4 answers
Caleigh
Student
Merrick, New York
1
Question
Updated
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What are your go-to strategies for managing common classroom challenges in an elementary classroom?
I'm a senior in high school looking to study elementary education next year.
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4 answers
Kucks Diane
Primary School Teacher at Pinellas County Schools
1
Answer
Updated
Kucks’s Answer
Caleigh you've asked a very important and thought provoking question. I am presently teaching 4 and 5 year olds in a prek setting in an elementary school setting. However, I have taught predominately in first and second grade during my 30 + years in Pinellas County Schools. I would have to say that establishing a very good rapport with your students from the very start of school is critical. The trust and respect you gain from this relationship will carry you and your students throughout the year. Showing them that you are human and make mistakes is also important. To have the buy in from all of your students when it comes to laying the groundwork as to how the classroom will be run is another important goal to reach. The students must feel a part of this ownership in the classroom. You are the most important role model in the class but surely not the only one as you point out exemplary character traits that are being exhibited by students and in turn students complimenting others as well as they see character traits that are being shown at any given moment. I hope this has helped you to understand the importance of relationships in your classroom with future students. May you be blessed in your endeavors in the future whether they be in education or else where.
Dr. Harmony Mark-Ewa, PhD
Educator, Mentor, Administrator
8
Answers
Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria
Updated
Dr. Harmony’s Answer
Hello Caleigh,
As an educator, your question resonates with me. Here are some effective strategies for managing common classroom challenges in an elementary classroom:
Establishing Structure
Establish Routine: Develop procedures for recurring daily activities, explicitly teach them, and review them until they become automatic. This minimizes confusion, creates a sense of security, and promotes independence.
Providing Structure: Maintain a consistent pattern of events within set blocks of time, ensuring students know what to expect.
Encourage Positive Behavior
Communicate Expected Behavior: Use positive commentary to describe desired behaviour, increasing students' awareness of expectations and motivating them to regulate their behaviour.
Positive Reinforcement: Use rewards, stars, or badges to celebrate daily wins, milestone achievements, and good behaviour.
Managing Classroom Dynamics
Teach Peer Support Strategies: Encourage students to ask peers for clarification, promoting student independence and self-direction.
Facilitate Peer Feedback: Teach students to give constructive feedback, promoting critical evaluation, reflection, and a sense of inclusion.
Addressing Challenges
Dealing with Aggression: Follow school guidelines, remain calm, and use verbal conflict resolution techniques to manage aggressive behaviour.
Reduce Idle Time: Minimize downtime with engaging activities, ensuring students stay focused and motivated.
Additional Tips
Set Expectations: Clearly communicate expectations for behaviour, assignments, and communication.
Collaborate on Classroom Rules: Involve students in creating rules, promoting ownership and responsibility.
Personalized Instruction: Tailor instruction to individual needs, reducing boredom and increasing engagement.
As an educator, your question resonates with me. Here are some effective strategies for managing common classroom challenges in an elementary classroom:
Establishing Structure
Establish Routine: Develop procedures for recurring daily activities, explicitly teach them, and review them until they become automatic. This minimizes confusion, creates a sense of security, and promotes independence.
Providing Structure: Maintain a consistent pattern of events within set blocks of time, ensuring students know what to expect.
Encourage Positive Behavior
Communicate Expected Behavior: Use positive commentary to describe desired behaviour, increasing students' awareness of expectations and motivating them to regulate their behaviour.
Positive Reinforcement: Use rewards, stars, or badges to celebrate daily wins, milestone achievements, and good behaviour.
Managing Classroom Dynamics
Teach Peer Support Strategies: Encourage students to ask peers for clarification, promoting student independence and self-direction.
Facilitate Peer Feedback: Teach students to give constructive feedback, promoting critical evaluation, reflection, and a sense of inclusion.
Addressing Challenges
Dealing with Aggression: Follow school guidelines, remain calm, and use verbal conflict resolution techniques to manage aggressive behaviour.
Reduce Idle Time: Minimize downtime with engaging activities, ensuring students stay focused and motivated.
Additional Tips
Set Expectations: Clearly communicate expectations for behaviour, assignments, and communication.
Collaborate on Classroom Rules: Involve students in creating rules, promoting ownership and responsibility.
Personalized Instruction: Tailor instruction to individual needs, reducing boredom and increasing engagement.
Jerry Tingstad
Professor/middle school teacher/48 years
165
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Jerry’s Answer
First, check out the other answers to your question, There is plenty there to consider.
I will offer two in addition:
One. Visit some of the elementary schools in your area, both public and private. Walk in and talk to someone in administration willing to talk to you. Tell that person of your interest in teaching at the elementary school level. Ask if it might be possible to talk to an elementary teacher. With luck, there will be a school or two that can set something up with perhaps an appointment. Be prepared with pertinent questions. And with luck, Bingo! One teacher (or more?) will ask you to observe a class.
Second. Managing an elementary classroom. In my view, the first week of classes is crucial. You are meeting them for the first time and they you. Explain to them that you and them all all in this together. You are a unit, apart from anything else. And to succeed, all must succeed, and you also need them for you to succeed, as they need you.
I will offer two in addition:
One. Visit some of the elementary schools in your area, both public and private. Walk in and talk to someone in administration willing to talk to you. Tell that person of your interest in teaching at the elementary school level. Ask if it might be possible to talk to an elementary teacher. With luck, there will be a school or two that can set something up with perhaps an appointment. Be prepared with pertinent questions. And with luck, Bingo! One teacher (or more?) will ask you to observe a class.
Second. Managing an elementary classroom. In my view, the first week of classes is crucial. You are meeting them for the first time and they you. Explain to them that you and them all all in this together. You are a unit, apart from anything else. And to succeed, all must succeed, and you also need them for you to succeed, as they need you.
Roberta Stein
Content Writer
4
Answers
Miami Beach, Florida
Updated
Roberta’s Answer
Successful classroom management requires multiple things. First, as the teacher or intern in a classroom, a foundation of expectations for students needs to be set. On day one, discuss the classroom rules and consequences if they are not followed. The list should be short: Raise your hand to be called on (don't call out), speak respectfully to your teacher and classmates, respect the classroom rules, and only one student speaks at a time, etc. You can hang a list of classroom rules in the room in large print. The list should include the warning that students who do not respect and keep the classroom rules will be given a warning, and if they do not comply, they will be removed. If a student interrupts learning and breaks a class rule, you should speak privately with him or her and remind them of the class rules. This is always the first step. After one warning, the student is given another chance to keep the rules.
For classroom rules to work, everyone, including the teacher, must follow them exactly. The teacher or teaching intern must set the tone for everyone. Lead by example! Gain students' trust by sticking to the rules and respecting everyone in the classroom, even students who are not following the rules. Gently, but firmly, repeat class rules and keep them yourself.
If the student or students do not comply with the rules, inform their parents and/or the school administrators, according to the school's policies.
For classroom rules to work, everyone, including the teacher, must follow them exactly. The teacher or teaching intern must set the tone for everyone. Lead by example! Gain students' trust by sticking to the rules and respecting everyone in the classroom, even students who are not following the rules. Gently, but firmly, repeat class rules and keep them yourself.
If the student or students do not comply with the rules, inform their parents and/or the school administrators, according to the school's policies.