I think back to some of my earlier days of teaching kid’s art classes and how much I struggled if I ever had to deal with a discipline problem. Even though I was aware of methods of classroom management, when it came down to it I didn’t have the confidence to carry them through. I never wanted to end up in a power struggle and would merely make suggestions when a firm command was what was needed.
Many times the key to disciplining is putting your self in the kid’s head and appeal to whatever emotion they are having. Children need to be acknowledged and when you dismiss their feelings it can often just exacerbate the situation. I always like to thank them when they cooperate as well. I am a big believer in being proactive in pointing out good behavior and being specific about the behavior you are praising. I’ve gotten braver about disciplining but am not comfortable raising my voice. I’ve found that often a hand on a shoulder is enough to get a child’s attention.
I am in agreement with these behavior management techniques because they deal more with being proactive and also being positive in how you frame things. I often find myself listening to parents interactions with their children and can tell that they must have been reading some parenting magazine. I heard a mother asking her child over and over if he was making a safe choice as he climbed higher and higher up a concrete partition at the zoo. A more appropriate thing to say might have been, “you are not making a safe choice, get down”. Nobody likes telling kids what to do, but there are times you do need to be concise. When safety is an issue you can discuss your reasons with the child later.
I admire those who deal with kids in a regular classroom on a daily basis. It takes stamina that I don’t think I have. Although I love kids and being with them, I know that I am not one who would survive a daily dose of them. When I see a well run classroom I know it is no accident. I also know that when I see a stressed teacher, the students reflect that behavior, which is why I always strive to remain calm when I am with students.
I am curious to see how this teaching practicum goes. I feel supported knowing we have great volunteers and staff to guide us. I look forward to learning more about myself and getting more teaching skills along the way.
I too am amazed at the daily classroom teacher routine. I know they don't nearly get paid enough for all the work that many of them put in.
ReplyDeleteI have often felt frustrated by my lack of knowing what tools to use, when faced with discipline issues. My first experiences were when I was prefect of my class, and expected to keep my classmates (43 girls total) quiet when the teacher failed to show up for class. Similar frustrations occurred when dealing with my younger siblings. I think it is much easier to deal with the kids in farm craft, partly because they are much younger than I, parents are around and teachers are around as well. Also, because I am much more aware of the larger issues of behavior management, and some of those techniques of working with kids. I like the idea of positive reinforcement, and hope to learn how to effectively utilize different methods. It is wonderful to know that we have support in our learning process.