Classroom Discipline: Taming a Wild Class

Every teacher has struggled at one point or another with classroom control. In this particular situation, it seems as if even the well-behaved students get in on the action, and the class as a whole is quite successful in driving the teacher nuts. When a teacher goes home after dealing with a wild class, he or she feels like doing very little apart from going to sleep and forgetting the day. Such days do not have to exist if you just get control of the situation. Once you have control of your classroom, you will feel much better and go home smiling at the end of the day.

Classroom management is not that difficult as long as a teacher asserts his/her authority from day one, and then, the class should know who is in control.

However, when such exercise of authority does not alleviate the wild behavior, teachers need to act proactively, calling parents and eliminating problems. Generally, those parents who care will support you and have their children in line in no time. Some good students fear their parents, and sometimes, all it takes is one phone call home to rectify some students and their behavior.

One way to turn the behavior around of a misbehaved class is to establish a routine. Hand students their assignments as they walk in the door. Then know immediately that the better be prepared to work as they have a lot to do. My students know that they do not have time to talk as I give them a number of assignments that will take them the class period to complete.

If my class is covering something new, I make students place their pencils on the floor, and I will explain the new material to the students. I will also make sure that they understand it by going over some examples, asking questions, and allowing students to ask questions. If students know what to expect each and every day, that eliminates all the irrelevant comments, “What are we doing today?” Students just come in and complete the day’s assignments.

If all else fails and after parents have been contacted, refer students to the office, and if you are consistent, such problematic behaviors will soon rectify themselves.