Keeping the door

When school began in August, I demonstrated for my students the proper and improper way to enter the classroom. I told them that if they entered being loud and disruptive, then they would need to go back outside of the classroom and try again. A classroom should be approached with a certain reverence, I thought, and I thought this message was understood by the classes. Several weeks in, however, I began realizing this wasn't entirely true.

Week after week, a student would come in being somewhat talkative, and this would be their tone for the rest of class. I would stand at the doorway and listen to them walk in, but wouldn't enforce the rules I had laid out. Time went on, and I started to ask myself what some classes were lacking in regard to structure. Why were some classes continuing to be unruly? What was I missing? What could the silver bullet be for this werewolf? Then I realized that class begins before class starts. Now I know you may read that and think to yourself, "Self, what is this guy talking about?", and I would say this: obviously when a student has crossed through your doorway, they are physically present in your classroom, but the academic attitude is not something acquired when the bell rings. It doesn't trigger a deep appreciation of education. The sound waves don't hypnotize them into becoming baby Kim Ung Yongas.

Equipped with this information, I made two important changes. The first thing I began to do was actually follow through with my policy and make kids walk out and come back in. If that didn't work after one time, they would have to repeat. If not after the second time, repeat again. So far I haven't made a student do it more than 3 times, but am holding fast to this policy. I realize this may sound somewhat elementary and degrading, but so is trying to talk over 20 16 year olds (who know how to act) at once. If the entire class needs to come out and try it again, then that's what was going to happen. Simply put.

The second thing I've been doing is utilizing the lock on my door. Once the bell rings, I shut my door (somewhat forcefully) and lock it. I've observed that often the students who are the most rowdy are also the most tardy, so if I can curb that at the door by making them wait and settle down while I get the rest of the class in order, then they come in much more controlled. I've had 10+ kids outside of my door at times, and frankly I don't care, because I'm not going to sacrifice the instruction of the kids who cared enough to be there on time for the kids who don't. Obviously I let the tardy ones in as well, but all in all, the mood of the class has been much more attentive and docile. They've said stuff to me like, "man you don't let us talk and you lock the door and you treat us like we're little kids", and I simply respond, "I'm sorry Anterrica, when you begin behaving like a senior in high school, then things will change".

Interestingly, no ones grades have declined since the new policies have been in effect, only improvements from students who were struggling. Less stress and talking and stronger academic performance = success? It would seem so, but werewolves only come out in full moons.