Classroom Management

Classroom management is the art of keeping a classroom in order and conducive for learning in spite of any behavior of students. It involves maintaining respect and discipline in the classroom and approaches may differ from person to person and from institution to institution. Students in classrooms are from different homes and as such may have different set of values. However, the classroom values must override any values that they might have acquired from home or society.

Behavioral modification forms the largest part of classroom management.At the beginning of the academic term, the teacher sets a number of rules and guidelines for the class . These rules are expected to guide the students in knowing what is expected of them. The problem here is how to handle students who flout the rules. Many people suggest punishment for breaking of rules and rewards for observing the rules. Some of the methodologies suggested for classroom management include:

The Good Behavior Game

This is an approach to behavioral management at the classroom level. In this game, the class is rewarded for good behavior or loses the reward if unacceptable behavior exceeds a certain limit. This methodology increases acceptable and desired behavior but is not applicable to students with mental disabilities. All students and teachers must accept the terms and conditions for the game before it is applicable.

Discipline with Dignity

This methodology is widely practiced around the world as it seeks to develop responsibility in students. By mutual respect, cooperation, shared decision making and responsible thinking, discipline with dignity seeks to improve student behavior through practicality and comprehension.

Positive Classrooms

This method tackles the issue of classroom management in four dimensions; the spiritual dimension, the physical dimension, instructional dimension and managerial dimension. The physical dimension defines how the classroom is setup , including how the students' seats are arranged, where the teacher sits and where the board is located. The spiritual dimension is all about how the teacher sees the students;  either respectful or disrespectful, intelligent or unintelligent etc. Instructional dimension has more to do with the teachers, how they deliver the lessons to the students. The managerial dimension has to do with how teachers are able to handle issues regarding students’ behavior. 

Discipline without Stress, Punishments or Rewards

The aim of this approach is to motivate the student to be self- disciplined and make efforts to learn on his own. This method is neither coercive nor permissive but the emphasis is on encouraging the student to do what is right. Students are taught that they can make conscious choices and are guided into self-evaluation and reflection . most students who go through this method grow up to do the right thing because they believe it is the right thing to do and not because they are forced to do anything.

Time Management

Time management is the most basic disciplinary step and as such classroom management can begin with time management. Teachers using this approach must ensure that students report to the classroom at the right time and leave only when it is time to. Lesson periods are also adhered to; a lesson begins exactly when it is supposed to and ends when it is supposed to end, not before or after. Time allocated to students for a task must also be observed carefully and the task collected after the time. That way students realize that things are to be according to rules and not because they feel like it.

Classroom management is essential in every educational institution in order to develop acceptable behaviors in students. Students are known to grow up with values they pick up at school and so this concept should not be ignored.

The Cost of college education

College bills are a little on the high side, considering the amount o money involved in the payment of admissions and semester fees. Other items like accommodation and books are among other things that college students have to pay for. Additionally, they have to pay for meals or buy food items to prepare their own food.

College fees range between 6,000 to about 30,000 dollars a year, depending on the school. Most parents, unfortunately cannot pay this much. Some of them do not earn this much and even if they do, they may have to pay other bills like mortgage, car loan, water and electricity bills, medical bills and many more. Other parents may also have other wards whose school fees they pay as well, making it difficult for them to save that much to pay college fees.

Some students are also matured and so are independent. They pay rent and provide every other thing for themselves. Once in college, these students have to pay up their own fees and provide for themselves. Most of them have to work to raise that much money for their fees. Since they are now in school, they have fewer hours for which they can work and so end up earning less.

The cost of college education is not all about tuition fees, but other costs also come in here. First, students may need to buy textbooks for their various courses. These books are more expensive, compared to those needed for the lower levels. The average price of a single text book is about 45 dollars, of which a student may buy as many as their studies demand, and this puts a lot of strain on their finances.

Accommodation is another element in college education. Most college students attend school far away from their homes and so they may have to find rooms and hostels close to their campuses. Some colleges offer accommodation for the students within the facility whiles other students may have to find rooms at private apartment close to the campuses. Those on the campuses are relatively cheaper than those offered by other landlords.

Government grants are available for students to cover some of the cost. Some non-governmental bodies also offer grants, which students can access to pay up their bill. The grants may however not be enough to cover everything, and so some students have to take loans to survive. These loans come with their own associated problems, but at least, they solve an immediate problem of helping students through college.

Some of the loans have flexible payment terms and reasonable interest rate. Some of the loans give a fixed amount of money per year while others offer amounts, depending on the amount of fees the applicant is paying per year. Some loan facilities on the other hand grant amounts as much as the applicant may want to have.

Upon completion, students are expected to pay back the loans and grants within a number of years, mostly 5 to 10 years. The repayment may also include interest on the loan accumulated over all these years. Students’ loans offer the lowest interest rates, but with time, the interests accumulate to become another cost of college education. By the time of payment, the interest accumulated on student’s loans could be as high as 40% or even up to 60%.