"Debunking those Pesky Classroom Myths"

The AUSL UTR Program tweeted about an interesting article today. The article is "Debunking those Pesky Classroom Myths" by Ben Johnson of www.edutopia.org. This article caught my attention because it "busted" a few myths that I've heard teacher-friends of mine discussing. These myths are: don't smile until Christmas; never turn your back to students; teachers know best; students aren't interested in learning, only in having fun; and students hate school. Instead, Johnson suggests throwing a party on the first day to make students eager to come back, trusting students by getting to know them and letting them get to know you, being receptive to the fact that students teach teachers often through their feedback, understanding that students are interested in learning when they are motivated to be and that students don't hate school. They hate the way they're being taught. Johnson says, "We simply need to align our teaching better to how students really learn and they will feel success and remember what we taught them."

A good friend of mine has been teaching in Detroit for six years and tells me regularly that classroom management is key to any well-functioning classroom. He believes that discipline is necessary in the beginning of the school year because it's easier to be strict and lighten up as the year goes on than to be fun-and-games in the beginning and then try to gain control of a classroom. I believe this to be true, and I can recall this method being used in my own middle school and high school experience. For that reason, I both agree and disagree with one aspect of Johnson's article.

I agree that the worst thing to do on the first day of class is go over the rules, "ad infinitum." Students should learn something interesting the first day, so they can go home and tell their parents how interesting at least one of their classes is. At the same time, I believe it's important to let the students know that you won't be a pushover teacher. Perhaps do an icebreaker the first day, and be strict on the rules of the game. use techniques like 100% and Strong Voice to let the students know that even when we're having fun, discipline is necessary. And yes, of course you should smile before Christmas.