As a teacher, you must apply the best management techniques that will help motivate your students to both behave and to learn during classroom instruction.
While there are many teaching and learning techniques to choose from, the withitness and the ripple effect approaches are among the best classroom practices to follow.
These technique work because they show that the teacher is in control of the classroom and that few shows of misconduct slip through the teacher’s fingers without the teacher noticing and correcting.
Additionally, as a teacher, you must be able to enforce learning strategies that will be beneficial for all students, regardless of their cognitive abilities.
All students can learn, yet usually they learn within their own time and within their own way: Understanding this human truth will empower you as teacher to motivate students to excel.
The ten (10) strategies below will help you project your prowess as leader and will illustrate your benevolent understanding of student behavior when you add the human element of kindness to your student management repertoire.
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“Withitness” is a term created by Kounin to describe the teacher’s awareness of what is going on in all parts of the classroom at all times. Educators commonly refer to this technique as “having eyes in the back of the head.” To be effective, the students must perceive that the teacher really knows what is going on in the classroom.
Ripple Effect.
The “ripple effect” occurs when the teacher corrects a misbehavior in one student that positively influences the behavior of other nearby students. The effect is greater when the teacher clearly names the unacceptable behavior and gives reasons for the desist.
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Ideas that work in the classroom
- Reviewing classroom rules often if not everyday.
- Reminding students of learning objectives.
- Empowering students to do the work themselves, their way—
- Proving immediate feedback with a type of smiley-sticker.
- Working in the zone as often as possible.
- Displaying students’ assignments.
- Offering a jolly rancher or a quality peppermint.
- Allowing students to read silently for 15 minutes and then testing their comprehension by asking appropriately- challenged assessment questions.
- Teaching life skills.
- Saying out loud, “I appreciate you!”
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Teacher Mathews (2020)
Doctor of Curriculum and Instruction
Professional Development Consultant
Cmathews@dothan.k12.al.us