wisdom from the second years
Today during the classroom management presentations, I picked up some interesting things I am going to think about using in my classroom. I've been trying to think of a way to manage classroom volume without having a "you must raise your hand to speak" rule (because I hate having to punish kids for being interested in class). Today I heard about using hand signals to clue the kids as to how I want them to answer - point to my head when I want them to think about it silently, raise my hand when I want them to, and make inclusive hand motions when I want them to call out appropriately. I was pretty excited about hearing this method because I think I can handle using my hands a lot (since I do it already).
I also learned that being intense/literal with the rules the first week is really important. I felt so bad having to give one of my kids detention for being 3 seconds late twice, but they are so, so, so careful not to be tardy anymore. I think that is going to be one of the things that will be hard for me- punishing kids for doing things I don't think is even bad. I do believe, however, that having a very ordered classroom where the kids know what to expect will benefit them more than my being loose with the rules.
One other thing I picked up from the second years is that I need to maintain the general teacher persona throughout the day - not just during class. I'm not really used to being in professional situations and I tend to be too casual in how I interact with others. I need to work on being more formal by introducing myself, saying "good morning" (not just mumbling something awkwardly as I pass someone in the hall), and just acting like a real adult all around. I think that this will grow on me in time. I've always been in situations where I feel like equals with my parents and teachers and people at church - so I never really had a chance to adopt the "I'm talking to a grown up and I need to act like it" habit. I just watched the lesson I recorded of myself teaching, and I sounded like a dork at times; I can tell that I'm going to need to work on this trait immediately.
