How do I make them care? Part 1: Turning the boat around.

 Whether they will not stop talking while you are talking, or they just don’t seem to care, sometimes it feels like teaching is an uphill battle. I am not an expert at behavior management, but I have learned a few things over the years. And most of them have nothing to do with rewards and everything to do with how I operate my classroom. The suggestions below will help you “turn the boat around.” Click here to read Part 2 which provides suggestions for teaching students to care about their learning. 

1. Switch your focus- When I was a student teacher and even a substitute fresh out of college, I was petrified. I doubted that any of the adults in the room could tell, but I was mostly concerned that a child was going to do something so ridiculous that I would not be able to control the chaos and my career would end before it even started. The best remedy to this was experience. After a year in my own classroom, I found that I wasn’t afraid anymore. Kids do crazy things sometimes. And that is not my fault. I didn’t want to control my students anymore. Instead, I wanted them to care. 

2. Follow the Golden Rule- Do onto others as you would have them do onto you. If I don’t trust my students, they don’t trust me. If I snap at them, they don’t want to engage in meaningful conversations with me. I know it is hard when it is bright and early and you are in the spotlight day in and day out, but how you treat students really impacts how they treat you. The more patient I am, the calmer my students are. If I want a peaceful classroom, then I need to lead by example. 

3. Make and organize a clear pathway to success- Students can and should understand the classroom schedule. Homework and tests should be clearly listed in the classroom and even online. Students should have at least five days to prepare for tests. Yes, organizing your students forces you to organize yourself. I try to plan 2 weeks in advance so that I can let students know the plan. This builds trust and also gives students several opportunities to prepare. I also frequently update them about their grades, so they know how they are doing. We go through progress monitoring probes together and determine how they can improve. I teach 5th-8th grade, but I still have a large calendar in my room with all important holidays and school programs. My students love seeing what is coming and also have no problem writing the date on their work. This brings me to materials. Students- even older students- need help staying organized. They need to have a planner even if they think they don’t need it! Successful adults keep an agenda. This is a life skill that they need to develop. Most students do not understand how to keep an organized binder and a take-home folder. Make sure they have the materials they need and teach them how to use it.  

4. Get parents on board- Often times, this is something that teachers absolutely dread. Yet, I have never met a parent who did not embrace my concern or efforts with their students. Yes, some parents do not follow through continuously. Some give excuses. Some do not reply. Some are defensive. None of these things are super productive. But most of the time parents are 100% on board and we have a responsibility to give them the benefit of the doubt. Remember that there are always cultural differences from family to family. Some parents consistently email with me. Others require a phone call. Some need a translator or even a translated letter in the mail. Still others have only responded when I checked out the school cell phone and texted them (not on my own phone!). Do whatever it takes to make a connection and update parents. They deserve to know and in most cases they will be your biggest allies. 

These are just a few simple things that we can do to help establish healthy classroom practices. If you are ready for the next step, read Part 2 here which provides suggestions for teaching students to care about their learning.