Are you afraid of the children? If so, leave teaching now.

One of the most perplexing things that has and continues to plague me in the field of Education are teachers who do not hold students accountable for their actions.  I've seen some very smart people, masters of their content, literally teach an entire period with their backs to the students. The behavior of the students ranged from openly talking, texting, drawing, rapping, or throwing objects.  What's even more striking is that when the students noticed I was there, they immediately stopped.  I'm not tooting my own horn or anything, but classroom management has always been a skill set of which I am quite proud.

So if your classroom management is shaky, you may be wondering what I did to invoke this kind of reaction from children? Its simple... I don't play that.  I'll translate my Ebonic colloquialism into one word: accountability.

I have standards, expectations, rules, guidelines.  My students knew what my expectations were from day 1.  I explicitly told them what they were and asked them to state their understanding to ensure we were on the same page with our thinking.  I consistently and fairly enforced my classroom expectations for everyone... no exceptions.  Because of this, I had a reputation as the "mean" teacher until my students got to know me.  Yes, I was the teacher in the hallway eagerly, and loudly, encouraging students to "keep it moving" and "put pep in your step" to get to class.  In class, my students were actively engaged in work so they rarely had the opportunity to act out.  On the rare occasion I had the brave soul who dare test what I established, I would calmly and quietly pull them to the side and let them know they weren't hurting anyone but themselves. Another way I maintained a structured classroom environment was by configuring my classroom in a way that allowed me to have visual and physical access to every student.  It helped, tremendously.

But what I did is nothing new.  In fact, its quite simple and common sense.  So there must be another reason some teachers have horrible classroom management... they are afraid of the kids.

Is your head in the sand when it comes to student accountability?

See here's what you need to know.  Students like structure.  They thrive in it.  In fact, they like to brag about how tough a teacher's class was and how they tenaciously pushed through.  So you can't be afraid to step up and say something to a student who is bigger, louder, taller than you  But it doesn't stop there.  You have got to be visible.  Students who see you know you.  I find it amazing when teachers don't stand outside of their classes during passing time.  You expect your kids to get to your class on time, correct?  Well... why not strongly encourage them to do so?  Accountability, it works.  Also, if students are doing something that is counter to the mission of the school, correct them.  What are they going to do, spank you?  I don't think so.

SAY SOMETHING.  As a teacher, and now as an administrator, nothing gets to me more than having a student do something that is obviously wrong and an adult walks by them and says nothing.  Really? Wow.  During my administrative program, I had an internship requirement that I loved. One of the things my program was big on was observing teachers so I could recognize and analyze effective states.  When I came into a teacher's classroom that had little to no classroom management, it was SO DIFFICULT for me not to say something.  I couldn't believe that the teacher could survive in a classroom where two to three students are paying attention and the rest are doing whatever they want to do. 

If this is how your classroom is, you are one of three people:  

1.  You don't care about the kids.

2.  You are burned out.

3.  You are afraid of holding kids accountable because of the initial backlash they may throw your way in reaction to you enforcing the rules. 

Kids will be kids.  You're the adult, remember that.  You can't be afraid of what students will do or say.  Being a teacher means having thick skin.  I've been called any profane name you can possibly think of, had students tell me they were going to beat me up, oh, and my favorite one was hoping I died in a fire.  With all of those evil things being said...guess what, I'm still here. 

If you are that concerned about your safety, tell your school's security, starting documenting and do what you can do to get that student into a place that is more suited for their unique learning and behavioral style. No one deserved to come to work and feel unsafe.  There are laws to protect you and if your principal doesn't support you with this, go higher. 

BUT, before you do that, ask yourself where this fear is coming from.  If you are a person that avoids confrontation, teaching may not be the profession for you.  You'll have to have some difficult conversations as an educator and you have to be prepared to have them. 

Read this, it helped me:

To help you, here are some tips to help you keep students accountable.  If these techniques don't work for you, I strongly suggest you hire a therapist to help you discover what emerges for you when it comes to confronting students about inappropriate behavior. 

1. Lay down the law from day one.  If you don't clearly, explicitly tell the students what is expected of them, they will test your limits.  In all fairness, you can't discipline a student for a rule that they weren't aware was a rule.  If you don't want students to chew gum, put that policy on the wall somewhere.  During the first week of school, have demonstrate entering the classroom, exiting the classroom, cleaning up the floor before they go, how you dismiss, etc... The less they have to guess, the lower your number of referrals. 

2. Be visible.  If you have a policy about being on time to your class, why not be present in the hallway to greet students as they come through your door?  Also, confront students who are not technically "your" students about any behavior they demonstrate that is counter to a positive culture.  Call them on it.  Your fellow teachers will thank you and you will have a reputation that proceeds you as a teacher who "doesn't play that." 

3.  Don't lower your expectations.  The second kids sniff inconsistency on your behalf with the rules, that is the second you've lost control of your classroom.  No matter how tired, how stressed, your students DESERVE the right to meet your standards.  When you start to lower your expectations, you are lowering your view about the capabilities of your students. Don't do that.  If you've already done that, please view the want ads. 

Anyone have any tips on management or overcoming student confrontation fear?  Please leave your tips below.