"The idea had been growing in my brain for some time: TRUE force.

Classroom management, or how to keep the class focused and working, was an area I struggled with my first year, especially during my first semester.  This year, my classroom management has been much improved  Part of the change stems from the fact that I no longer teach Freshmen, but I've also gotten better at being a manager of the class.  Detailed below are some changes I've made this year that have helped foster a more structured and effective learning environment:

    1.    Be Confident

As the teacher, you can win every argument.  Better yet though, as a teacher, you should never have to enter into an argument with a student.  If a student is doing something that is bothering you, warn them that they must modify their behavior, and if they don't, give them a consequence.  If you do this unflinchingly, you will limit students questioning your actions.  I gave out a detention last week because someone was tapping their pencil.  I warned them first, and then followed through.  The student was upset about this until one of his classmates turned and said something to the effect of you knew that would happen if continued your behavior.  

    2.    Stick to your guns

This ties into number one, once you have made a decision, it is set in stone.  If someone complains, tell them see me after class, if someone wont stop whining, give them another consequence.  If you take back a consequence it sets a standard that consequences are negotiable, and this will be a grand mistake.

    3.    Grade

I'm going to reach out on a limb and say that not all of your kids are passing your class, and furthermore, the "bad" kids are often making the low marks.  Just as important, your "good" kids are probably passing, and some may be doing quite well.  Grade.  If you grade papers and pass them back with some frequency, you are constantly letting the students with low mark know that they will fail if they continue to lack focus (the reason 75% of my kids fail), and you will be letting the top student know that their hard work is appreciated and has a positive effect on their grades.  Although it will depend student to student, most students want to pass your class.  Even the students who say they don't care still do some work for a reason, they would like to pass.  If you never grade you will give the impression that work done in class has little or no bearing on the student passing, and this will lead to the students doing less work and at a lower quality.