Ask a Teacher things!

[Rodimus13]

What general philosophies do you follow when it comes to classroom management? When you’re looking out over that sea of 25-40 warm bodies, what do you try to foster, and what actions do you take to maintain that?

Well first lemme say I'm electives now, but I've taught normal core classes and elementary and 2 keythigns I have always done are:

1. Don't BS the kids. I'm honest, I'm real. I tell them when I'm not allowed to talk about certain topics rather than lie about it or make something up. I even tell them that I'm a anime nerd, play video games, and have dyslexia. This part alone Really helps with building relationships.

2. When trying to work with a student that has an issue, while I encourage using respectful language I let my students have the chance to be honest with me without instantly get into trouble. Example: one student I could tell was having an issue but I wasn't sure if it was me or the class. So I asked them point blank, and they tried to find a nicer way but told me "Well to be honest I find you kinda annoying miss." Normally that would be a write but I had asked her to be honest. Remindedher of language but didn't penalize her so we could try to start working things to where she felt comfortable.(sadly it did not work out and later she threatened me in front of others to write a false report to get me arrested, even saying it'd be a false report. But diff story)

now other things I do, or try (we are always learning!):
3. I make anything they take notes on have to directly do something with the class. So, students take notes? Guess what they got half the work done for the project we start tomorrow. They took good notes? Well good thing it's open not exam. And no you and your friend can't share or use the phone.

1. I give them chances. Technically a phone goes off and I get to take it to the office. But we all make mistakes. Most kids are gonna make a mistake. So when proper, I give them another chance.

2. I do my best to avoid power struggles. I tell a kid what's up and move on. Only come back as fast reminder and then keep on going. Most kids that power struggle want that struggle. When they realize I'm not letting them be the center, they chill out. I'll admit, this one is hard.

3. I let them know the why. you know why we do it, it makes it more likely to happen.

4. I'm not scared to move kids and rather than telling them "It's cause you are so bad when you are with your friends!" it goes "Hun, i want you do to well in here, so for the notes and lecture parts I need you over here so you can both be successful!"

5. I do my best to keep my promises, I can't always but then I explain what happened.

[Rodimus13]

If you (any teacher here) assign homework - WHY? What purpose do you see it serving?

Mine only get homework if they don't finish the classwork. I try to minimize it. Fun fact they find most homework in elementary does not benefit kids, other than reading. Socializing and play with kids after school does.

[TJSchongar]

Okay, any new teachers who stumble upon this - good teaching 101. Print this out!

[Moshimitsu]

Okay, so maybe I'll try to change direction of this topic.

Maybe that's not a fun question, but as for now I only came up with this one after reading all of the posts, but... How is social status for teachers in US and other countries? I'm curious about that because there's literally an armagedon happening with education where I live.
Three years ago the ruling party started a huge and unprepared reform which made middle schools disposed of and added few years to both elementary and high schools. My aunt and many others faced the fear of being fired in the next two years and had to quickly find another jobs so they wouldn't work in two, three or even four schools at once. So they did. People didn't understand why it's not okay and said that teachers could hire themselves in supermarkets if they're not happy.
But then elementary school kids from the added years had to learn what middle schoolers had (3 years worth of studying in only 2 years). Teachers were the bad ones because they had to do tests and give homeworks and children couldn't get with all of that material because of what Ministry of Education did. Parents and everyone else didn't care about that detail.
This April a lot of teachers joined a strike so they could be paid decently and they also fought for a change in education so it would help children. The strike was announced a year (!) before, government didn't care to come to an understanding, people were totally surprised... And teachers were blamed AGAIN. People were angry that they get paid for only 18 hours of schooling... But a lot more hours of preparations and dealing with insane biurocracy, children problems, they also have to buy materials for their own use because schools don't have enough money for that... My aunt literally got a lot of paper and pens as Christmas present so she wouldn't have to spent money for that. And she's working almost all the time when she's at home. I heard some teachers talking about 50 hours a week with all of this unnoticed stuff. And also this time everyone was told to change their profesion. Only because people think they have a lot of free time and they earn a lot. To be honest, cashier at a supermarket earns almost two times of what a beginner teacher does.
The worst thing was that strike happened only a month before important exams. Everyone badmouthed and namecalled teachers all the time. In the end they gave up for now but the strikes is supposed to begin next month again.

When I was at school I was taught that teacher is someone to be respected because of what he or she does. Now it's considered to be one of the worst professions. Tell me that's only the issue in my country and all of you are appreciated for what are you doing for the children

[Rodimus13]

How is social status for teachers in US and other countries?

Well in the US.... it's weird. On the one hand the vocal majority speaks up and shouts "Help teachers! They are underpaid! We love our teachers!" but then the practice is "I don't wanna pay taxes because...." and reasons are normally don't have kids, kids already graduated, or kids go to private. Folks want us to spent a ton of money to beef up security and want teachers to jump in front of the bullets, but also get mad when we report a kid they know for something odd we weren't sure of. When we are in school they expect us to do a lot for their kid and many act like they are our boss because of the $200 in school tax they pay each year, but ignore that we are often working all summer long to get ready with professional development and lesson plans. People get mad teachers try to do things to prepare kids to the test, but if kids don't do well the demand rises we get fired.

What I can tell you is being a teacher was always considered a good "alternative" career people would recommend in addition to things. Lowest it'd go is 60% of families. But recently it was found to be dropping to 40% would recommend. So I'd say most people don't want their loved ones to be teachers, they understand teachers are somewhat important, but don't want to pay the price for having teachers.

