Classroom Management

           In our class today, the presentation discussed classroom management strategies and the learning environment. This topic was interesting to me because I think classroom management is a primary concern for many teacher candidates, and I know I want to learn as much about it as I can before I begin teaching. Classroom management is extremely important because without it, even teachers with immense content and pedagogical knowledge will not be able to deliver the content efficiently. 

A key concept the presenters identified was the difference between reactive and preventative measures. A reactive measure is a direct response to classroom misbehaviour such as a punishment, while a preventative measure is a prior step taken to reduce misbehaviour, such as the promotion of community in the classroom. Preventative measures are much more effective because they reduce the need to take reactive measures, which can negatively impact class morale and your relationships with the students. 

I believe my experience as Resident Life Don at Laurier for four years will assist me with my classroom management techniques. During my time in the role, we were taught various preventative strategies for reducing behaviour that violated the resident code of conduct. These included fostering community through active involvement and inclusion, building one on one relationships, establishing rapport, and role modeling positive behaviour. At residence, this meant hosting community events, encouraging participation, doing one on one meeting with each resident to discuss their adjustment to university, having appropriate responses to conduct breaches, and maintaining policy in my own actions. 

Although implementing these strategies in a classroom will look much different, the core idea is the same. Getting students to feel included means actively encouraging all students to participate and finding way to incorporate their interests/lived experiences, therefore fostering a sense of community. Building individual relationships with students still involves finding common interests and ways to build mutual trust. Establishing rapport still means acting professionally and role modeling the respect and integrity that is needed for successful classroom management. 

Overall, I think applying these lived experiences is the best way to achieve the preventative measures discussed in this week’s presentation.

Colby A@OTU