Ask a Teacher How to Fix our Educational System – Lessons Learned in a Classroom

We hear so much about teacher shortages, burnout, and the messy transition from pandemic Zoom learning back to the classroom. Ask fifty teachers and you’ll likely get fifty answers.  Jennifer Nelson has some definite thoughts and opinions on the subject.   In her new book, Teaching with Heart: Lessons Learned in a Classroom, Nelson brings perspective as someone who lived in Morocco (where she learned French as a child – the subject she teaches), served in the Peace Corp in Niger, and as the daughter of an international diplomat experienced more than American schools. Her tenure as a teacher also encompasses private, parochial, and public schools. Nelson brings a broader-than-usual view of what works and what doesn’t in the classroom.

Hiring and retaining teachers is at a critical moment and listening to teachers themselves is more important than ever.  I sat down and talked with Jennifer about things teachers can do today to make teaching better.

What are some classroom management techniques you would recommend to new teachers?

Here are my top ten ways to maintain order in a classroom:

Get to know students from day #1. Find out one unique thing about each one of them. This shows you care about them as individuals. Establish a relationship with them early on. Learn their names as soon as possible.

Be enthusiastic about being in the classroom. Show students that you like being there even on days when they drive you nuts—and sometimes they will. Have fun. Lighten up. Show them you love the subject matter you’re teaching. Smiling and even telling jokes in class works, though don’t let the classroom environment become a circus. Aim to always maintain order.

Plan lessons that excite you. Sometimes kids will think your lessons aren’t engrossing, but your enthusiasm for the subject matter will impress them. Engage your audience. Using visuals and technology often makes teens keen on learning. But showing passion for your subject matter is paramount.

Tell them the rules on Day #1. My #1 rule is respect. Respect other students, themselves, the room, and the teacher. If they abide by this rule, problems should be avoided.

Take charge immediately when misbehavior occurs. When students misbehave, have clear consequences for the misbehavior. Don’t be nervous about calling or writing home to parents to explain the issue. Often, that communication is all it takes to keep the student in line. Also, telling a student that his misbehavior is preventing you as a teacher from doing your job helps. You take your job seriously and his/her misbehavior is preventing you from doing this. So, you politely ask the student to leave the room to spend the rest of period in the hallway. In that way, you can do your job which is to teach. Tell the student that once he/she is ready to learn, he/she can come back to class. Students do not want to be kicked out of class. It’s no fun being alone. They want to be with their friends. After a few minutes, the student will plead with you to let him/her back in the classroom.

Contact administrators when you haven’t been able to resolve student misbehavior. Schools take seriously when a student is so obnoxious that the classroom environment is no longer conducive to learning. Administrators will talk to the student, and assign a detention or suspension depending on the nature of the misbehavior.

Hold students accountable. Students need to know that you expect them to learn. Create assignments that help them master material, and quizzes and tests to show they’re learning. If they are goofing off in class, they won’t master the material—and they might prevent others from doing this. This is not right. Many students take school seriously and their education shouldn’t be jeopardized because of a few troublemakers.

Give students activities in which they have the option of working with a partner. Often high school students love collaborating on a project with a friend in the class. They can also help each other learn.

Create a variety of activities that appeal to different learning styles. This would include visual, kinesthetic, analytical, auditory, and tactile activities.  In the world language classroom, I try to include in each lesson reading, writing, listening, viewing, and speaking activities. I also use pictures and educational games that they access on their Chromebooks to engage these 21^st century learners.

. Even with the roughest students, don’t get angry or shout. Don’t argue with a student about what he/she did. You are the one in charge. You know what he/she did to piss you off. You know that it’s inappropriate behavior. The problem will escalate if you don’t maintain a rational, logical demeanor. So, take a deep breath and handle the situation with grace. You’ve got this.

What advice would you give a new teacher during the first year of teaching?

Understand it’s not easy being a first-year teacher. Students will test you all year long. You need to earn their respect. Don’t give up. Believe that you have what it takes to reach them.

Ask colleagues for advice about how to handle problem students, improve lessons that fall flat, or hand in administrative requirements in a timely manner.

Understand that teaching is exhausting. It’s not the subject matter that’s complicated, it’s reaching students who might not want to be in the classroom.

Take time to regain energy during weekends and school breaks. You need to be strong when you’re in the classroom, and time recharging your battery, should help.

Accept that some lessons won’t work, but don’t let this get you down. The next day students might find your lesson great. Learn from them about what works and doesn’t.

Keep a journal on lessons that went well and those that didn’t. Figure out why. Create more lessons that appeal to students.

Remember that if students like you, they will work for you. So, try to make them see you as the best teacher ever. They will forgive minor lapses of misplacing a handout, inputting a wrong grade, or mispronouncing their name, if they like you.

What role does technology play in the ideal classroom?

Technology enhances lessons, so should be used regularly in the classroom. Students love playing educational games such as Kahoot or Blooket on their Chromebooks, which often involves an element of competition. They prefer to hand in assignments in a Google doc on Google Classroom instead of on paper. Honestly, it helps keep assignments organized in one place and when a student is absent, he/she can check on his computer to view what he/she missed. No need to wait to see the teacher to receive a handout or worksheet.  Most students are adept at using technology, but if not, a classmate will help this person master the technology.

Nevertheless, old-fashioned pen and paper assessments and writing a dialogue to present in class shouldn’t be ignored. Reading a passage from a book or magazine should be encouraged. Students enjoy when I bring in objects they can touch when doing activities. I like varying my routine in class, not becoming too dependent on one method or tool to teach.

What are some top reasons that young people should consider teaching as a profession?

1. You impact the future. “I touch the future. I teach.” Christa McAuliffe, American teacher and astronaut

2. You’re needed more than you think. In February 2022, some 380,000 open jobs existed in schools and universities, the highest number of openings in the past decade. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

3. Every day is different. For a teacher, no two days are the same with class dynamics and student behavior impacting lessons. So, if you enjoy change and progress, teaching is for you.

4. Teachers are trusted and respected. Polls have shown that teachers are rated high in trustworthiness, only behind nurses and pharmacists.

5. You’re supported. As an educator, you’ll never be alone. You’ll be surrounded by students and other teachers who will make up your “teacher tribe.”

6. You can be creative. To keep students engaged, you will have to be creative. For ideas, tap into online resources, colleagues, and supervisors. Don’t forget to reach out to students to see what makes them excited to learn.

7. It’s not just a job. Teachers don’t leave their work when they go home. They feel a desire to help students thrive. In return, students reciprocate with smiles, hugs and thank you notes that last long after teachers leave the building.

ABOUT JENNIFER NELSON
Jennifer is a high school French teacher, writer, and personal historian, She spent the last 15 years teaching in public and private schools; before that, she wrote for business and literary magazines and regional newspapers. She runs Your Stories, a writing services company, and holds degrees from Columbia, University of California (Berkeley), and Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in Buck County, PA.