SESSION 2: Environmental

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

We understand that it can be intimidating or nerve wracking to lead a classroom of high school students. The good news is our students have signed up for our program so they want to be there! However, they are still high school students. Below, we have provided classroom management tips to be able to handle disruptive classroom behavior like a pro.

In volunteering with RTSWS, if you experience any classroom management issues, please reach out to your RTSWS Program Coordinator. We are happy to help provide additional classroom management support.

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

Set Classroom Norms and Be the Leader

At the beginning of each RTSWS session, students and volunteers will review and discuss the RTSWS cohort norms. Norms are the behavioral expectations or rules of the class. Classroom norms inform us how we are expected to behave towards each other and towards the materials we use. They’re generally positive, inclusive and productive. Here are some classroom norms you can share with students:

• Come prepared to be a part of RTSWS with your handbook, a writing utensil and a positive attitude.

• Be kind and encourage one another - we are all in this together! • Set Classroom Norms

• Be the Leader • Be Authentic • Share Your Story • Show You Care • Build Relationships • Have Fun!

• Ask questions, share your opinions and let the volunteers know when you do not understand something.

During session #1, students and volunteers will come up with the final two norms together. We want you and the students to establish the tone for the fall sessions and allow the students to take ownership of their RTSWS cohort.

Ensure the RTSWS cohort knows the significance of what you are asking them to do. They are helping to establish the tone for how RTSWS will run for the fall sessions! You care about them. You want their ideas. Their voices matter. Including them in the creation process means they will remember these norms and act upon them more regularly.

Asking students to help define the learning environment in a way that supports their own self-advocacy skills is powerful.

Be Authentic

• Be yourself! High school students can smell someone being inauthentic from miles away.

• Be honest! If you are nervous, let them know you are nervous or if you make a mistake, own up to it.

• Tell them stories about the things happening in your life (as appropriate, of course) and make connections between your own experiences and what we are learning about in RTSWS.

• Incorporate some comedy! Studies show that students who are having fun learn more effectively.

Share Your Story

Did you hear about the new superhero, Accounts Payable Woman? She had superhuman li-abilities

• The more you share your story the more students will feel comfortable opening up about themselves and really engaging.

• Telling your story allows students to connect with you over related experiences and to learn from you in the areas that they differ.

• Often the feedback we get from students is that they love to hear how our volunteers started their careers, what they love about their jobs, what challenges they’ve faced and where they’ve traveled to for work (or pleasure!)

Show You Care & Build Relationships

• Nothing is more valuable for effective classroom management than building genuine relationships with students.

• While you are there to teach the session, being in high school can be challenging and students’ personal lives can sometimes creep into the classroom. If you see a student who is upset or seems to be dealing with something (if you are comfortable and able to) ask her if she is okay and if she wants to go talk just outside the classroom. If the student is facing something serious please let the RTSWS School Champion or your RTSWS Program Coordinator know and we will take it from there.

• Pro tip: If a student is talking about a big test they are studying for or a sports game they are looking forward to, remembering this and asking her how it went in the next session always scores major points!

• Be a good listener. Listening to their stories and learning more about who they are shows them that you care and develops a relationship.

Just because they may look uninterested, bored or not listening doesn’t mean that’s the case

• High school students are social creatures so it’s hard for them to resist the urge to talk to their friends or to remember not to have their phones out unless needed for an activity. Please see the next page for some tips on how to deal with these!

• Students have a range of personalities. Sometimes students are shy and may take a couple of sessions to open up. Sometimes, they may just be tired! If they are showing up they want to be there.

• The more you are enjoying yourself the more they will. Our lessons are guidelines so feel free to add your own spin on something or some personal flare.

• It is important to remember that high school students are going through some tough, real-world issues outside of the classroom. Sometimes a reaction they have in the classroom may stem from stress or a situation going on outside of school. Show them

grace and presume positive intent.

Notes: