Specific Technique: Smith, in a personal communication via email, suggested a beginning teacher make an appointment with a veteran teacher and go through all the questions that they need to ask. He suggested that these beginning teachers make an ongoing list of questions as they prepare for the appointment.

Update: I have added in some specific techniques regarding what to do, that beginning teachers can use, which have been written in blue font.

Here are some of my notes that I took while reading Conscious Classroom Management (www.consciousteaching.com) this incredible book:

BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS

Before the year starts you should make or plan out the units by looking at the expected outcomes that you want to cover. He suggests that whatever preparation you do counts a lot!

Assumptions

• He suggests that our core assumptions that we have impact all the actions we take.

• Our main job is not to teach, but to teach people, content and appropriate behavior and that when teaching the behavior part we should not just rush it, instead we should show them what is appropriate and what isn’t and assume that they want to learn it.
• Assume that they want to learn the content that I am teaching., and assume that they are asking us , “’Could you please teach me how to behave? What do I need to do or know in order to learn the best behaviour’”(p.15.
• Assume that students want to listen to us.
• When  students are not behaving appropriately they are telling us that they haven’t learned appropriate behavior and that we should then be more thorough next time or teach it in a different way.
• We must be willing to enforce the consequences. So if one of your consequences is to send a student to the office, SEND the student.

• Be firm and have good posture and voice

Specific Technique: Each morning, write on a cue card and review it each day the following assumption about your student’s, The following is what you should believe each student is saying to you internally”Please care for us today, by holding your ground in teaching us appropriate content and behviour”. On the other side of the cue card write “I will do my best to teach you appropriate content and behaviour in a safe and structured environment”

WHAT TO DO WHEN WE FEEL ANGER OR FRUSTRATION?

• If you ever feel anger or are stressed out, take deep breaths,

• INNER AUTHORITY
  • The students should know that you don’t tolerate certain kinds of bhaviour.
  • We should believe and have it ingrained in us that ultimately “I am in charge”
  • It is okay to apologize for your response without blaming or looking for causes.
  • Understand that even good teachers make mistakes.
  • ASK For help when you need it!
  • Do what is necessary to lower your stress and increase your calmness.
  • The teacher should be the one who makes the decisions in the class!
  • The best way to absorb this knowledge is to practice what is learned and act this out and try it out.
  • PROCEDURES!!!
    • The number one key to help students succeed is to have procedures.
    • These should be taught specifically and thoroughly.
    • We should be organized and prepared in our lessons and even before the lesson we can think about al the concerns and questions that might come before they actually do and we can think of our responses.
    • Give consequences and hold your ground and be firm but soft at the same time.
    • Focus on student behavior, to  practice being in charge you should call parents and let them know about their child’s behavior, focus on what you liked and their improvement.
    • Do not expect yourself and your students to be perfect, allow for mistakes and let them know that we have flaws but that mistakes are part of the learning process and we should stay focused on the goal.
    • Be OPEN! Let others know what you are going through and if you need help seek out resources and the pros and ask for help!
    • When you have feelings like anger, or frustration, let them come, welcome them and allow them to come.
    • All teachers havce the experience of feeling inferior as teachers.

COUNTERING ISOLATION?

• Know that it is okay to not always know what to do and once you find a trusted colleague /mentor, don’t hold back, ask all your questions. Realize that we don’t always know how to make all the right decisions.
• Do not isolate yourself from your more experienced colleagues.
• Show your feelings don’t hide it.
• To survive and thrive, we need to work together.
• SHARE with others! If you want to stay healthy.
• Acknowledge and appreciate everyone.
• After you get your evaluation, share it with your mentor/other trusted colleagues.
• If you make a decision, or tlak aobut something or do something that is kinda sticky or might be controversial make sure that you document it. You should have a documentation notebook, where you document information. You can also have an index card for each student where you write notes about him/her.
• If a student is really acting out and giving you problems, you could ask the staff to reassign students.  If a child is acting up a lot he/she may have special needs.
• The first step in improving is to “Recognize the truth of the situation”(p. 40).

STRESS Reduction

Take time to figure out causes of our stress and think about solutions we can do. If you don’t reduce stress you can end up burning out.

BIGGEST Stressor: “UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS OF OURSELVES”(p. 44)

• While teaching, we shouldn’t keep worrying about whether we are good enough, or if the administration is happy with me, or if the kids like me. We should accept the feeling and embrace that feeling that our job isn’t finished because that is a feeling that we may have a lot!

Specific Technique for creating a good relationship with students:  For 10 days choose one student whom you talk to for 2minutes each day on what interests him/her and you will notice a difference in their behaviour and others as well. Smith, suggests that we choose the most difficult child when we try this technique out. It is called the 2 by 10 strategy.