{"id":5458,"date":"2012-07-30T14:42:17","date_gmt":"2012-07-30T18:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ccpa.scottbuckingham.ca\/blog\/?p=2299"},"modified":"2012-07-30T14:42:17","modified_gmt":"2012-07-30T18:42:17","slug":"teachers-and-their-classroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ccpa-accp.ca\/fr\/teachers-and-their-classroom\/","title":{"rendered":"Teachers and Their Classrooms"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>TEACHER\u2019S PERSPECTIVE – EFFECTIVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve probably heard it said before, \u201cTeaching isn\u2019t a career; it\u2019s a calling.\u201d Many teachers have lifelong dreams, beginning in their formative years, of standing in front of a classroom and molding the young minds of tomorrow. Then they grow up, the degree and certification are obtained, and they\u2019re ready for their first year of school. They come into the classroom with high expectations, hopes and ambitions. Unfortunately, they are often left in bewilderment as they are locked in the classroom for numerous hours per day with thirty plus students; all with different academic and behavioral needs. What happened to the excitement of molding the young minds of tomorrow? Has it been a breakdown of the relationship between teacher to student? Is the classroom size having a dire effect upon the teacher student relationship? Have the mores and ethos of society drastically changed, or have we faltered from our calling?\u00a0<\/p>\n

A teacher\u2019s dedication to providing excellent classroom management through developing relationships and mutual respect with his\/her students is the key to the success of both the students and the teacher in the classroom. It is a collaboration of professionals, parents, teachers, and the students themselves that enhance the learning environment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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When students enter a safely structured environment, when they know what is expected of them, and when they feel the freedom to explore within boundaries and make mistakes, they will blossom personally and academically. Unacceptable classroom behaviors will be minimized and quickly rectified because of the trusting relationship and environment the teacher has fostered in the classroom. As a result, the teacher will feel more fulfilled and effective as a guiding leader in the classroom. Building a relationship of trust between teacher and student is key.\u00a0 For after all, the teacher is the surrogate parent during the academic life of each student.\u00a0<\/p>\n

BUILDING AND ESTABLISHING EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIPS<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cContrary to what many people believe, the number-one problem in the classroom is not discipline\u2014it is the lack of procedures and routines. Classroom management has nothing to do with discipline. You manage a store; you do not discipline a store. You manage a classroom; you do not discipline a classroom.\u201d (Wong, 2012, Online)<\/p>\n

Building and establishing effective relationships occurs when students trust the teacher enough to let them explore within boundaries and make mistakes – both academically and behaviorally. As a society, we have a skewed concept of mistakes; rather than seeing mistakes as an opportunity of potential growth and room for improvement, we see them as a barrier blocking our potential for life, happiness, and success.<\/p>\n

Many students come into the classroom as blank slates who need to be taught how to proceed as a member of the academic environment. Teachers can begin to establish effective relationships when they model appropriate behavior for their students.\u00a0 Teachers who acknowledge their successes and failures, weaknesses and strengths, prove a tremendous asset to the life of a student, because the reality is, we will succeed and fail, as well as, have weaknesses and strengths.\u00a0 If the teacher is modeling the acceptance of their own successes and failures, weaknesses and strengths, then the student learns how to properly manage emotional responses to negative and positive circumstances.\u00a0 Moreover, it is crucially important that teachers, students, parents, and guardians recognize within themselves that we are neither our successes or failures, weaknesses and strengths, for these are achievements of our lives, not definitions of our persona.\u00a0 Teachers must recognize that they are surrogate parents in the life of each child.<\/p>\n

Not unlike many parents in the nucleus home, many teachers become frustrated when students act out in the classroom.\u00a0 The teacher must be mindful of whether or not he\/she has effectively communicated his\/her expectations before the behavior has occurred. Inevitably, the teacher and student end up in a cycle of action and reaction resulting in personal frustration and confusion.<\/p>\n

The following are possible recommendations for improving the classroom environment:\u00a0<\/p>\n