As substitute teachers in the San Bernardino CUSD, we all attended a district New Teacher Orientation. For those veteran and new teachers here is a summary of one of the many points raised at the New Teacher Orientation.
First – What do you need as a substitute teacher? Besides a lesson plan the teacher needs to have a game plan. Here are three management pieces suggested by Fred Jones. Dr. Fred Jones received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from UCLA, specializing in work with schools and families. His methods of Classroom Management are used in many school districts.
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Classroom Management Pieces
Discipline
Instruction
Motivation
Discipline
Fred Jones’s beliefs can be summarized in the following axiom -
“Either you work the crowd or the crowd works you!”
How to Work the Crowd
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The teacher must recognize three zones. The Red Zone is at the back of the class. These students are most prone to misbehavior. The lack of teacher supervision invites disruptive behavior. The Yellow Zone is about 8 to 10 feet away from the teacher. The Yellow Zone is also prone to misbehavior. But, a teacher using the Fred Jones Classroom Management methods can simply take two steps and change the Yellow Zone into a Green Zone.
The Green Zone is the area nearest to the teacher’s supervision. By constantly moving around the classroom, the teacher is changing the zones. The teacher is working the crowd to maintain supervision and order in the classroom. Simply, movement helps create the good behavior needed to provide good instruction and motivation.
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Zones of Proximity
Red
Yellow
Green
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Three Rules of Movement
1. Constantly change the zone of proximity so that no one is the green zone very long.
2. Simulate the brain to attend by constantly changing everyone’s visual field.
3. Use movement as camouflage for dealing with the disruptive student.
Here are some of my suggestions to improve classroom management. If the class is doing seat work have the students put their name on their handouts or papers. This allows the teacher to identify the student if there is poor behavior. In fact, I loudly announce to the classroom, “Make sure you put your name on your papers. This will allow me to know who you are since I’m new to the class.”
The students are put on guard by announcing your intentions loudly. Then, help maintain further accountability of the students by moving around the class. If a student doesn’t have their name on their work then make them do it. You can also tell the students, “Make sure your name is on your work. Since, I’m collecting your work at the end of the period.”
Sources:
Dr. Fred Jones’s Tools for Teaching – More Time on Task, Less Goofing Off
http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/columnists/jones/jones001.shtml
Classroom Management the Fred Jones Way
http://www.tprstories.com/ntprs/2004/handouts/vegas2004_crum_fred-jones1.pdf
