correction...

i forgot to title the last post. It was a blog i did before but i was trying to put everything in one place for deb.. ... it was a chapter for wong from a september reading.
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There were a couple quotes that I really took to heart while reading the assigned reading for Wong. One was on page 38 and the other on page 64.

The quote on page 38 is,“Each child is living the only life he has – the only life he will ever have. The least we can do is diminish it.” - Bill Page

I think that when I read this quote, I thought of those children who may suffer from what may seem behavior problems. Half of the time, these kids who are labeled with behavior problems get yelled at or directed or told what to do constantly. While a teacher may think they are doing the right thing in helping to lessen the disruptions to the class due to this particular child’s behavior problems, I can’t help but wonder if that is what he has to look forward to each day. What if this kid who you are yelling at all day goes home and gets yelled at all night. That can’t make a kid very happy. In fact, it’s most likely discouraging because even when the child does behave well, he may not get recognized for good behavior. Therefore, when no one notices that he can be a well-behaved kid, he just figures why bother and continues to act as they expect him to. I hope to not be such a teacher. As the quote says, this is his only life to live. I want to do what I can to make that life worthwhile and enjoyable.

The other quote on page 64 is,
“I have come to a frightening conclusion. I am the decisive element in the classroom.It is my personal approach that creates the climate.It is my daily mood that makes the weather.As a teacher, I possess tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous.I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration.I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal.In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated, and a child humanized or dehumanized.” - Haim Ginott

I read this quote on a more personal level. It’s incredibly true and it is up to us, as teachers, to make sure that we set the mood in the classroom. It is our responsibility to make sure that if we are having a bad day that we do not bring our problems into the classroom. Also, it is how we decide to treat the children and interact with them that can either make or break their day. When problems arise, it is up to us to make the RIGHT choice in regards to handling the situation. If we pick the wrong solution, we may just make things worse. We can make the students feel like they are 10 feet tall or as small as a mouse. Everything revolves around us and the way we act and behave, treat others, and conduct our classroom. We have a huge responsibility and as teachers, we just have to know in our heart that it’s worth every penny and second of our time.

Wong Ch 11

In chapter 11, Wong talks about how the teacher is responsible for organizing a well-managed classroom where students can learn in a task-oriented environment. This statement is very true. In order for learning to actually occur and for students to be able to perform tasks, there must be an organized management system so that all can function properly and with order. A big emphasis within this chapter is that effective teachers MANAGE their classroom while ineffective teachers DISCIPLINE their classroom. It’s all about how you handle yourself and your classroom. It’s the procedures and routines that are set in the classroom and the order that is present. IF you do not have good classroom management skills and things go arise, you will resort to discipline or punishment which in the end won’t really solve the problem. The reason it won’t really solve the problem is because you are just doing something to stop the problem at the present moment. You aren’t really touching base with why the problem is really occurring in the first place and how you can prevent it. As a teacher, it is your responsibility to have good classroom management skills which include the ability to foster student involvement and cooperation in all classroom activities and you are able to establish a productive working environment. Structure, routine, and procedures are key!

ch 7 - charles

Chapter seven talking about the Jones’s Approach. His approach is all about discipline through active student involvement. This includes seating arrangement, reducing help that is seeked by students, interactive teaching, constant monitoring and adjusting, incentives for correct work, and program of responsibility. In regards to my feelings on classroom management, I would say that I have to agree with some of what Jones says but not all of it. I most definitely agree with the interactive teaching and his program of creating responsibility. Interaction is great. When there is interaction, the class is generally closer with one another because they feel close enough to interact and maybe bicker or argue a point. People don’t do that with people they feel uncomfortable talking to. Another point I agree with is the developing responsibility. One of the keys things to having a good classroom management plan to have students become responsible human beings. They love being in charge of things and feeling as if they own some it. Let them do it. Odds are that they will listen better If you do. Involvement is everything. Take it when they give it!

ch 9 - charles

In chapter nine, they talk about the Win-Win Discipline. It says that the ultimate goal of the premises of Win-Win Discipline is not to end disruptions, but to teach autonomous responsibility. This is a very appropriate and well thought out goal in regards to classroom management. I say that because the whole point of discipline isn’t to just stop the current misbehavior that is occurring. It is about improving the misbehavior so that it will not happen again. It is about solving the problem of why the misbehavior even began in the first place so that they can get to the root of the problem and prevent it from beginning in the future. IT is about teaching responsibility, and the more important concept overall, self-discipline. If the concept of self-discipline is taught, students will take responsibility for their thoughts and actions and either think before deciding to misbehave or they will be able to correct it in a productive, successful manner which will prevent the misbehavior from continuing. All of this is pretty important in having a successful management plan.

Ch 13 - Charles

In chapter 13, one of the issues that is talked about is when students fail to comply. That is something that is hanging in the back of my head that I am not looking forward to dealing with. I shouldn’t say it like that. I am fine with helping students and redirecting students who are misbehaving. What worries me are those select students who misbehavior multiple times on a daily basis. I do not want to be that teacher who reaches a breaking point and just starts to constantly scream or nag or just simply neglect a child. I want to be able to be there for my students and hopefully use the misbehavior as an opportunity to turn it into a positive lesson for the student and/or class. I like the idea of a “do-over” for a student where they simply are given the chance to do over their misbehavior but if this misbehavior is reoccurring, the system may not be working well for this particular student. How do I go about handling this child without making them stick out like sore thumb?

Wong Ch 18

Chapter 18 in Wong talks about how effective teachers present their rules clearly and provide reasonable explanations of the need for them. I cannot emphasize just how much this is true in regards to having a successful classroom management plan. It is important for you to clearly explain your idea of discipline, the process of your procedures, and your routines as well. As a teacher, you can't just stand up in front of the class and go on and on with your rules and procedures. You need to have some sort of reason or thought to back these rules and procedures up. Don't think students wont ask why because they will! Plus , it's good to have an explanation as to why you are doing this just for yourself so you dont ask yourself down the line, why did i ever choose to do this this way? I know that i would appreciate having an explanation to refer to. This will also come in handy if other staff members or even parents ask why it is you choose to do things in such a way.