Ben Nakamura is a principal for the Juvenile Court and Community Schools under the San Diego County

Office of Education. The Juvenile Court and Community Schools serves the students who are on probation, students who have been expelled, or students who have recently transitioned from Juvenile Hall. These students are often seen as the "bad kids". I worked with a JCCS school as a Teaching Assistant for 2 years before I came into the credential program. While these students are seen as the "bad kids", most of these students need someone to reach out to them and show them that they care. Throughout Ben Nakamura's presentation, this was also his main message. Classroom management is very important in the classroom. Without classroom management, you are unable to provide your students with a safe and productive environment that is conducive to learning. It is very important to show that you are in control in the classroom. There were several helpful instructions that Ben Nakamura provided us with to help establish control in the classroom. The first requirement to help gain control of the classroom is to have clear expecations and tight transitions. You need to not just "tell" the rules but demonstrate the rules in the classroom so that students can understand what is expected of them. You also need to have tight transitions in the classroom. An example of this is; " When I say go, please turn in your assignment and then sit quietly at your desk when you are finished." It is also important to show that you are not nervous in the classroom. To help show that you are not nervous in the classroom, you need to speak lower and slower. This will esablish a firm presence in the classroom and students will realize that you are confident and in charge. Students can read your actions and when you are screaming and raising your voice they will not respect your presence in the classroom. Students will listen to a teacher when they respect them. Ben Nakamura discussed the needs of students in the classroom. He broke the needs of students down into 3 main categories: Autonomy, Belonging, and Competence. Autonomy is the need for students to feel that they are in control of their own life and they are independent. Students also need to feel that they belong in the classroom. A sense of belonging is normally achieved through positive relationships. The last thing that Ben Nakamura touched on was Competence. Students need to feel that they are competent and that they are capable of learning. Through these three main ideas, it is important to develop relationships with your students. A small action like shaking a student's hand and welcoming them as they come in the classroom can help show sudents that you care. Some students also need someone to talk to. Finding the time to speak with students individually can mean the world of difference. Ben Nakamura also mentioned a 10 by 2 rule. For a student who is getting in trouble frequently in the classroom, spend two minutes a day for ten consecutive days speaking with this student after class, before class, or anytime that is not during instruction. This can make the world of difference because the student will see that you are putting extra effort into helping them. The presentation from Ben Nakamura was very insightful and helpful. The main focus of classroom management is to show the students that you care about them. Once students can see that you care about them, they will respect you and your classroom.

"Ive come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my personal approach that creates the climate. Its my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a childs life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized"- Haim Ginott This quote was presented by Ben Nakamura through his presentation and it is a great insight into classroom management and being a teacher. If you come into the classroom mad or negative, that will reflect on your teaching and the behaviors of your students. If you come into class being positive and encouraging, your students will generally become postive in the classroom. The most important piece of information that I took out of this presentation is that classroom management is not only keeping control of the classroom but showing your students that you care about them.