Is this Classroom Management?

by Cecille Ramirez on April 1st, 2010

Are you here to learn? This is my first question as always each time I do a class. Follow ups to that could be, are you here for coffee or free Internet access? I’m not in any way counting how many cups of coffee you drank while you’re in my class. What I really mind a lot is the answer to my first question.

Learning is a good thing. To top that, an equipped instructor is another best thing that could happen to you. Striking further your luck in the classroom? Getting rid of head scratching and blinking bulbs are some of the things I want to fix when you leave my class.

Therefore, I have easy rules that I strictly implement:

1.If I hear your phone rings I take it. It’s mine. If you hear mine, it’s all yours. If there are 10 students then divide it in 10 parts so everybody is happy. By the way, it’s not an iPhone or Blackberry. Too bad!

2.Internet Surfing anytime you want? I believe you’re in my class to learn, right? So limit your Internet surfing during the break. If I caught you and you ask me when you get stuck then I don’t hear you.

3.Questions are good for as long as it’s related to the course you’re taking. If you ask me how young I am, what’s my degree, where I came from; I don’t think these are smart questions. Let’s focus on your course and your objective for being in my class.

4.If half of the class hears me without problem then maybe you forgot your hearing aid or you are more focus with what I am wearing, my facial expressions and maybe where I came from, the foot of the mountains. Really?? I came from Timbuktu.

5.Class starts at 9am, if you come in 15 minutes late, I want to understand. If you come after the first break, I will definitely conclude you’re not serious with your learning. If you want me to value your time, do your part. Therefore, I won’t accept you after 915. See you next time.

6.Short stories, jokes. If you are after any of these then you are in the wrong class. I believe these are in standup comedy shows, vagina monologues or whatever flavors there are. I am doing technical classes in a corporate setting. I’m certified by the vendors who created the technology you’ve been taking. Therefore, don’t expect me to be funny and wasting your time with jokes and stories.  Wrong class, wrong instructor; reschedule it with someone funny enough to make you happy.

7.Break, break, and break. We need this to keep you awake. So I’m with you with this.

Classroom management is not easy. Teaching a course is neither easy as well. In the real world, students come from all walks of life. You all have problems, and some of you do not deal well with stress or conflict. I care about my students, but the number one reason you come to school is to learn. Therefore, let’s be focus and learn.

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