Chapter 1

One of the most important role of a teacher is that of classroom manager. Effective teaching and learning cannot take place in a poorly managed classroom. In unmanaged classrooms, both teachers and students suffer.

The teacher is the single most important factor affecting student achievement. Effective teachers appear to be effective with students of all achievement levels. Charts page 2 & 3

Functions of an effective teacher 1. Making wise choices about the most effective instructional strategies to employ 2. Designing classroom curriculum to facilitate student learning 3. Making effective use of classroom management techniques

1. Instructional Strategies and Their Use Effective teachers have a wide array of instructional strategies they can use Skilled in the use of cooperative learning and graphic organizers Know how to use homework Know how to use questions Know when to use specific strategies

2. Designing Classroom Curriculum Effective teachers are skilled at identifying and articulating the proper sequence and pacing of their content Adjusts instruction as needed – district or textbook – based on the needs of the students Present new knowledge in different formats and different media

3. Classroom Management No single role by itself is sufficient to guarantee student learning, but take one out of the mix and you probably guarantee that students will have difficulty learning. Effective teaching strategies and good curriculum design are built on the foundation of effective classroom management.

Effective teachers cannot prevent all discipline problems. The potential for problems exists beyond academics. Poor management wastes class time, reduces students’ time on task and detracts from the quality of the learning environment.

Some studies on classroom management Jacob Kounin(5) “withitness” – awareness Smoothness and momentum during lesson presentations Letting students know what behavior is expected of them Variety and challenge in the seatwork assigned to them

Brophy and Evertson(5) Almost all surveys of teacher effectiveness report that classroom management skills are of primary importance.

Research and Development Center for Teacher Education(5) Classroom management at the beginning of the year is a critical ingredient of a well-run classroom. Classroom Strategy Study(6) Effective classroom managers employ different types of strategies with different types of students, whereas ineffective managers tend to use the same strategies for all

Are Good Classroom Managers Born or Made? Effective classroom managers are made Good classroom managers are teachers who understand and use specific techniques Awareness of and training in these techniques can change teacher behavior, which in turn changes student behavior and ultimately affects student achievement positively.