What is something you want to change about your classroom management? Be Specific and use specific example(s) for this change.
One of the biggest issues on my campus is cell phone use during class time. Students do not focus and then have to be retaught a lesson because they did not pay attention. While it is easy to identify students that are using their phones, the consequences to being caught are either negligible or extreme. I can demand their phone be taken away, and that might work for a few, but for the rest I have to either accept the behavior or inform administration. Administration will contact security and they will come and grab the student at some point in the day. They instantly go to the principle and she will discipline the student. The first offense is a one day suspension, second offense is two day suspension, and it continues until the fifth. The fifth is long term suspension, the student will be suspended for the remainder of the semester.
I want to be able to handle the situation in the classroom. Teachers are not allowed to take phones on my campus. I would like to be able to enact my own set of rules and take the cell phones for the remainder of the class and progressively increase it to the day and then week. This would still leave the student in the classroom and foster a sense that their behavior is not accepted but I will not severe consequences. Unfortunately, the school wants a uniform understanding of consequences for this behavior. While I am sure some teachers still take matters into their own hands and don't report students because they feel suspensions are extreme, constantly having to deal with unfocused students and having to reteach is an even larger burden.
This is an increasing issue on every campus. It is frustrating to say the least. One school of thought is to embrace the phone and make lessons that include the use of smartphones and wifi. But, another is to really watch the timing of your lessons and to make sure they are engaging and that no more than 10 minutes is spent on any one activity. If they are always moving they won't think to reach for their phones.
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