[Moshimitsu]

I see that the thing with people bossing around is something that cannot be avoided. Especially since there's money involved. Some people just seem to want fantastic results without any work which isn't possible... At least society notices how hard and ungrateful this can be.

And I'm really sorry to hear about the shooting matter. This is something that's non-existent here so it was easy for me to forget about this but for you it must be tough. I cannot even imagine the fear of facing this situation and being responsible for all of those lives too! I just hope you or anyone else will never have to face it.

[Rodimus13]

I'll admit it wasn't something I thought about much until it happened in a school not far from here. And it happed at a walmart too....

[Moshimitsu]

I remember when terrorist attacks begun to be a big issue in Europe few years ago. It was terrifying to go to the city centre or shopping mall even if those things didn't happen here but in tv they were constantly spreading fear everywhere, so yeah...

It wasn't that bad because people have to get a licence to carry a weapon here. It's just insane for me how it's easy to purchase a weapon in US. Age restriction and basic background check is way less than it should be for this. Maybe someone'll finally solve the issue.

[JRHoch]

Danish teachers toss children into freezing water to prepare them for future raids and pillaging. I assume your parents have not had this training?

[irene_addler]

As they are not Danish, no. My family is of the American variety. You know, substandard lunches, collective punishments, etc etc. But I strongly feel that should be added to our curriculum now...hmm.

[sekabead]

Pardon me, maybe this is not a fun question, but there is a common practice many teachers do in my country that I really, really hate. Basically it goes like this: a teacher open their own "cram school" (extra lessons outside school) for their subject, and then ask their students (at school) to enter for some fee. The problem is, they make it unfair when it comes to exam; the teacher will hand very hard exam questions to the students, but the teacher will already had given the solutions (it's often outright answer keys) to those who joined their "cram school". As the result, the students who join will have nice scores (often 100 out of 100), but the students who don't will have terrible scores (most likely below 50 out of 100) . In addition, the teacher often scares the students of their "cram schools" so they won't give other students (who doesn't join) the exam solutions, creating tensions among the students. It happens everywhere; in elementary schools, in middle schools, in high schools. What's your opinion on this? Does this happen in your country? (I hope not)

Also I wonder if this also happens in other countries as well... What I don't understand is society in my country is pretty chill about this. And corruptions are everywhere.

[Rodimus13]

lso I wonder if this also happens in other countries as well... What I don't understand is society in my country is pretty chill about this. And corruptions are everywhere.

We are actually not really allowed to do this in the public schools and major tests are often created by the district. Now in my district FOR FREE, we offer before and after school tutorials for anyone who makes arrangements. It's also a great time to make up work or retake a test.

[NickRowler]

This is something I am curious about...

So from K thru 4th, I attended a school in Arizona. K to 3rd, I never had a history class however to make up for it, they doubled down on science, math, and technology. In 4th grade, I was taught some history on Native Americans. When I moved to Virginia, I noticed that the school was a bit of the opposite. They were super crazy about history however education on math and technology was seriously lacking. I was placed at an advantage because my old school taught 4th/5th grade math and computer lessons at a younger age however I struggled with history due to my only history lessons up to that point were about Native Americans.

So how common is this to have schools that don't teach a core topic or teach it in a limited sense? Like is there a stronger national standard now, or is everything just up to the district?

[Rodimus13]

Sadly this is why common core was introduced because a lot of places would do this. They designed their lessons on what THAT STATE did. So this was, and is still now to a degree, stuff that happens. I wish it wasn't the case, but it's why folks fought for common standards. Being a military brat I saw a lot of this growing up.

It still doesn't quiet work as planned however.

[NickRowler]

I have another question...

So I once had an odd job as an after school instructor at a "traditional school". I didn't know what this meant so I looked it up and it just sounds like a normal school.

What makes a place a non-traditional school? And, is there a difference between a standard elementary school and a traditional school?

[Rodimus13]

Good questions. Traditional school basically means wha we think of when we think of school. Public school. There are various other styles, like Montessori, that teach using methods or subjects that schools normally don't. Standard elementary and traditional are normally the same thing.

[KRWright]

We have nationalised exams, so no, this doesn’t happen here. (UK)

[skicoak]

When I moved to Virginia, I noticed that the school was a bit of the opposite. They were super crazy about history however education on math and technology was seriously lacking.

They designed their lessons on what THAT STATE did.

I can help on this one..as a guy with an education degree and a long association with Virginia schools.

Depending on where you were in the state, you could of been in this vortex of circumstances that occurs here.

Virginia has a ton of historical attractions across the state...so say you were near Williamsburg/Jamestown...your school system was taking advantage of all the resources those places extended to increase tourism/local knowledge but since the area to the south of this hub was heavily military and landlocked in terms of population expansion...the tax base was low and upgrades to computers and high-end supplies came slowly and infrequently.

Hope that helps explain the difference

[azzy-m]

This is a pretty simple question I'm sure has been answered already, what subject do you teach? And why did you choose to teach it?

[KRWright]

I was a history teacher. I chose it because there was nothing I enjoyed more than telling stories, and history is perfectly placed to do that (sometimes more so than English!). Plus it’s fascinating how humans are just... humans. Go back 100 years or 1000, and you’re going to find the same stuff cropping up regarding the Big Questions of life.