I am a teenager teacher: Adolescence is a time of physical and emotional change for students.

As your pupils undergo this developmental period of their life, classroom management can become increasingly challenging. Students in this age group commonly want to exert their authority and can move rapidly from one emotional extreme to the next. To properly handle the behavioral aspect of your adolescent class, you must make appropriate modifications to your behavior management plan to ensure it appropriately meets the developmental needs of these rapidly maturing young adults. Teachers can set the stage for positive behavior by creating an atmosphere of mutual respect. Adolescents commonly rebel against adults who demand authority because of their elder status. Instead of mandating respect, make it clear that you will treat the students respectfully and, as such, you expect to be treated respectfully in return. Adolescents will be more inclined to comply if they see that the respect giving and receiving is mutual, as they will feel they are valued members of the classroom community. Allow our students to be a part of the rule establishment process by beginning the year with the creation of mutually acceptable rules. On the first day of school, brainstorm a list of things that should be against the rules. Remind students that rules are in place to ensure everyone remains safe and learning can occur. If students do not mention some rules you feel are vital, add them to the list. Work with students to pare the list down to a manageable selection of restrictions. Allow the students to create a rule poster, and post the document on your classroom wall. Taking part in the rule creation will induce your adolescent students to take ownership of the classroom regulations and follow them more closely.

Classroom behavior is one of the trickiest issues teachers face today. Disruptive behavior results in lost curriculum time and creates a classroom environment that is not always conducive to learning. One key to nipping behavioral problems in the bud is to promote positive behavior before problems arise. It probably won't surprise you that classroom control/discipline is rated among the top four challenges teachers face in public schools today. In fact, almost half the teachers polled said that discipline was a serious problem in their schools. Not surprisingly, when the public was polled on the same issues, they ranked classroom control/discipline as the number one challenge. Unfortunately, teachers face not only the challenge of managing their students behavior while teaching the curriculum. They also face many conflicting theories about how to manage it: logical consequences, behavior management and assertive discipline, to name just a few. Of course, there is no one "correct" way to encourage positive classroom behavior. But if you begin with a good foundation, it is possible. Take some time to think about the strategies I plan to use to encourage positive classroom behavior. Clarifying my strategies will make it easier for me to lead the class confidently and effectively. Make sure that students know what I expect of them. The classroom rules I present should be positive, specific and concise. I may wish to post them in the classroom or distribute them for students to sign. I should also spell out what will happen if students do not meet expectations. Occasionally, I may have to remind yourself to follow your own rules. For example, if I ask students not to drink beverages in class, refrain from keeping a cup of coffee on my desk, even if I do not drink it during

class. Im showing respect for my students includes listening to their needs and preserving their dignity. It also means living up to their expectations of me, such as greeting them at the beginning of class or returning corrected homework in a timely fashion. Creating an environment in which students know and follow the rules is challenging, but not impossible. With a little patience and perseverance, I can lay a foundation for respect and positive behavior in my classroom that lasts all year. I do a lot of different things in my classroom. First I'll start with my expectations and some consequences. My classroom has a frog theme and we have four rules. Be Respectful, Be Safe, Work Hard and Love Yourself. Using a variety of assessment techniques, I gather information about what students know and am able to do, and provide positive supportive feedback to students. I also use this information to diagnose individual needs and improve their instructional programs, which in turn helps students learn more affectively. The language I use in the classroom must be appropriate for the classroom function and for the level and age of the learners. I might explain to learners how to do an activity, how to organize a project they are doing, the meaning of vocabulary or why a correction is needed.

GESTALT

Masters in Teaching and Learning of English

THEORIES OF LEARNING

Enrique Vez Lopez

How much do you use behavior in your class?

Victor Manuel Matla Rojas 22/09/12