Classroom Management. Boosh.

After the first couple days of school, I have accepted that I'm not here to make the students like me.  I'm here for my students to learn.  If I'm not the cool teacher from the US, I'm fine with that.  It's hard enough to not cross any cultural lines, but it's harder to deal with poor behaviors when you cannot speak the language.  I want to explain to them why their behavior was unacceptable.  I want to share how good time management will be useful.  I want to tell them to finish their tasks quicker so they can be let out on time. 

Instead, I can only say "please stop this" or "please do this", which results in glares... 

Last week's homeroom (9th grade) was challenging.  During homeroom time, most of them talk or run around instead of doing announcements or turning in papers.  And even during announcements, students are still talking!  Since everything is student-managed, some students take FOREVER to do these daily tasks.  In the morning, the 5 minute meeting that consists of putting on a name tag and doing a proper bow turns into a 7 minute drag.  The 20 minute lunch break gets shortened because students take their time to pass out the milk.  The end of the day meeting starts late because students are running around when they should be passing back workbooks. 

On my last day in that homeroom, the teacher asked me if I could play piano for them.  I honestly thought they could care less about music at that point... BUT.  They said they wanted to listen!  I gave the students two options, tanoshii (fun) or kurashiku (classical).  They instantly shouted classical!  I was amazed at how many of them like classical music!

Then I played a short version of Chopin's nocturne #10 for them (my favorite).  While I was playing, they were so quiet.  When I finished, they cheered and clapped.  They were so kind and completely opposite of what I had observed all week.  Due to this, I reflected on the classroom management.

Conclusion: Every teacher is different.  Some teachers catch the students' attention with their goofy personality.  Some teachers scare the daylights out of students and get work done.  Some teachers allow communication and participation through discussions.  Everyone has different characteristics. 

Perhaps my first homeroom was a bit chaotic, but I realize during English class that this group can be managed.  Toward the end of my first week, I laid down the LAW.  Boosh!  My tolerance for talking, messing around, and poor behavior completely ended.  I made no exceptions every day and kept a consistent insistence on every student.  By setting all these high expectations (in which they noticed), they in return took care of business!  So it is POSSIBLE. 

It doesn't matter what state or country I'm in, good classroom management will always be needed.  I don't need to speak Japanese to realize a student isn't participating.  I can ask students to repeat a word again if I feel they didn't say it correctly.  I could ask a student to tuck in his shirt because it's not the "style" of the school.  Things you can see, feel, sense, touch, and hear will be evidence to a productive classroom. 

I will be myself and apply my classroom management philosophy. 

I will learn Japanese so my students can understand the "why's". 

I will not tolerate poor behavior whether it is in the US, Japan, a music class, or English class. 

If I need to use my teacher face, I'll use it!!!  -_-


Game.   On.