Issues to Ponder in Classroom
Management
Classroom Climate:
The climate of a classroom involves a
number of aspects. Some examples include:
- What are the classroom goals and
expectations? Do students have a role in making the rules? What
happens when someone doesn't follow the rules?
- Does the teacher smile a lot? frown? Do
students seem to be enjoying themselves? seem unhappy?
- Are students encouraged to take initiative
and be autonomous, or are they expected to follow the directions
of the teacher?
- Do students talk with each other and with
the teacher, or is the classroom discourse only between students
and teacher?
- Do students ideas and responses help
drive instruction and behavior in the classroom or does the
teacher determine the topics, activities, and behavioral
expectations?
- Do students share control of classroom
decisions with the teacher, or does the teacher make all
decisions?
- Does the teacher focus on "correct answers"
to science questions, or are students encouraged to come up with
lots of different answers?
- Are students encouraged to critique the
teacher and give suggestions about improving instruction that will
help them learn?
- How does the teacher assure that each
student's self esteem is improved?
- Does the teacher believe that all students
can learn science? How does the teacher show this? What does the
teacher do to assure that all students are successful?
- How are females and minorities treated in
science classes? What does the teacher do to encourage all
students in science?
Classroom Organization
The organization of a classroom takes
into consideration many different aspects. Some examples
include:
- How are students desks
arranged?
- Are students free to move about the
classroom? Do they sit at their desks?
- Where are materials stored? How are they
set up for student use?
- How does the teacher structure a lesson?
How are materials introduced and used? What comes first? last? ?
Does she/he have multiple activities? How many minutes are given
to each activity?
- What does the teacher do to make a
transition between activities?
- How is the classroom set up so that
students safety is considered?
Classroom Management
The management style that a teacher uses
includes a number of things as well. Some examples
include:
- What is acceptable student behavior? Who
establishes this, the teacher or the students or the teacher
working together?
- Does the teacher use "contracts" to
establish and reinforce good behavior?
- How does the teacher set a climate for good
behavior?
- Does the teacher anticipate problems that
might occur ahead of time and plan for them?
- How are materials distributed?
- How does the teacher deal with
disturbances?
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