Averting and Addressing Classroom Problems
Establishing a productive classroom ethos calls for careful
planning and management. You most likely want to aim for an atmosphere
that is lively and conducive to learning, one in which all participants
are respected and all views weighed fairly.
Achieving such an atmosphere starts with your syllabus, with
the policies and procedures you set forth. Creating an ethos
for your classroom is closely related to your teaching persona,
and it is reinforced during the first days of class as you introduce
yourself and each of the students. If there is one key to such
an ethos, it is probably consistency—of policy, tone, evaluation,
and treatment of students.
The unexpected mix of students each quarter, the ever-changing
nature of your courses, and a myriad of other factors help keep
teaching exciting and invigorating. They are also the factors
that generate some problems of classroom management that arise
over and over again.
Here are some issues you should consider carefully before the
first day of class so that you will be prepared to address, deflect,
or seek help with these issues if they arise:
