On 10/30/09, Colleen wrote:
> Does anyone have any strategies for classroom managment?
> I teach a high school class of students working on their
> GED. We are together for three hours a day. Every time I
> have the class running well with everyone following the
> rules a new student is added and then we have to start over
> a build community again.
>
> Any advice???

It sounds like you're doing very well. I'd only suggest that
you point out to them - either before if you can or after if
you must when a new student comes - that you've noticed that
it takes a while before the class settles in and hits their
stride again.

Community is key in successful teaching but clearly you know
that already. GED type students have often never known any
sense of community in a class - they're usually on the fringe
by virtue of their weaker skills and then by their failure.
Teachers sometimes literally place them on their fringe or
certainly alienate them even only further.

But you create a sense of community among them and that's not
only crucial - it's also fragile given their history. So when
someone new comes, they feel uncertain. How good must it feel
to them to finally be in a class with a teacher like you?

They finally are starting to feel like they're valued, like
they have a chance of success and it's all working well. Then
along comes someone new and they worry again - but each time
you get them back on stride.

I'm sure you will again and always (unless the class gets too
big - watch for that) but why not proactively tell them what
you've noticed? They sound like they will rise to this
challenge as they're rising to all the others for you. Ask
them instead of falling back to rise up and welcome the
newcomer and rest assured that nothing will change. They just
need to keep their eyes on the prize.

We need more teachers like you.

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