About this Video

• Video Title: How to Handle an Out of Control Middle-School Classroom
• Channel: Thom Gibson
• Speakers: Thom Gibson
• Duration: 00:08:50

Introduction

This video addresses the challenges of managing an unruly middle school classroom. Thom Gibson shares his classroom management strategies, drawing from his experiences and the philosophies of Harry and Rosemary Wong. He emphasizes the "teach, rehearse, reinforce" method for establishing classroom procedures.

Key Takeaways

• The "Teach, Rehearse, Reinforce" Strategy: This is presented as the most effective classroom management technique. It involves clearly teaching a procedure, then rehearsing it repeatedly until students master it, and finally reinforcing the procedure until it becomes routine. The speaker emphasizes maintaining calmness during the rehearsal phase, even if it takes multiple class periods, to avoid power struggles with students.
• Importance of Procedures: Establishing clear procedures for various classroom activities (attention-getting, transitions, dismissal, etc.) is crucial for effective classroom management. The speaker suggests carefully planning these procedures in advance.
• Peer Pressure as a Positive Reinforcer: The speaker uses peer pressure to encourage participation in rehearsing procedures, leveraging the students' desire to avoid repetitive practice.
• Avoiding Power Struggles: The speaker highlights the importance of avoiding direct confrontation and power struggles with students. He suggests calmly addressing the issue, waiting for full participation, and using encouragement rather than frustration.
• Classroom Culture: While procedures are important, they are not the sole solution. A positive classroom culture contributes significantly to effective management. The speaker points to a playlist of videos for additional classroom management techniques.

Thom Gibson's most challenging classroom management experience was subbing for a sixth-grade English class that was described as "out of control," with students standing on desks. He had only three weeks left in the school year to manage this class, which had lacked structure all year. He learned the importance of the "teach, rehearse, reinforce" strategy, dedicating time to rehearsal until the students performed procedures perfectly, even if it meant foregoing lesson content initially. He also learned to remain calm during the rehearsal process to avoid power struggles and to utilize peer pressure positively to encourage full participation.