Creating a positive
environment in your classroom is not something that will happen straight away.
As you adjust various aspects of your classroom, you will start to notice slow
changes beginning to have their effect on your students and the quality of your
teaching. This often involves trial and error and the slight adjustment of your
reaction to a situation. This article will highlight five tips to help you to
start making small changes to the classroom routine that may create more
encouraged classroom surroundings.
It is vital that you learn to control your emotions and anger and you will find
controlling your class a lot easier. Practice disciplining your emotions, body
language, facial expressions and tone of voice, as well as your choice of
words. Let students who causes splitting have a bit of 'wiggle room' to avoid
any further physical or emotional confrontation.
Stop taking things personally: Whenever a student displays a bad attitude
or behavior or uses foul language, remember that it is completely unrelated to
you and that it is not directed at you. When you master taking yourself out of
the equation, you will find it a lot easier to be less judgmental and see
things from both points of view. You will also be more able to recognize when a
student is distressed. All of these will make the situation a lot less
threatening and easier to solve.
Clowning instead of Cynicism: The ability to laugh at yourself will
show to your students that you are human and will help them to feel more
comfortable around you. If you sense a situation developing that is potentially
"harmful" or "difficult", then you may find that a small
dose of clowning will help to diffuse the pressure. On the other hand,
criticism encourages any existing tension and can often make situations more
difficult. It can also cause hurt to your students. However, something you may
have learned already is that your students will be far more adept and quick at
sarcasm than you are, so it may be a perceptive idea to try and exclude it from
your classroom permanently.
things simple: Establish ground rules from the very beginning of the academic
year and make it very clear to your class. Tell the students that keeping and
abiding by the rules will enhance their personal development both personally
and in their academic life. A few simple posted where they can be reinforced
affirmatively and have the most effect will make any uncomfortable situations
more impersonal and more readily acceptable. Stick a list of your simple as
well as general rules up in your classroom where everyone can see it. Everyone
now and then, review these rules, especially if you feel trouble brewing. Make
sure that these rules are worked into your daily lesson plans.
5. Convey Assurance: Expertise and genuine interest in what
your students and fellow teachers are saying. Even if you don't feel hopeful,
fake it and you will be surprised at how well people believe it. If you need
more help or advice in endowing a positive classroom, the following are the teaching
resources available for you to examine.