Do you feel like you're continually frustrated by disruptions and student misbehavior? Don't worry, we totally get it.
Classroom management can sure be challenging, but if you've been feeling overwhelmed & confused, we're here to help!
In this series, we'll explore what the Bible has to say about our classroom management, common classroom management mistakes, the process you need to create a more smooth-running classroom, and much more!
By the end of this series, you'll be ready to implement a classroom management plan that works so you can stop being frustrated by student misbehavior and actually enjoy teaching again.
Effective Classroom Management for Christian Teachers
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS SERIES:
#1: What Kind of Classroom Management Does God Call Us To?
You know, as Christian teachers it would be really helpful if there were a verse in the Bible about how classroom management should lookโฆright?!
Ok, God might not have given us a specific chapter and verse about modern classroom management, but in His word Heโs shared a ton of wisdom about how He wants us to serve Him in our classrooms.
1) Our Fatherโs desire is that our classrooms would be filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
As a spirit-filled teacher, those fruits of the spirit should play a crucial (and increasing) role in how you manage your classroomโฆ and when you pray for and rely on the Spiritโs strength, they will!
Think for a moment about which one or two of those areas God is seeking to grow you in, and pause to pray and ask for His strength.
2) Our students need to be more than their behaviors (or their brains, for that matter) to us. We are called to love all of Godโs children and see them as He sees them.
God placed you in your studentsโ lives so that you can be a light that points to Him.
If your students think you only want them to be good because it makes your job easier, not only will your classroom management suffer, but more importantly, the eternal impact you have will be stifled.
To allow Christโs light to shine in your classroom, you need to show that you desire to know your students as the precious children of God they are, and that you care for them as individuals.
3) As teachers, we are called to help shape our studentsโ brains AND their characters. Teaching students right and wrong, and holding them accountable for wrong, is part of our calling, and it ISNโT something you should shy away from in your classroom.
In our culture, this idea can be quite controversial, but it is so important for our students to know there is a standard of right and wrong and that there are consequences for their actions.
Thereโs so much more to this discussion, so be sure to listen to the full episode here.
Youโll also want to dive into some practical aspects of classroom management by signing up for Teach 4 the Heartโs FREE training: How to Reduce Disruptions without Yelling, Begging, or Bribing!
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Free Webinar: How to Reduce Disruptions without Yelling, Begging, or Bribing
LOOKING FOR A HELPFUL JUMPSTART WITH CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT?
Check out our free training: How to Reduce Disruptions without Yelling, Begging, or Bribing.
Effective Classroom Management for Christian Teachers
CHECK OUT THE FULL SERIES:
#2: 3 Common Mistakes in Classroom Management
Have you ever been told you're "too nice" of a teacher? Or have you worried that you have to be mean in order to get students to behave?
Sometimes we get caught in this conundrum, thinking we have to choose between being kind or being strict. But that's not true at all.
In reality, we need to be both kind AND strict.
We should be nice, personable, understanding, and fun to be around. But at the exact same time, we need to have high expectations, deal with issues, and not be pushovers.
When we hold students accountable - but do it with empathy and kindness - our students start to respect us and respond to our leadership.
And our classes become much more calm and focused.
Another way to look at this mindset shift is switching from the goal of getting your students to like you to responding in ways that will cause your students to respect you.
Respected teachers will not need to be mean, simply clear
about their expectations and firm about upholding them.
This is just the first of the three most common mistakes in Classroom Management. Do you want to learn about the other two mistakes so you can stop making them and starting moving towards a calmer & more focused classroom?
Listen to episode 2 of our podcast series called Effective Classroom Management for Christian Teachers.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Free Webinar: How to Reduce Disruptions without Yelling, Begging, or Bribing
Classroom Management 101: Get Step-by-Step Help to Create Your Classroom Management Plan
LOOKING FOR A HELPFUL JUMPSTART WITH CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT?
Check out our free training: How to Reduce Disruptions without Yelling, Begging, or Bribing.
Effective Classroom Management for Christian Teachers
CHECK OUT THE FULL SERIES:
#3: 4 Steps to a Well-Managed Classroom
If you are tempted to skip over classroom management this time of year, DON'T!
In episode 3 of our podcast series Effective Classroom Management for Christian Teachers, Linda walks you through 4 steps to create a smooth-running class.
