Classroom Management and Organization

Classroom management and organization is an interesting topic to take into account when beginning classes with a group of students. We as teachers should know a lot about this topic because it is not enough just to prepare an excellent lesson plan if we don’t have the appropriate classroom management and organization.  So, Organization becomes a very important word when we try to have a very good classroom management, but specifically classroom organization which includes classroom arrangement, discipline, the creation of routines and a plan to teach the students how their learning environment is organized.

After reading this chapter, I have analyzed my performance in my first classes. I think I have some previous knowledge from my previous teaching practices, but according to this chapter I am in a novice level according to classroom management and expectations for student behavior, but in public schools, we don’t have the resources to have classroom organization as is established in chapter three. In our country most schools don’t have more than desks and boards in their classrooms, but we can organize our classes in order to have a good sequence in our classes.

This chapter is very useful for novice teachers who are about to start our working life as real teachers. It gives us some useful tips such as take a week to establish rules and to create rapport in our classroom before starting formal classes. This will help us to have a better classroom management and organization. 

 

 During this practice, I will try take some time in order to know my students. Then, the students and I will establish important rules and routines they will have to respect in my classes. Likewise, I will try to maintain the discipline in the classroom in order to prevent inattentions, problems, and disruptions.  I will also try to have extra material in case of unexpected problems when teaching. Finally, I will report and resolve inappropriate behaviors promptly and I will reinforce and reiterate the expectations for good and positive behaviors.

Teaching Practice at C. E INSA

Last Monday, I started my teaching practice at C. E INSA. My tutor is Licenciada Nora Anzora de Jerez. This week I was there just observing some English classes. It was insteresting to observe the interaction between my tutor and her students. She is very kind, professional and creative when teaching English. She is also very friendly with her students, so her students are not afraid of participating in class.

I felt very comfortable and relaxed at school this week because this is the same school where I am doing my Teaching Practice IV. I already knew the many people and how the environment is there

The Teacher as a Person

Everybody thinks teachers should know their subject very well, but sometimes, this is not enough. Teachers should have some characteristics that identify them as persons. It is important to be aware that we as teachers should play some important roles in order to be more than traditional teachers.

I think the role of fairness and respect is the most important, but social interaction with students has almost the same importance. These two characteristics are the key to establish good relationships with our students and to create rapport in the classroom.

The most important value in our classroom should be respect. We should respect all our students in order for them to respect us, and we should also ask our students to respect each other.  Besides, respect is related to fairness because if we are not fair with our students, we cannot say we respect them. So, respect involves fairness and vice-versa. Furthermore, this role should be present when interacting with students outside the classroom (social interaction). This means to interact in activities that are not directly related to our subject or the syllabus such as sporting events, concerts, conferences, etc. 

In my opinion, social interactions with students and the role of fairness and respect are two of the most important characteristics of the teacher as a person. We cannot have a good social interaction with our students if we don’t respect them or if we are not fair when interacting with them in or/and outside the classroom.

We should erase that traditional idea that teachers ask for respect without  respecting their students, and that teachers interact with students only in the classroom. We should demonstrate that teachers can be respectful, fair, and friendly with our students.