Students roaming around like gorillas, and teachers yelling “SILENT!” …what is it that creates a pleasant and soothing classroom setting? Classroom-management. Classroom management refers to when teachers implement a variety of teaching techniques as well as fostering students’ academic performance, social, and emotional health. Essentially, all relies on the conducted teaching style, an emotional while a respectful state of environment, and student’s commitment towards an uplifting learning experience. On one hand, satisfactory classroom management leads to meaningful learning where students develop various skills. On the other hand, poor classroom management lacks expectations which tend to result in an ineffective learning rife in students. With prospection, let’s see if we can find insightful learning within ISB classrooms!
Teacher's Teaching Style
Most significantly, the teacher’s style of teaching is one vital role that shapes whether classroom management would flourish or wither. Good teaching reflects a successful classroom; in fact, the teacher’s ability to maintain students’ interest is a key to positive training. According to a practitioner, action research by New York University indicates, “Not all students are motivated by the same values, needs, desires and wants. Some students are motivated by the approval of others or by overcoming challenges.” (“The Effect of the Teacher's Teaching Style on Students' Motivation”) Therefore, to accomplish this, it is essential that teachers must acquire adequate knowledge of the curriculum, techniques to capture students’ interests, and are naturally enthusiastic about teaching. But first, let’s hear it from an ISB student speaking about her experience towards ISB’s classroom management on the topic of “teaching style.”
What do you think of ISB’s classroom management?
“I think that ISB's classroom management is great because the teachers have a planned schedule of what to do in each class which makes it very efficient for learning.” -Tomoko I. , 9th Grader
On the contrary, negative training lacks teachers’ empathy and students’ needs while adhering to hostility and discouragement towards learning. Furthermore, a teacher’s teaching style affects students’ learning experiences as it provokes different classroom-management outcomes.
Students' Learning Environment
Equally important, the learning environment is another influential factor that contributes to how a classroom-management would cease productively or unfavorably. To establish a supportive place for learning, it is important to assess the physical and emotional classroom environment. With a positive environment, not only students are encouraged to motivate and are deeply respected, but teachers will also receive the opportunity to create a warm sense of community among his/her students. Now, you might be asking: what component establishes a good learning environment?
An ideal physical environment may consist of…
- Academically geared decoration of each and every student’s progress and achievements
- A homelike workspace considering sound and temperature
- A welcoming environment including the good use of lightning, warm-colored walls and floor intriguing arrangement of desks and chairs
An ideal emotional environment may consist of…
- Build trust
- Creates a sense of community
- Paint and student-designed wall art
- Students feel respected, accepted, valued, and wanted
Conversely, seats in rows, plain cement floors, and walls may lower students’ motivation as the environment is portrayed as the interrogation room where stress and boredom arise over the fire of learning. Mark Phillips, a teacher, and educational journalist tells the story of the custodian’s favorite arrangement of desks and chairs, “One of my mentors at U Mass did his doctorate in classroom environments...One of his primary conclusions was that classrooms were usually arranged to meet the needs of the custodian staff more than the needs of students.” Repeating, whenever Phillips arranged the chairs in a semicircle, the next day he would always find chairs placed in rows. This story reflects how students have been spending most of their day in classrooms that almost never feel friendly; thus, this may decrease students’ morale as there is an absence of an inviting environment to support students’ growth and cooperative interactions with teachers. Here, a 10th grader was interviewed on the question:
How does seating arrangement affect how you personally feel about ISB’s classroom environment?
“Overall ISB’s seating arrangement is adequate; however, it would be great if seating arrangements rotate every now and then, so we get to meet and learn more about our classmates.” -Rika N. , 10th Grader
Student Commitments
The aftermost element to classroom management would be students’ commitment to the learning process. With students signing the “Classroom Commitments” pledge, this method would solidify students’ commitment to contribute to their maximum potential each day. Below, an interview was conducted with a 10th grader on how she feels about ISB’s student commitment:
In your perspective, is student commitment important in ISB? If yes, how does it reflect your learning experiences?
"Student commitment encourages students to be well-mannered and global citizens, which is a characteristic ideal both in and out of school." -Belle W. , 10th Grader
Student commitment pledges tend to revolve around the theme of responsibility, integrity, goals, and engagement in class. To illustrate, some student agreements/ commitments would potentially be along the lines of… (Uplift North Hills)
- I will attend tutoring, detention or any other support services that are needed as required by school officials. (Academic)
- I will work, communicate and behave in accordance with the school’s honor code. (Cooperate)
- I will strive to become a global citizen by acting as a thinker, risk-taker, and balanced student. (Spiritual)
- I will always behave in a caring manner that protects the safety, interests and rights of all individuals in the classroom and the school community. (Social)
Nevertheless, in absence of student commitment, this may not facilitate learning. Commitment is essential as it cultivates students’ interest in learning and obligates them to stay on track. With that being so, regardless of student commitment, the classroom may not maintain as high-functioning as there would be an imbalance between students’ learning process and behavior.
On the whole, three influential factors determine whether classroom management would bloom or wither. This refers to the teacher’s teaching style and the techniques that intrigue or bore students, the appealing and welcoming classroom environment, and the student’s commitment to be a successful learner in a classroom.