But that doesn't mean your classroom has to be a prison.
That's a rookie mistake. Young or insecure teachers sometimes incorrectly assume it's their job to make sure students never behave badly. To accomplish this, they create systems of rules designed to make sure no one ever has a chance to do much wrong.
That's cheating the students: getting things wrong is how we learn to get things right. All you need is an answer key, right?
In math, students work out the odd problems and check their answer against the back of the book. If they're getting the problems right, they know they understand the concept.
In vocabulary, students create flashcards to memorize important words. If their answer matches the back of the card, they know they're ready for the test
For behavior, you are the back of the book. You are the back of the index card. Students should be able to check their behavior against yours to decide if they're getting it right. This means you have to get it right most of the time. It also means you have to give them space to get it wrong.
Most of what I know about managing student behavior comes from reading what other teachers have done: Teaching With Love and Logic (Jim Fay), Turning Learning Right Side Up (Daniel Greenberg), The Six Lesson Schoolteacher (John Taylor Gatto), Free-Range Kids (Lorraine Skenazy),and Five-Point Play (Mike Krzyzewski). There are many more, but those five are a fantastic starting point for any young teacher.
The most important principle in managing student conflict is simple: humans deserve the opportunity to learn from the logical consequences of their decisions.
Whether you're a teacher or a parent, stealing this opportunity from students typically takes two forms: making it impossible for them to make a misstep (by boxing them in), or insulating them from the consequences (by fixing things for them).
If you'd like to ask a question about a classroom issue or offer a suggestion about managing students, click here to contact me.