It can be human nature to want to brush classroom management off until next year. After all, here are common thoughts teachers have:
1. My class is already settled in to their ways. They will not deal with these changes well.
2. I have a year-end review, testing, and reports to do that deserve my attention. I don't have time for this.
3. It's so much better to start next year with a clean slate and a fresh group of kids.
Here's the thing---all three of these ideas are true. But, none of these ideas are serving you or your classroom.
Here are 3 key reasons you MUST WORK ON CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT NOW, even if it feels like the timing is off.
1. Your current students deserve a well run classroom just as much as the ones who are coming next school year. You may not be able to solve all the issues in your class, but if you pick a few key ones to focus on, your students will have a classroom that will be running better than when they arrived!
2. You know all those things you have going on at the end of the year? The testing, reports, room closing, and more? If you have your students on board with some key procedures, they can actually HELP you instead of working against you! You don't have the time to skip over this!
3. This last point is my favorite---Even if you don't master classroom management by the end of this year, you will have improved!
Improvement leads to confidence.
That confidence is the secret sauce that makes everything run more smoothly - the intangible that students can sense and that makes them take you more seriously.
The first step? Listen to episode episode 3 where you'll discover the 4 steps you need to take to reduce disruption and create a classroom you actually enjoy teaching in!
NEED HELP CREATING A CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PLAN?
In Classroom Management 101, you'll implement a classroom management plan that works so you can stop being frustrated by student misbehavior & actually enjoy teaching again!
Effective Classroom Management for Christian Teachers
CHECK OUT THE FULL SERIES:
#4: True Teaching Tales: How a Classroom Management Plan Built Lauraโs Confidence
Wouldnโt it be amazing to have a classroom management plan that reduces your stress and boosts your confidence? What if other teachers were coming to YOU because your students were talking about how effective your methods were? Thatโs right, your STUDENTS were talking about your classroom management to other teachers!
Believe it or not, thatโs what happened to science teacher Laura Lucas after she created a classroom management plan!
Laura teaches science to multiple grade levels and is a traveling teacher, so instead of having her own classroom, she travels to different teachersโ rooms. At first, Laura tried to run her class according to the classroom teachersโ rules, but it was difficult for Laura to keep track of how different teachers did things.
When Laura joined the All-New Classroom Management 101, she went through the process of creating a classroom management plan. Here is the advice she would give to other teachers:
1. Start right where you are- You donโt have to create a perfect plan right away. Your plan will be a living document and you can improve it as you go along. Creating a plan just gives you a place to start.
2. Evaluate whatโs going RIGHT- What is currently working well? When you begin with this question in writing your classroom management plan, it will boost your confidence to see that youโre already doing a lot of things right.
3. Evaluate what youโre already doing- Start by defining what youโre already doing and ask yourself these questions:
- Is it effective?
- Is it sometimes effective? If so, when does it work and when does it not?
- Do you need to change things up? Is there someone you need advice from?
4. Itโs worth the time- Having a concrete manual to go back to each year reduces stress and gives you less to remember since itโs written down. Itโs as important as your long-range teaching plan or your curriculum map. If things get off track, you can come back to it to see whatโs working, what needs to be tweaked, and what areas you need to tighten up.
After Laura created her plan, she was able to collaborate with other teachers to help their classrooms run more efficiently. The noise level chart she created was so successful the students mentioned it to other teachers and the art teacher asked for a copy to use herself! To hear what else has changed for Laura since she implemented a classroom management plan, listen to the full episode above.
NEED HELP CREATING A CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PLAN?
In Classroom Management 101, you'll implement a classroom management plan that works so you can stop being frustrated by student misbehavior & actually enjoy teaching again!
Effective Classroom Management for Christian Teachers
CHECK OUT THE FULL SERIES:
Thanks to Our Sponsor: Gospel Adventures
This episode is brought to you in part by Gospel Adventures. Gospel Adventures is a free, five-day curriculum for Grade School and Middle School aged youth. Use the videos, music, and printable curriculum to walk kids through the experience of meeting kids just like them from another part of the world. Sing about Godโs love and discuss the God sightings you see throughout the week.
Be sure to join us for this yearโs trip to India! Gospel Adventures: Celebrate India is available now! Learn more or register for this free program at gospeladventures.org.
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