There are various methods you can use in the classroom, but one of the best strategies you can apply is consistency. Some teachers tend to give in to students’ requests after only three attempts. Some stick it out for ten. Some are like a broken slot machine and payout at different times, depending on how they feel. The trouble is, if they give in at all, they are reinforcing the behavior they don’t want to see through their inconsistencies.
This teaches students that as long as they keep pushing, they will usually get their way. They need to push and push until the wall goes over. And they will repeat this same basic technique in all manner of ways. They know, from experience, that as long as they keep battering away with the same request, same behavior, same action, they will eventually get what they want in the form of a satisfied desire or much-needed attention of some sort.
Some teachers are very inflexible, while others are quite easygoing. These inconsistencies between staff members make school a very unpredictable place. Students have to deal with differences between teachers; individual teachers also give in at different rates depending on how they feel.
Some teachers are moody, providing a great laugh one minute and then screaming their heads off the next. Others display their inconsistencies with how they treat groups and individuals differently – letting some get away with it and penalizing or picking on others.
Being consistent in your classroom is paramount to being successful as a teacher and obtaining respect from your students. If you have a collection of guidelines and rules, it is imperative that you stick to them and implement them with each student every day and with the same approach. If you are not thorough with your approach and penalize a student for one thing, then pay no attention to a different student who does the same thing. It will not go unseen by your students. They will end up losing respect for you, and you will end up losing control of your class.
Gaining respect from your students in your classroom is critical. There are various ways to gain respect, but one of the main ways is to be consistent and fair. This means treating every student equally, and if you don’t, you will get labeled as unfair. Students will be less likely to follow the rules because they will think you are picking favorites. Even if the student misbehaving is one of the highest performing students academically or behaviorally, if they do something wrong against the rules, they need to face the consequences like any other student.
Children need to know that there are good and bad consequences depending on the action. However, the consequence must be in direct correlation with the violation. Lesser offenses deserve lesser consequences; greater infractions deserve greater punishment. Don’t send a student caught daydreaming to the principal’s office. Continue to find ways to help the student to remain focused. If a student hits another, do not tell them to refocus; give a time out and contact parents. Remain consistent when handing out punishments – the same crime earns the same punishment.
When you follow these rules regarding being consistent and fair in your classroom, you will find that your classroom management is much easier to implement and that your students are much happier and engaged.
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