How to Effectively Manage Your Classroom and Enhance Student Learning

Congratulations on your new appointment as a classroom teacher and we wish you much success in one of the most rewarding fields on the universe. You are joining the profession with many other fine individuals who have decided to spend their life or some of their life working to educate others. You will meet some enthusiastic charming intelligent children on the first day of your teaching experience and we have a few tips that we wish to share with you that will help you to get off to a great start as you meet and greet them on the first day of your experience.

Instructions

1. Smile and be positive. First of all, greet them with a big smile. A smile is worth a thousand words and when you give it, it says to the children that you are glad to be their teacher and that you are happy to see them. A smile also indicates that you are a friendly person and that you are open and receptive to them. It shows your positive side and it is contagious as one writer puts it, smile and the world smiles with you; cry and you cry alone. So as your students see your smile they will most likely give it back to you. A smile gives children good vibes from you and they will return the same feelings to you. Smiles set the stage for a great relationship amongst you and your classroom that will last a life time.

2. Get to know them. The second task for today is to make name tags after they introduce themselves. Name tags will make it possible for you to call your new students by name and this gives them a sense of importance. It also lets them know that you mean business and that you are on top of things in your room. This will also help with your class room management.

3. Get students involved. Students can be assigned a number. This number will be used during interactive class time so that you can give each student the opportunity to be involved in lessons. These numbers keeps the talkative ones from taking over the class while giving the quite ones the opportunity to be engaged in class lessons. This will help you keep tabs on which student answered questions and who is holding back or monopolizing the class. If you have 25 students assign numbers from one to twenty five; choose a number and the number that you choose will recite, then you will choose another number until each student has had a turn. Let students know that they will all participate in class and all of you will be expected to help one another.

4. Have a get to know you session. You can tell them about yourself and then give each of them a few minutes to tell you about themselves. At the end of the session you can give them a few minutes to write a short biography about themselves. Use the numbers to call for children to recite. For younger kids you can let then write words that describe themselves and of course if it's a kindergarten class then you and the assistant can help them individually with this assignment. At the end if the assignment let them know that the assignment will be placed on the Bulletin Board in your room after it is graded. This assignment not only gives you insight into your students it gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself in a fun way. You also get some additional information about them as you score their assignments.

5. Develop class rules. Rules are so important to the overall atmosphere of the class room because they set the stage for learning. Research suggests that children are involved in the rule making so the they will feel a part of the process. Once they feel part of the process they will most likely comply to the rules. You can also have children to remind each other if they see them breaking rules because there are some kids who will need additional help.

6. Design and use lesson plans and a schedule. You should have a lesson plan as well as a daily schedule. Before your students come into the class room you should know your daily schedule and have lesson plans for each moment of the day. Time on task is very important to the overall climate of your room. Always have additional work prepared for your students because they respond to work and being busy. Make these assignments fun, exciting and part of their learning goals and objectives. Please don't give busy work because it wastes time but give work that is closely aligned to the school's goals and objectives.

7. Give students mutual respect. Treat each student with dignity and respect the way that you want to be treated. If a situation arises that you are challenged by another student in a confrontational way never stoop to their level in an argumentative way. Always keep your cool and by all means don't embarrass them in front of their peers. Ask them to step outside of the room to have a conversation in a civil way to find out what is the problem. More than likely the student will back down and you and them will work things out and win a friend because of your professionalism.

8. Get to know each parent. Send each parent a note or call them to let them know that you are their child's teacher and that you are part of the team working in the best interest of their child. Invite them to an open house and make them welcome to visit the room or contact you at any time regarding any concerns that they may have.

9. In closing, as a new teacher you can successfully meet and greet your new class on the first day of school by following our tips which are: be pleasant, make introductions, make name tags, assign numbers, have a getting to know you session, develop rules, refer to lesson plans and schedules, give mutual respect and get to know parents as soon as possible.

Resources

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