerance for this sort of behavior in my classroom. When this behavior occurs, at the very least, it will be answered with a detention. Anything that requires stronger response will be met with anything from office referrals and calls home, to ejection from the classroom.

Again, it is hard to say exactly what will be done in the classroom until the school's expectations for discipline is known. As long as the teacher is fair, firm and consistent, any classroom management or discipline will work. All the teacher must do is fit that mindset into whatever is expected at a particular school.