Teaching Secrets: Take Charge of Your Classroom

In the August issue of Teacher Magazine, I read an article with advice for new teachers on taking charge of your classroom. I thought it was an interesting article but I wanted to share my own insight (for whatever it's worth).

The first piece of advice is what happens on the first day will happen on the last day. I would like to humbly add that what happens on the first day DOES NOT have to happen on the last day. If your classroom has already gone awry, it is not too late. Someone once told me that changing your classroom management system is like turning a boat around: if it’s a little problem, it’s like turning around a little boat—it takes some maneuvering but it can change pretty quickly. On the other hand, if students are throwing things at you and walking out of the class whenever they feel like it, it’s like trying to turn around a cruise ship—it is a very slow process. Don’t expect things to change overnight but know that with consistency and patience, things will change.
You are the king or queen of your room. This is especially important in urban schools. If you can’t maintain safety (physical as well as emotional) in your classroom, the students must set up their own vigilante control system to protect themselves and it will NOT be one that you like. This is where leadership skills come into play. Particularly for upper levels, students can be involved in setting the tone for the classroom—it’s their classroom too.

Dress the part; act the part; speak the part. The sooner they recognize that you are a competent professional, the faster you will be able to teach them. Even if the veteran teacher next door is wearing flip-flops and a bathrobe . . . in that respect, it will not lead you to success.
Act the part, Part II & Realize that you are a public figure. They will find you on Facebook, MySpace, YahooPersonals, wherever . . . if it’s google-able, they will find you so be careful. Do you really want your 7th graders (and their parents!) to know what you look like drunk? (the answer is no) Living in Oakland as well as teaching in Oakland, I basically have to live like paparazzi (my students) are around ever corner. Thong showing in pilates class? Don’t be surprised if the video is on youtube by Monday morning.

Let go of your need to be liked. If Oakland students tell you that you are “doing too much” take it as a compliment. If they tell their friends that you are “hella cool,” you might be getting a pink slip at the end of the year. Like the article says, the best compliment is “she’s tough, but she’s fair.”

To see the article, visit: http://www.teachermagazine.org/tm/articles/2008/08/20/44tln_tillery.h19.html?tmp=1907921975