Required Blog: Classroom Management

I'm not sure if there are any certain guidelines that this blog must follow, other than:  Talk about your classroom management.  So, that's what I'm going to do. 

I really haven't had many problems.  Since the beginning of school, I've only written two discipline referrals.  One was for a female student that gave me constant lip, mixed with a poor attitude.  I attempted to deal with her for a couple of days on my own.  I contacted her mother and spoke with her on two different occasions, but on the third day, I reminded this girl to sit in her new seat, and she automatically opened her mouth and spouted off, so I sent her out before the bell even rang.  She received ISS, and I really haven't had a problem with her since.  Another kid, I wrote up, but nothing changed.  Then, I called home, and, to say the least, things changed.  I guess it depends on who you are dealing with on whether or not a parental contact is effective, or if an office referral will work better.  For the girl, the parental contact did nothing.  For the guy, the referral did nothing.  I hate though, that you have to attempt more than one thing before any change occurs.

My biggest problem with classroom management at this moment is consistency.  It's pretty laid back in my class, and at times, a little chatty.  I'm ok with this, as long as my students are learning.  It's hard though, to turn it on and off, when I need their attention.  I think I'm going to try one of the many techniques we learned this summer.  For instance, "the I raise my hand, all of you raise your hands" technique might work, but it might take forever with 30 kids working on different stuff throughout the period.   I can't see the clapping  technique being very effective though.  I can only see it being disastrous.  I can just see it now, my classroom turning into a beat boxing session, when I'm trying to get everyone silent.  We'll see, and I'll update you with my progress on this.