Classroom management was a big-time issue when I first started teaching.  A lot of this had to do with the fact that I was white and the majority of my students were black. While I had no problem at all, my students gave me a really hard time for being a minority in their school.  Unfortunately, my classroom management skills in general were not yet honed, and I tried many failed strategies to get the kids under control before finding my a style that works for me.  At first I did so much yelling, teachers several rooms down could hear.  Then tried writing thousands of discipline referrals.  Then I tried posting a gigantic list of rules on my wall.  Then I tried giving them assigned seats.  Then I tried rewarding them with candy.  Then I tried cursing at them, which really was a bad idea, and then I just went back to yelling.  Thank goodness for Winter Break.  I spent two weeks reflecting on what I did wrong and what I could do better.  I considered comment cards from students and consulted colleagues.  My second semester went a little better.  One of the biggest mistakes I made before was being nice and friendly on the first day, so this time around I did my best to mean business, but honestly, thank goodness for Summer Break.  I spent ten weeks reflecting and came back in the fall with a classroom management plan that actually works: (1) I keep it simple on the first day and break right into the first lesson, (2) I assign and re-assign seats according to students’ behavior, (3) I actually teach the rules as opposed to just telling the students what they are, (4) I refuse to raise my voice and wait until the students are quiet to speak, and (5) I call parents when students are bad and good. 

Please note: The image to the right is a complete dramatization. I would never make a student wear a dunce's hat.