Local teachers urged to prioritise classroom management

Royton McLaren, the chairman of the Academic Motivational Performance project, has urged teachers in Jamaica to prioritise classroom management and self-care to effectively handle interpersonal issues in the classroom.

McLaren, who is also a guidance counsellor at the Edward Seaga Primary School, emphasised the importance of addressing these aspects during a session held at the Denham Town High School.

"We know that we are currently having challenges with behavioural issues in our schools, so this is a timely training on class management and behaviourism. They gave us some good points particularly that we need to build a relationship with our students," McLaren stated. He stressed the significance of teachers taking care of themselves.

"It is extremely important for teachers to get rest. I have seen them get burnt out because of working overtime to make up for the impact of COVID on education. They blame themselves and it doesn't work well with interaction," he said. The project was started by McLaren in 2017. Prior to focusing on classroom management, the project primarily provided school supplies and monetary assistance to schools. Schools benefiting from the project include the Tivoli, Denham Town, St Andrew Technical and Innswood high schools.

Two of McLaren's collaborators are John and Elizabeth Brennon. Elizabeth, who has been a teacher for more than three decades and one of the US-based co-chairs of the project, highlighted key areas covered in the session. These included, establishing classroom routines for consistency, implementing rewards systems, and building relationships with students.

"If a teacher doesn't have a relationship with the student, then the student won't hear them," she said, noting that these principles are essential for addressing behavioural issues and can be applied across different societies. She noted that while donors assist with cash for breakfast programmes, the majority of the assistance comes during the back-to- school periods where the students get a range of stationery, bags, and cash.

John noted the need for assistance to countries like Jamaica.