Are You Managing Your Classroom, Or Is It Managing You?

Five Persistent Behavior Problems and How to Handle Them (Grades 6-8)

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/five-persistent-behavior-problems-and-how-handle-them-grades-6%C2%968 

If student behavior problems have you frustrated, rest assured that you are not the only new teacher who feels this way. It comes with the job description . . . even seasoned professionals sometimes have trouble quieting talkative types, avoiding power struggles, and redirecting overly demanding students.

Redirection

http://www.pbisworld.com/tier-1/redirection/ \

Simple redirection is very effective with most students and gets them back on track ... Improves students' attention and focus.

Teachers' redirection needs to be consistent and reasonable--but with consequences if you don't have the needed student response.

Strategies for Students Who Refuse to Work

http://behavioradvisor.com/MotivationStrategies.html 

Make all students feel welcomed, even if you are feeling frustration with certain behaviors.  Let all children know that you believe that they can succeed and that you will support them in the process. 

 Look for ways to lessen distractions.  Do not place  students who are having trouble doing class work in an area where they will be distracted, (e.g. facing a window or door, next to an equipment shelf). 

It is extremely important to avoid negatively labeling a child.  Remember to dislike the behavior, not the student.  As was pointed out in the section on classroom atmosphere, pupils need to know that you believe in their ability to be successful.  They need to feel that you are “on their side” if you are to be able to develop a relationship that is conducive to learning and encourages a students to put forth their best efforts. 

There are lots of reasons a student isn't working--this article thoroughly outlines the possible reasons and some many excellent responses. 

Why You Should Never Argue With Students; And How To Avoid It

http://www.smartclassroommanagement.com/2010/01/23/why-you-should-never-argue-with-students-and-how-to-avoid-it/ 

But with the right strategy, avoiding arguments with students isn’t difficult. It can even be a means of strengthening your classroom management effectiveness.

Be consistent--the class will stay on task--with redirects, then the classroom management system of consequents kicks in. All students have a right to an effective learning environment, and teacher is the boss of that! 

Creative Teaching Ideas to Fix Student Whining

http://classroomcaboodle.com/teacher-resources/creative-teaching-ideas-fix-student-whining/ 

Student whining in school can challenge any teacher’s ability to engage her class with creative teaching ideas.

Working With Defiant Kids: Communication Tools for Teachers

http://www.interventioncentral.org/behavioral-interventions/challenging-students/working-defiant-kids-communication-tools-teachers

Conflicts are social power struggles and must always involve at least two parties. As conflicts between students and teachers appear to be so widespread, it might help to examine what factors tend to push each party into these power struggles.

Don't be tempted to debate--get to know the parents right away, go over classroom rules frequently, and be consistent and fair. Those are the qualities students crave for and respond to. Everyone is judged by the same measure of discipline. How to keep a class learning? Be consistent and fair in your administration of the classroom rules. You'll save time, energy, and emotion. The students will be grateful. 

  New Classroom Questioning Techniques for the Best Year Ever

Teachers ask 400 questions a day -- 70,000 a year, according to The Guardian. While preparing so many questions is a lot of work, you can save time by using some of the questioning techniques (QTs) described below.

Know your class.use techniques to allow students to take turns answering, even using methods to require every student to answer a question or respond to the instruction at least once in a specific length of time for grading points. Create a learning environment where students are empowered to speak to a group.  

These are the rules for teachers who always wanted classroom conflict, parental disagreements, and not-so-hot teacher assessments. 

This is irony--post this only if you want chaos in class.