Primary School Teachers' Views on Constructive Classroom Management

Abstract

Behavioural teaching programmes that had long been used in Turkey began changing in 2005. In a significant development, new programmes based on constructivism have come to the fore. The adaptation of teachers in this transitional process and their internalization of this new approach have been of utmost importance for the success of the programme. Difficulties faced by experienced primary school teachers in particular have become a serious matter that should be qualitatively addressed. This study aimed to reveal the views of experienced primary school teachers (175) about constructive classroom management. Interviews were employed to do so. The study revealed that a large majority of the interviewed teachers considered themselves to be successful at classroom management (thanks to factors like experience, close contact with students, their affection for students, etc.), while almost half of the teachers thought that classroom management had been much easier in pre-2005 teaching programmes. The results also exposed disturbing behaviours, among them students fighting, the use of improper language, disrupting in-class teaching processes and irrelevant talking among students. The coping techniques adopted for these behaviours were warnings, punishment and more enjoyable teaching that incorporated a range of different activities.

Keywords

• Constructivism
• Behaviourism
• Classroom teacher
• Classroom management