My first reflection focuses on how I managed to control a classroom behaviour experience. The experience was that a constantly disruptive student was talking in class and distracting other students. I asked them to stop, when they didn’t I told them to change desks, away from their friends. I was then told “I will just yell out to them then”, which they proceeded to do, I felt my control of the class would waver with inaction, so I told the student to exit the classroom. I believe this experience ties in with Element 5 from the Professional Teachers Framework.
Element 5: Teachers create and maintain safe and challenging learning environments through the use of classroom management skills.
Through removal of the disruptive student I was maintaining a challenging learning environment for the other students, though what I did not address was the safe environment for the removed student. I felt at the time I handled and controlled the class well, and was told the same by my colleague teacher, though on further reflection I realised I could have improved my teaching practice. To reflect upon the experience, I still believe that exiting the student from the classroom was the correct decision. It stamped my authority and once I did this the other students’ behaviour improved. Yet, I could have dealt with this experience better.
Firstly, I should have moved the student to an area where I would have had constant vision of them and their actions. Whereas they were sitting on a bench out of my direct view, nothing went wrong luckily, though this might not have been the case. Secondly, I should have given the student work to complete; I didn’t. They were out there doing nothing, yes, not disturbing the class, but they were not learning themselves.
The student did come back into class with a better attitude, so I do feel that this worked, although I have to remember I have to maintain a safe environment for all students at all times, disruptive or otherwise.I made steps to improve teaching practice directly after class; my colleague teacher agreed that in the same situation they would have done the same thing, although they would have addressed the two aforementioned points that I didn’t. I have learned from this experience and I feel that I have grown as a teacher. It reiterates the point that I am new and will make small mistakes, though it is how I improve and learn from them that is important.
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