Classroom Management

This school year I have the honor of being a leader for co-hort group of new science teachers. We have had a few meeting this year and yesterday's topic was classroom management. Your first year of teaching everything rides on how well you manage; one simply cannot teach if you cannot manage your classroom. It can be terrifyingly stressful for a newbie if it doesn't come naturally, and it doesn't for most. I have heard statistics such as 1/3 of new teachers will leave the profession within 5 years and often the reason cited is they couldn't pick up on the management aspect. Unfortunately it's not something that is taught in most education programs at the college level, often you learn from experience.
I had a really tough first year, I started in the January after a few teachers had already ditched my position, was on a team with all brand new teachers and I had zero experience with middle school. I worked my butt off but most of the time the kids would not listen to me.  It was devastating to me. I started the next year strong and really have just gotten more comfortable and as a result better with management year by year.
Here was my words of wisdom to the co-hort.

1. Focus on the positive. In the school I work in we follow PBIS, it stands for positive behavior intervention supports. That means focus on the good kids and try (as long as they are not doing anything really bad) to ignore the bad kids. Example- This morning I asked three times for my students to take their notebooks out, looking around I saw only one kid followed my instructions. Instead of getting upset, I said "I like the way Mary followed instructions". Everyone stops, looks at Mary, takes out their notebooks. Mary is rewarded with praise for doing the right thing. Everyone else is ready to start class. Win-win!

2. Sweat the small stuff-or don't, but pick a side. I'm on the don't side, probably because I teach seventh grade. Let me explain- either you can be really strict (sweating) or learn to ignore behaviors as long as they don't break any major rules. Pick a side and stick to it, or else you will confuse your students.

3. Get the parents on your side. Good tip- during the first week of school try to call home (if you teach upper grades try to enlist your team and each take a class) and just welcome them and ask if they had any questions or concerns. That way when you have to call for a disciplinary issue or because Johnny is failing the parent doesn't always associate you with negativity and in general they are more apt to work with you.

High Five for Friday

1. We looked at our first wedding venue this weekend. We loved it but everything must be brought in so we figured it would be a lot of additional work too. We even thought about booking but decided to look at a few other places before just to compare.

 2. Love getting home everyday to a new engagement card! Apparently Hallmark is lacking in their choices.

 3. Ahhh! All my magazines arrived at once, lots of reading to do this weekend :)

 4. Apparently my students really like my mother. I even had a mini lesson on Ms. Miss and Mrs. because a.) they were confused that my name was going to change and b.) alot of adults still don't know the difference. Guess I needed to explain it better!

5. I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!

Link up with Lauren at From my Grey Desk!

Spring Must-Haves

Spring Must-Haves by pearlspencilskirts featuring printed scarves

Print top, $21 / J.Crew pleated mini skirt / ELSE mint green jeans / Madden Girl patent leather flat, $36 / Forever New printed scarve, $21

Chocolate companies listen up!

The other night as I was biting the ears off my chocolate bunny, I came up with an idea.
 Not so much an idea as a question- Why don't candy companies market teachers?
I mean honestly, they are serious customers.
Think about it: We buy candy constantly in an effort to reward (bribe) our students, we also have ridiculously stressful days where we search through classrooms asking fellow teachers for chocolate (believe me I don't search that hard). So Hershey's I hope you're reading, and that you give me a piece of the cut ;)

This message brought to you by my absolute favorite only in stores for a few more days:

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