Lesson 2: Classroom Control

Classroom Control:

Classroom control is a vital aspect of classroom management. Without it, effective classroom management cannot be achieved. Teachers play a crucial role in maintaining classroom control. They need to be:

Authoritative: Students must feel the teacher’s presence. Being authoritative means the teacher has full control of the classroom.
In Command: A teacher must follow the lesson plan, manage student behavior during lessons, and facilitate classroom activities. Mastery of content, pedagogy, and management makes a teacher in command.
Organized: Organizational skills are essential for effective lesson delivery and classroom management.

Students need to:

Act Responsibly: The hidden curriculum teaches students appropriate classroom behavior and rules to follow without being told.
Follow Rules: Rules, mutually constructed by students and teachers, must be adhered to for effective classroom control.
Respect Teachers: Respecting teachers is crucial and stems from the hidden curriculum.
Take Care of Peers: Students should look after their peers and exhibit good behavior towards them.

Governance of Rules:

Governance of rules is a critical element of classroom management. Teaching and learning are governed by rules that both students and teachers must adhere to for effective classroom operation. Rules should:

Be a strong part of school policy.
Be strictly followed.
Include warnings and penalties for non-compliance.
Apply to every stakeholder.
Be properly documented and embedded through the hidden curriculum.

Responsibilities of Stakeholders:

Stakeholders involved in a child’s education include parents, the head of the school, teachers, and students. Each has specific responsibilities:

Parents: Reflect a significant part of the child’s upbringing and must be aware of school policies and expectations.
Head of School: Collaborates with other stakeholders to determine rules and serves as a role model.
Teachers: Work with parents and the head of school to create classroom management policies and rules.
Students: Act responsibly in the classroom and follow the rules to facilitate effective learning.

All stakeholders must:

Abide by rules and regulations.
Maintain discipline.
Build rapport.
Identify problems and solutions.

Identification of Needs of Problem Students:

Classroom management issues arise when certain students create problems. Identification of these needs can be done by:

Parents: They know their children best and should communicate any behavioral issues to the school.
Teachers: Being in constant contact with students, teachers can identify problem areas.
Administrators: They can identify behavior problems both inside and outside the classroom.
Peers: Directly affected by problem behavior, peers can help identify issues.
Support Staff and Community: Sometimes, the root cause of problem behavior lies outside the classroom.

Handling the problem involves:

Having appropriate, documented policies.
Adhering to policies and rules once the problem is identified.
Communicating problems to key informants (parents, head, administrators, support staff).
Taking timely action.
Ensuring the problem is resolved.

Counseling Services in Schools

Counseling services are crucial for classroom management but are often lacking in many schools. They are needed to identify and address behavioral problems.

Identification of Behavioral Problems: Schools must identify and address rapidly occurring behavioral issues, categorizing them from least to most harmful.
Counseling Services: Professional support is necessary for the most harmful behavioral issues. Schools must institutionalize counseling services to handle acute behavioral problems that teachers are not equipped to manage.

Behaviors that may require counseling include:

Insulting, teasing, abusing, bullying, or harassing others.
Lying, stealing, and aggression.
Lack of confidence.
Being a victim of bullying.

Multiple Choice Questions

Classroom Control

Which of the following is essential for maintaining classroom control? A. Giving extra homework
B. Being authoritative
C. Allowing free time
D. Ignoring misbehavior

Answer: B. Being authoritative

What does being ‘in command’ mean for a teacher? A. Knowing how to follow the lesson plan and manage student behavior
B. Being the friendliest teacher
C. Having the loudest voice
D. Giving the most assignments

Answer: A. Knowing how to follow the lesson plan and manage student behavior

Organizational skills are crucial for teachers because they help with: A. Reducing workload
B. Lesson delivery and classroom management
C. Increasing student homework
D. Avoiding parental meetings

Answer: B. Lesson delivery and classroom management

Students need to follow rules that are: A. Strictly enforced by the principal
B. Mutually constructed by students and teachers
C. Based on students’ personal preferences
D. Created only by the teachers

Answer: B. Mutually constructed by students and teachers

Respect for teachers is crucial and stems from: A. The school’s strict policies
B. The hidden curriculum
C. The amount of homework assigned
D. The principal’s commands

Answer: B. The hidden curriculum

Governance of Rules

What is considered a critical element of classroom management? A. Assigning extra projects
B. Governance of rules
C. Allowing free discussions
D. Giving out rewards

Answer: B. Governance of rules

Rules in the classroom should be: A. Strictly adhered to
B. Ignored if inconvenient
C. Known only to the teacher
D. Frequently changed

Answer: A. Strictly adhered to

What should happen when students fail to abide by rules? A. They should be given more homework
B. They should receive warnings and penalties
C. They should be ignored
D. They should be given extra credit

Answer: B. They should receive warnings and penalties

Proper documentation and enculturation through the hidden curriculum should be applied to: A. School sports events
B. Classroom rules
C. Parent-teacher meetings
D. Lunch break activities

Answer: B. Classroom rules

Responsibilities of Stakeholders

Who are considered stakeholders in a child’s education?

A. Parents, head of the school, teachers, and students
B. Neighbors, classmates, and bus drivers
C. Only the students
D. Only the teachers

Answer: A. Parents, head of the school, teachers, and students

What is the responsibility of parents as stakeholders?

A. Designing the school curriculum
B. Being aware of school policies and expectations
C. Teaching the class
D. Deciding school budgets

Answer: B. Being aware of school policies and expectations

Students as stakeholders should:

A. Ignore classroom rules
B. Act responsibly and follow rules
C. Decide the school’s budget
D. Plan the school curriculum

Answer: B. Act responsibly and follow rules

Identification of Needs of Problem Students

Who are the best sources to identify problem areas of students?

A. Cafeteria staff
B. Parents and teachers
C. School alumni
D. External consultants

Answer: B. Parents and teachers

What should be done once a problem behavior is identified?

A. Ignore it
B. Communicate it to key informants
C. Suspend the student immediately
D. Give the student more homework

Answer: B. Communicate it to key informants

Handling problem behavior involves:

A. Documented policies and timely action
B. Ignoring the issue
C. Punishing the entire class
D. Cancelling school events

Answer: A. Documented policies and timely action

Counseling Services in Schools

What is the key element of classroom management that is often lacking in many schools? A. Counseling services
B. Sports programs
C. Art classes
D. Advanced placement courses

Answer: A. Counseling services

Why do schools need counseling services?

A. To assign more homework
B. To address acute behavioral problems
C. To organize school trips
D. To teach additional subjects

Answer: B. To address acute behavioral problems

Which behaviors may require counseling?

A. Doing homework regularly
B. Bullying, lying, and aggression
C. Participating in sports
D. Helping peers with assignments

Answer: B. Bullying, lying, and aggression