When it comes to behavior management, it is imperative that teachers communicate classroom rules and expectations explicitly and build positive relationships with students. These strategies will not only foster every student’s emotional, social, and physical development but also create a sense of order and predictability in the classroom.
Establishing classroom rules and expectations is crucial because classrooms are unpredictable places in which anything can happen. When expectations are clearly communicated with students, it will promote appropriate student behavior and prevent misbehavior because students understand what behaviors are allowed and what are prohibited. On the first day of school, my mentor teacher clearly communicated consequences for both appropriate and inappropriate behaviors. For instance, he explained that they will receive a Dojo (a reward point) for a positive behavior such as active participation. As a result, students have been exercising their best effort to make better behavioral choices and expecting benefits for fulfilling their behavioral expectations.
Along with communicating classroom expectations, teachers must build positive student-teacher relationships to facilitate students’ growth. When students feel valued and respected, they are motivated and actively engaged in learning. Some of the ways to show care and respect for students include telling students they have the ability to do well, showing an interest in their personal lives and interests, and watching for and touch base with those who express strong emotion. In my class, there’s an IEP student who struggles to control her emotions. One day, she told me she didn’t like recess because nobody wanted to play with her. During our conversation, I encouraged her by saying, “Don’t be scared to ask others to play with you. They just don’t know if you want to play with them because you never ask.” This one-on-one interaction really brought us closer and started building trust in our relationship.
Establishing classroom rules and expectations is crucial because classrooms are unpredictable places in which anything can happen. When expectations are clearly communicated with students, it will promote appropriate student behavior and prevent misbehavior because students understand what behaviors are allowed and what are prohibited. On the first day of school, my mentor teacher clearly communicated consequences for both appropriate and inappropriate behaviors. For instance, he explained that they will receive a Dojo (a reward point) for a positive behavior such as active participation. As a result, students have been exercising their best effort to make better behavioral choices and expecting benefits for fulfilling their behavioral expectations.
Along with communicating classroom expectations, teachers must build positive student-teacher relationships to facilitate students’ growth. When students feel valued and respected, they are motivated and actively engaged in learning. Some of the ways to show care and respect for students include telling students they have the ability to do well, showing an interest in their personal lives and interests, and watching for and touch base with those who express strong emotion. In my class, there’s an IEP student who struggles to control her emotions. One day, she told me she didn’t like recess because nobody wanted to play with her. During our conversation, I encouraged her by saying, “Don’t be scared to ask others to play with you. They just don’t know if you want to play with them because you never ask.” This one-on-one interaction really brought us closer and started building trust in our relationship.