Student Teaching Reflection 6

This week I spent three full days at my school. During these three days, I got to interact with the students and assist with some lessons. The teacher whose classroom I am in has 4 classes that are very well-behaved, do their work, and are actively engaged. The final 2 classes have many students who dislike school and dislike Biology. Because of this, these classes provide more challenges in terms of classroom management. I have found it very difficult to help my mentor teacher and her co-teacher keep these students on task and engaged in the class. My mentor teacher and her co-teacher have experience and confidence that helps them control classroom behavior, but I have found that the students do not yet respond to me in the same way. I have observed several things that help the teachers with their classroom management. First, they both are very consistent in their expectations and their follow-through. They tell students specifically how they are expected to behave in class and let them know what will happen if they fail to behave correctly. Second, they use classroom activities to help motivate students to be respectful and engaged in class. For example, if students are too loud and not paying attention while the class is working together through a worksheet, then they will do it individually. These consequences do not affect what the students are working on, simply how they are allowed to work. The last thing that I have observed that helps these teachers with their classroom management is their confidence. It is clear to me, and I'm sure it's clear to the students, that these teachers will not tolerate misbehavior. This confidence helps the students respect them and follow directions. This trait is more difficult to emulate than the other 2 because I believe this confidence comes with experience.