Part 3 in the Classroom Management Series
Student-centered learning is becoming the gold standard in teaching. Why? It’s because it creates a positive learning environment. It empowers students to learn more and learn deeper, and is the best classroom management “tool” out there!
Let’s continue our self-discovery story from part 2 of the series on classroom management. This story is based on real-life teaching. It is not only my own experiences but also ones some of my colleagues and teachers like you have told me about. If you haven’t read the first two parts of this series you can read Classroom Management Strategies part 1 here and Classroom Management: the Environment part 2 here.
It was truly an amazing feeling for both the teacher and the students. Students started realizing that they were in control of their own emotions. They began to self-regulate on a more regular basis. It was true that not all students were necessarily “buying in” to the mindfulness and self and social awareness lessons fully. However, it was enough that there was core engagement of most of the students. It was creating a better dynamic in the classroom.
Then there was the shift in seating choices. The teacher made sure that the routines and rules were strong and developed with the students and the “shape of the day” was on the whiteboard. This helped the students know what to expect in the day which was a key element. They noticed if they ever forgot to put that up or read it aloud with the class, students who often struggled, struggled more.
The Need for Alignment
It was becoming clear that everything had to align. Students needed to be aware of themselves and others, and seating arrangements needed some flexibility. It was only the instruction that was left to tweak. The teacher found that if they kept things very teacher-directed all the time, many of the students couldn’t cope with the new choice-based seating arrangements. They got bored.
…and we all know what that does in the classroom.
At first, it didn’t seem obvious to the teacher. There was strong teaching going on. They had carefully planned the lessons (and they were standards-based.) Why was behavior still a bit of a problem? (Sometimes a LOT of a problem depending on the day!)
One day, the teacher read about something called passion projects. Hmmm…maybe they could try that one afternoon. It could be crazy but it was worth a try. The idea was that students would choose something that they were interested in and they would learn more about it and create something that they would share with the class. It sounded good. Passion projects it was!
This was a GAME CHANGER!
What the teacher noticed was full-on engagement. Lots of on-topic conversations. Yes, it was a bit “noisy” at times. But it was also fascinating to watch and facilitate. There was not a lot of direct teaching yet the teacher noticed students teaching each other! They noticed students using the research skills they had taught them to learn more about the topic they chose. They noticed them APPLYING the math and literacy skills they had learned in class. It was amazing!
Student-Centered Learning Takes Shape
Passion projects morphed into a larger-scale Genius Hour. This took place every Friday afternoon for the last period of the day. It wasn’t always smooth but the students were engaged and learning so much about their chosen topic. Students who had to be reminded to read quietly during quiet reading time because they were talking were reading. Students who struggled with reading seemed to be trying harder and reaching out to friends or the teacher to help them. The teacher was excited. And tired. But it was a whole different kind of tiredness. It was a good tired.
The new wonder that came up for the teacher was: why would they only do Genius Hour on Friday afternoons? This was good learning. Shouldn’t Genius Hour just be called “school”? To be sure, the teacher needed to use some kind of assessment to ensure that learning was happening. How could they harness the power of Genius Hour and leverage the learning benefits so that this kind of learning became more of the norm?
How could the teacher use this student-centered approach more to elevate learning?
To be continued…
Student-centered learning is not merely a trend; it’s a transformative approach that significantly impacts classroom management! Here are some ways in which student-centered learning fosters a positive and effective classroom environment.
- Engagement and Ownership:
One of the key principles of student-centered learning is fostering active engagement and encouraging students to take ownership of their education. When students are actively involved in their learning process, they become more accountable for their behavior and actions in the classroom. This increased sense of responsibility naturally leads to improved classroom management as students are more likely to adhere to rules and guidelines when they feel a personal connection to their education.
- Individualized Learning Paths:
Student-centered learning recognizes that each student is unique, with their own pace and style of learning. By tailoring lessons to individual needs, educators can address various learning styles and preferences within the same classroom. This personalization minimizes frustration and boredom, two common sources of disruptive behavior. When students are more consistently engaged in meaningful and relevant activities, classroom management becomes a smoother and more enjoyable task for both teachers and students.
How to do this:
When you personalize learning you still need to plan for all. Set your lesson intentions that all students can access. For example, if you are teaching students about communities ask yourself: what is it that I want all students to understand? If the standard is that all communities have wants and needs, plan something that all students, regardless of abilities can learn and understand. Then, give students some choice for how they will be able to access the task or information and show what they know. For example, if there is a passage to read, will the student read it, listen to it or watch and listen? How will the student present their learning? Will they write a few sentences, draw the image and then explain or record a video on the iPad? This is how you might consider personalizing the learning.
- Building Relationships:
As we discussed in Part 1, relationships are important. In a student-centered learning environment, teachers act more as facilitators and mentors rather than sole information providers. This shift allows teachers to build stronger, more personal relationships with their students. When students feel seen and heard, they are more likely to respect their teachers and follow classroom expectations. This positive teacher-student relationship is a foundational element of effective classroom management.
- Intrinsic Motivation:
This is a big one and an important one in order to transition yourself into a new way of encouraging your students and creating a motivation to learn. Traditional teaching methods often rely on external motivators, such as grades and rewards, to encourage student participation. Student-centered learning, on the other hand, aims to foster intrinsic motivation by making learning inherently interesting and meaningful. When students are motivated by a genuine interest in the subject matter, they are less likely to engage in disruptive behavior. Classroom management, therefore, becomes less about controlling behavior and more about nurturing a positive and motivating learning environment.
- Collaboration and Communication:
Student-centered learning emphasizes collaboration and communication among students. Group projects, discussions, and interactive activities not only enhance academic learning but also develop essential social and communication skills. As students learn to work together and effectively communicate their ideas, the overall classroom atmosphere becomes more conducive to positive behavior. The collaborative nature of student-centered learning promotes a sense of community within the classroom, which is foundational for effective classroom management.
Here is a good article with 10 tips for collaborative learning.
Student-centered learning is more than just an educational philosophy; it’s a vehicle for positive change in classroom management. As we have seen so far in the first 3 posts, promoting engagement, individualization, relationship-building, intrinsic motivation, and collaboration, student-centered learning creates an environment where effective classroom management is a natural outcome!
Think of it this way: we are paving the way for classrooms that are focused on academic achievement and also on the holistic development of each student! Yes, we are. The benefits to the students and our well-being are immeasurable. I know, because I lived it!
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