Magen Goforth

The section of this module that I found to be most applicable was monitoring the classroom. The eight suggestive steps of creating a positive learning environment, keeping problems small, reinforcing positive student behavior, keeping students on task, maintaining a strong connection with every student, helping students focus on learning outcomes, removing learning barriers, and providing more individual instruction could all be applied in my classroom. Understanding that monitoring student behavior is intended to help you respond to behavior, not police it. Understanding this concept will help reduce the potential for inappropriate behavior.

This module provided helpful tips on engaging and managing inattentive students, blaming "others" students, and apple-polishing students effectively so that you can continue to manage your classroom. Building positive relationships with your students, setting clear expectations, and using proactive approaches to prevent disruptive behavior are essential for maintaining control of our classrooms. I liked the suggestion of standing beside the inattentive students without causing a scene and the one minute essays. 

I often find the first day of class as awkward as most students. Each year, it gets easier and less awkward. As an icebreaker, I have my students guess what the other students are doing in the studying. We start with each person providing their name, and that's it. They then decided what program each student was studying and a hobby they thought they had. I challenge them to get creative with it. After everyone was done, we started reading them. By the time we are done, we are laughing at the assumptions. Each student then tells about their program… >>>

This module helped me to accept that burnout is normal and nothing to be ashamed of. I often hold myself to an unobtainable standard for fear of failure. This module provided helpful ways to avoid burnout. The one I found most interesting and would have never thought to do was to schedule downtime. I also enjoyed the reminder of forming habits by setting up a 21-day routine. I plan to schedule a ten-minute zen session in my office between my long lab classes. 

I enjoyed this module because it reinforces our control over our classrooms regarding students with behavioral issues. It is vital to understand how to control and diffuse situations before they get to a state of disruption or danger. As we know, some students are disruptive as a way to deflect from other issues or as a way to get attention. Identifying the difference is significant when addressing the behavior. Also, being able to recognize that the discipline approach will be different depending on the structure of the class you are teaching. I do not handle similar situations the same way… >>>

This module gave great tips on identifying one's teaching style and helped me find ways to adapt my teaching style to a guided approach if it's not my most used style. I liked learning that having more than one teaching approach is normal because I use the controller and guide interchangeably. Truly, it depends on the content I'm teaching and which approach I use most. In lab settings, I would say that I use the controller approach first to set the standards, then move to a guided approach. 

I enjoyed the reminder that implementing stress reducers such as exercise, breathing techniques, exercise, and proper sleep significantly impacts our overall health and ability to manage our stress. Even hydration plays a large part in managing stress. Implementing moments to apply these reducers in the classroom helps to improve the student's learning environment. I take the first two minutes of class to implement a quick breathing exercise and always provide access to water and healthy snacks. Ensuring my students are in the best mental state to start our lesson has helped reduce distractedness and inattentiveness.

Identifying the cause of stress is the most crucial part. So often, our efforts to control stress are misdirected, and the actual cause is avoided altogether. Understanding the toll that untreated or resolved stress can have on your professional and personal life is essential to maintaining health, productivity, and attitude. Helping my students work through emotions in the classroom can also be challenging. If I see a student struggling, I casually pull the student aside for a one-on-one check-in. This usually provides the student with enough attention to express what is troubling them and then move on. 

This module is a good reminder that we do not need to reinvent the wheel regarding grading and other classroom tasks. I like that the module encourages online aspects to help with grading and allow for more time on other tasks. I currently have all my quizzes online but use lab assessments in person. This significantly reduces the time I spend in front of my computer. This is just one tool I use to help manage my time.

I enjoyed that this module enforced the importance of task prioritization. Task prioritization is vital for the success of not only us, the educators, but also the students. Task prioritization helps create good time management skills, which increases productivity, reduces stress, and helps to meet deadlines. Effective task prioritizations help us and our students become more organized, responsible, and successful in academic and personal endeavors. I typically schedule three months at a time for both school and personal.