Management Concerns

John Phillips, Supervisor

A common concern I have been hearing from many of you echoes a common concern for many teachers, new and experienced. That concern is classroom management or discipline. I believe the best way to approach effective classroom behavior is by viewing its positive aspects. The best classroom disciplinarians I have observed over the years are those teachers who are good motivators. Let me share some of those common traits good motivators use in their classrooms. I promise to make it short and sweet.

In short, there are five variables (you may read variables as “tools”):

1. Anxiety (Used in a positive way, this is the most powerful.)

2. Success (This is a must.)

3. Knowledge of Results (Feedback—give them the results of their efforts ASAP.)

4. Interest (This is an important component, but listed 4th in rank of import, as you can see.)

5. Feeling Tone (This has to do with classroom climate, and is a complex tool—positive and negative feeling tone are both appropriate at times…neutral feeling tone can confound the learner. More on this later.)

Anxiety is produced in the learner by building in an immediate performance expectation. An example of this might be in the lesson intro, with a statement such as, “Watch this example closely…in just a few minutes, you will be sharing a similar solution you have generated with the class.” This can certainly be done with positive feeling tone, using a demeanor that’s pleasant and supportive.

Success needs to be insured in every activity you plan. Link the new content to the familiar, extending the already existing skill. Check for understanding with specifics to ensure that the learner “has it”.

Knowledge of results (feedback) is an important motivator. The sooner you can let a learner know whether he is right or wrong, the sooner he can adjust his efforts. It is very discouraging to spend twenty minutes on the wrong track. A quick, “Try it this way,” can avert this misspent effort.

Feeling Tone, as was mentioned, can be effectively used in a positive or a negative way. Being pleasant to someone who is being disruptive and keeping others from learning doesn’t make sense. On the other hand, it is not effective to punish someone whom you’ve had to chastise for two weeks with scowls after they have corrected their attitude. It is important to reinforce (age appropriately) positive behavior you see in a former disruptor ASAP. Try not to miss opportunities to be positive about learner successes. Now…a word about neutral feeling tone. A bland, expressionless reaction (or non-reaction) to significant student success can create a bland learning climate.

Try to develop an awareness of these five “tools” of motivation. It can be difficult to tick these off as you’re directing instruction, but after you’ve taught a lesson, review it in your mind and try to recall if you have used any or all of these. Some can be planned for. Others take practice, but it’s worth the effort. It will improve the learning climate in your classroom and make it a better place to live and work in, for both you and your students.