CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT WITH A PURPOSE by J. Dan Boulton
Handling and preventing misbehavior in class is always near the top of any list of concerns that teachers have. Addressing these issues requires a measure of practice, patience, persistence and planning.
Why is it important to maintain good classroom discipline?
As Christians, we want to glorify God in how we interact with children in our classes and how we lead our students.
Maintaining good classroom discipline helps promote quality teaching/learning. In order for teachers to be able to teach, students must learn and in order for students to learn, teachers must be able to teach. When there is a breakdown in classroom discipline, the teaching/learning cycle is hindered or may stop altogether.
Good classroom management helps our students learn such Christian virtues as self-control, patience, cooperation, submission to authority and consideration of others.
When we are involved with our students in a misbehavior situation, it opens an opportunity to focus their attention on Christ and what the Bible says about the situation. These circumstances can be excellent times to teach and build relationships with the children we are seeking to disciple.
Managing the teaching/learning environment means we place the benefit of the children ahead of our own interests as teachers. Because of this concern for the children, it is valuable to keep in mind some of the reasons students commonly misbehave. Click here to read common reasons why students misbehave (PDF).
Keeping some of this background information in mind, we can next move to a consideration of some tips for teachers to use when seeking to manage their classroom environment. Click here to read tips on classroom management (PDF).
Ministering to a child who has conducted himself/herself in a less than desirable manner should be viewed as a part of the broader discipleship work of teaching. The ultimate benefit of the student and the glory of God must be the overarching motives of all teachers when it comes to disciple issues. Click here to read a few simple things to keep in mind when a child misbehaves (PDF).
As long as there are teachers and students, there will be classroom management issues to deal with. Remember that no one is adequate in and of themselves to perfectly care for these circumstances. Thankfully, God has given teachers and students His Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit as the ultimate means of managing classroom discipline.
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