Walking into a classroom for the first time can be quite intimidating, whether it is on the elementary, middle or high school level. A new teacher may be facing situations that do not apply to experienced ones, which is why he/she must be trained to handle each case on its own merits and needs.

Testing The New Teacher

The common situation arises when students try to test the new teacher to see how far and how much they can get away with. I have seen new female teachers leave the classroom crying and never come back. Teaching is obviously not for everyone; it requires a lot of equanimity, patience, tolerance and strength of character.

Classroom Management 101

The disposition of desks (tables) plays a very important role. If you allow desks to be in rows and you have a large class, students at the back won't hear you as well and soon will start going to sleep or disrupting other students' work. If on the other hand your desks are organized in "islands" of four to facilitate cooperative work, students will immediately start talking about their personal affairs; it is the natural state of affairs with children and teens.

Another possibility is the arrange desks in a U shape with you in the middle. You'll be much closer to everybody, which means a better control of discipline. Make sure that as you talk and as they start working, you circulate within the classroom (another advantage of a U shape) so as to give personal help to whoever may need it.

Keep The Noise Down

A strategy that I have found useful and that I recommend to new teachers, is to raise one hand above your head whenever the noise is too loud. Remain in that position until students themselves will start to urge each other to be quiet. If one or two students still fail to respect instructions, you are faced with "hardcore" cases, that is, children or teens who strongly need to receive attention from adults. Talk to them one-on-one and explain why you need them to respect you as a teacher. They'll usually comply; if they don't, ask for the parents' help.

Group Behavior vs. Individual Behavior

There are multiple studies on how the behavior of individuals changes when they are in a group as opposed to being by themselves. " .. the biological explanation behind why we behave differently when we are in a group as opposed to being on our own is that the limbic system in the brain, which is involved with emotional activity, dominates the person's actions and thinking, and therefore suppresses the neo-cortex, or the logical thinking part of the brain when a person joins a crowd. Therefore, the person acts irrationally because he or she is under 'emotional' pressure." - Brynmawr.edu

Your group of students is composed of wildly different individuals with totally different upbringing experiences. When they are together, they feel the need to protect or enhance their status in front of others. It is therefore vital for novel teachers to understand that concept in order to bring peace to their classrooms. You are not a friend, you are not an enemy. You are the authority and they must learn to respect you and what you represent. Talk to them individually in private and explain that you will respect them as long as they respect you and your job. Never threaten, never raise your voice; be firm and in control at all times.

Mentoring

A new teacher must have an experienced teacher as a mentor. If the school didn't assign one, you must talk to the principal and ask for one immediately. In a good school, the mentor will be given additional "free" time to work with you inside the classroom until you find your feet and work independently.

Get together with your mentor at least three times a week to discuss his/her observations and find solutions if necessary.

Conclusions

A good teacher is not born with the ability to communicate and teach. Einstein would have been a bad teacher, because knowledge is not sufficient. A teacher must be a psychologist, a leader, a facilitator, an expert in his/her own field, an educator, a father (mother) figure, a counselor (for parents and students), and a devoted, motivated professional. That doesn't come easy; it requires years of study and practice. But there is no more rewarding profession in the world!

J.C. Sprenger has been teaching at a local high school for 6 years as a special education (inclusion) teacher. Before that, he was a university professor in Mexico (10 years) teaching English to Mexican students. He has a B.A. in psychology and a Master's in Education. Born in Geneva, Switzerland, he now makes his home in Brownsville, Texas. He has been a freelance writer for 15 years in newspapers and recently on the Internet.

For more information on becoming a teacher in Texas and teaching jobs, check out http://www.TexasTeachers.org