What is it? Component D of Domain 2 focuses on the management of student behavior in the classroom. Keeping an organized and orderly classroom are great steps that ensure a productive learning environment. A good teacher needs to make sure to communicate the standards of classroom conduct early and verify that every child understands them. Another key to managing a classroom is to make sure that every student feels respected and that they never feel harshly criticized. The most important point to make here is that a teacher does not just want to aim for positive behavior, but to use that behavior as a stepping stone to so much more. A teacher of impact would use this as a building block to higher engagement in the topics of study and in the class.
Why do we need it? Educators need to be able to manage student behavior because that is a key aspect in creating a positive learning environment. Being able to direct a classroom is an important component in allowing students the freedom to grow. If a teacher cannot manage the children in the classroom when they are simply completing problems then it would be very difficult to manage them while they work in groups. Group work, or collaboration, is proven to be an invaluable tool for the growth of knowledge. Being able to manage students in all situations can truly benefit the learning experience. What are the elements? This component has three different elements and this first one is expectations. Having classroom expectations that are clear, well established, implemented, and enforced is extremely important. The second element is monitoring of student behavior. Teachers should be paying attention to what is going in their classrooms at all times. A great way of doing this is by continually moving around the classroom so that you can easily help students if needed or refocus them on the task at hand. The last element is response to student misbehavior. When a student violates a standard of conduct, how the teacher responds is important. It is crucial for a teacher to try to understand why a student does something. A teacher should punish misconduct but it is best when the punishment takes the form of discipline. That way, the students behavior is changing for the better. Additionally, if it is possible to address the misbehavior early on, that is usually best.
What does implementation look like? There are many different ways of managing student behavior in the classroom but the best way to manage students is to understand them. Getting to know each individual student is crucial so that you can be aware of what are realistic expectations for each of them. In my classroom I would get to know each student within the first few days of school and then I would create a contract or behavior agreement for each child to sign. The act of going over a plan that is tailored to them and then them agreeing to it makes the whole idea of having rules and expectations less daunting. Having that discussion with them will make them feel heard, understood, and cared for. When a child recognizes those things, they begin to want to impress the teacher and make them proud.
Sources: Danielson Group » The Framework. (2017). Danielsongroup.org. Retrieved 21 September 2017, from http://www.danielsongroup.org/framework/