Education - Maintaining discipline in the classroom

Most teachers dream of the perfect classroom, where all the students respect them, are easily motivated and work hard...now lets get a bit more realistic.
This post will cover some important points which will help you be more assertive in your classroom.


As a teacher you might already know that motivating a student who is absolutely not interested in learning is extremely difficult....some would say that it is practically impossible. However you are responsible for the education of these students, and, whether they like it or not, you are expected to teach them. If all positive motivational tools fail (please read previous post) you need to assert your position in the classroom. Often, students who don't want to learn will disrupt the rest of the class so it is very important that these students are kept in check. The right modes of discipline will allow you to, not only help difficult students stay more attentive, but also to easily deliver your lessons to the rest of the class.

• Consistent strictness - it is important that you are consistently strict, start being strict from day one and always be assertive. Don't be biased towards some students, i.e. don't be strict only with the difficult students. Preferential treatment is a definite no-no. It's not fair and difficult students will pick up on this and will purposely make life more difficult for you. Also, you need to make sure that you follow through with what you say. If your threaten writing lines as a punishment for disobedience, and a student still disobeys, then follow through with the punishment...otherwise you won't be taken seriously.
• Don't shout - Raising your voice does not make a noisy situation better. If anything, it will make rowdy students shout even more. Instead, make a sharp noise that will easily get the students attention (clap your hand, beat a ruler against the board) and immediately lay down some ground rules before continuing with the lessons.
  
• Positive reinforcements - don't rely solely on punishing bad behavior. Make sure that good behavior is praised. This makes students realize that you are taking notice of their good actions. This method will also motivate difficult students to do better.

As always, if you want to ask some questions or leave your own ideas, then leave a comment on this post.

Cheers :)

Education - Motivating your students

Many teachers find it difficult to properly motivate their students. While it is important to keep in mind that every student is unique and each has different interests, it is also important to understand that many motivational tools can be successfully applied in order to achieve a higher level of interest during your lessons. I'm going to be listing some methods which I found extremely successful while teaching.

• Common Goals: while educators are obviously aware of what their role in the classroom is, the same cannot be said about all students. Arrange for a class discussion and ask each student why they feel the need to be learning that particular subject. I would not suggest that you make this the first lesson...wait a couple of weeks until you feel that the students are comfortable with your presence in the class. This will allow students to be open and honest about their responses. Touch topics such as: "Do you think it is important for you to know this subject?" or "How will this subject help you in real life?" or "How will, this subject help you to continue your education?". A discussion such as this will allow students to understand that, even though their personal motivations are different from each others', they still share the same goal with the rest of the other students. Some students do not lend much thought to why they are in the classroom, this discussion will help them understand their role and why it is important for them to learn that particular subject.
• Education and entertainment: no matter the age group of your students, it is a well known fact that merging an element of entertainment with education is the best recipe for success. It is important that you do not rely entirely on books...break the monotony by engaging students in fun activities. Make use of games, PowerPoint presentations, movies...the possibilities are practically unlimited.
• Mutual respect: sometimes we, as educators, fail to understand that respect needs to be earned. It is true that students are not as knowledgeable about your subject as you are, but that does not make them any less intelligent. You need to understand that each student is an individual, with different opinions and ideas. Make sure that you allow room for discussion, make sure that each student is heard. Do not be biased about your responses. When you respect your students they will respect you back. Respect is one of the best motivational tools to be used in a classroom.

I have found that the above are the most successful tools to be used when motivating students. Motivated students make our job much more worthwhile and so much easier. If you have any more ideas, don't hesitate to share them with us by leaving a comment.

Cheers :)