Comments on: Maintaining A “Good” Class

By: Angie Nix

Angie Nix — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:34:31 +0000

Mr. Ferlazzo YOU ROCK!! I love reading your site! This article was excellent. Number 1 was my absolute favorite. I teach Computer Lab to Pre-K- 2nd grade and I start writing every lesson with engagement as my highest standard!

By: Meghan

Meghan — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 03:06:36 +0000

I think your words are golden. I have enjoyed several of your ideas. I teach mainstream English. It is predominately middle class school.
This year we are having a theft problem. Several of these students are in the same class. Students have stolen high interest books off of my bookshelf when I have been willing to lend them. They have stolen batteries off the wall next to my desk. Finally, I did what I thought would be an engaging project with cameras, and someone stole memory from those cameras.
In ESL you usually have a different group of kids, but what do you do when all but a small group of the students betray your trust?

By: elementaryhistoryteacher

elementaryhistoryteacher — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:02:03 +0000

Hello, my friend! This is a very worthy list. I have marked it so I can show it to every student teacher that crosses my threshhold. Often the best things I do with a child who is having a bad day is walk away when they try to engage me in a power struggle. I love the idea regarding buying a student their very own book. It is simply not enough to have them available in your classroom

By: Chris Cotter

Chris Cotter — Fri, 02 May 2008 08:52:31 +0000

I particularly like that you allow one of your students to read the sports section of the newspaper as opposed to a book. It demonstrates the importance of reaching a goal, here to improve reading ability. How the student (or students) improve this skill matters less, as long as they do improve. Very good classroom management technique, I think.

I’d like to add that it’s important to lay out expectations at the start of the term. You don’t have to be heavy handed, nor make a list of dos and don’ts. Set the mark for which students need to aim, and then give them every opportunity and assistance to get them there.

By: Andy Losik

Andy Losik — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:04:17 +0000

Great reminders as we deal with kids (and colleagues) who have bought proverbial roll of stamps and “mailed it in” already this year.

By: David

David — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:36:02 +0000

Larry,

I really like these and also your take on “classroom management”. Meaning, it isn’t just about “control” and power but having a lesson that creating a culture that makes these issues mute or less of a problem….

I believe it SO important to frame things positively in the classroom, as per your suggestion about the word “no”. Also goes for the rules in the classroom “raise your hand” as oppossed to “Don’t speak out of turn” etc…..

If I get the time and hoping you don’t mind, I’d like to make a ppt presentation of these and a few others I could add? Would be a great primer for new and old teachers alike. We can’t think about this enough and through that process I think we gain “experience” and do so much of it intuitively. thanks….

David

PS> I’ll also add that two things I’ve used quite effectively with young learners is a yellow card / red card / green card system (football being such a well understood thing). Also in Asia a time out area works wonders but would never work in my clasroom in Canada (but your stress ball would maybe?). I also think teachers need to use a two step signalling device. Audio not visual. I use a bell. One hit and kids “freeze” Can be so funny. Two and they relax and listen/regroup.

By: Dr. Sanford Aranoff

Dr. Sanford Aranoff — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:17:35 +0000

Yes, students need to understand their goals, which is to understand the material. See the new book on amazon.com: “Teaching and Helping Students Think and Do Better”.

By: alicemercer

alicemercer — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:42:07 +0000

I’ve starting gathering your wisdom and others here: http://firstday.wikispaces.com/startingover