| Any teacher will tell you that what most teachers | | | | are so many teachers going through exactly the |
| struggle with is classroom management. You are | | | | same issues as you. If you try a number of |
| not alone. Lets face it, if we had less classroom | | | | strategies, you will find one that works. On the |
| management related issues occur in our teaching | | | | other hand, just because a classroom |
| careers, there would not be such a high drop out | | | | management strategy works for one person, |
| rate for teachers. We can sometimes have the | | | | does not mean that it will automatically work for |
| best lesson plan in the world, and then something | | | | the next. |
| happens in our classroom that turns things to | | | | It is so important for you to get involved with |
| chaos, leaving us wondering what happened. This | | | | different forums to learn about what other people |
| gets us hard on ourselves, and we begin to | | | | are doing, and to try whatever you think will |
| question if we are cut out for the job. | | | | work best for you. Forums are also a great place |
| When classroom management goes wrong in our | | | | to vent if something went wrong in your day, |
| classes, we can turn from loving teaching, to | | | | because others in the forum have an |
| wanting to quit. Realize that you are not the only | | | | understanding about what you are going through. |
| teacher going through this. Whether you are a | | | | Once you have finished venting, you can then |
| new teacher or a seasoned teacher, similar | | | | have a clear and objective view on where to go |
| classroom management issues will still arise. There | | | | next in your classroom management strategy. |
| are some effective strategies that can be applied | | | | Some great teacher forums to check out are |
| so that matters do not get so out of hand. One | | | | Teachnology, A to Z teacher Stuff and the |
| thing about classroom management is that it is a | | | | Teachers Corner. I have used these sites to vent, |
| learning curve. Essentially if things go wrong, it | | | | get ideas, offer solutions and build friendships. I |
| does not mean that you have failed as a teacher. | | | | hope you find them as helpful as I have. Do not |
| Learn to take frustration as a sign that you are | | | | forget to click on the link in the resource box |
| about to learn something new. | | | | below where I share my experience with |
| A great way to get tips on classroom | | | | classroom management and how that inspired me |
| management strategies is to get yourself plugged | | | | to make some changes that have literally |
| into some of the many forums that exist for | | | | transformed both my life and my teaching |
| teachers on the Internet. Believe it or not, there | | | | practice. |