Influence of Classroom Management on the Teaching of Physics in Senior Secondary Schools in Rivers State

Abstract

The study investigated “influence of classroom management on the teaching of Physics in senior secondary schools in Rivers State”. Succinctly, the study determined classroom management procedures/ strategies in the teaching of physics; benefits of effective classroom management, factors hindering effective classroom management and teachers’ qualities for improving classroom management skills among physics teachers in Rivers state. The sample size for the study was 36 male physics teachers and 15 female physics teachers which were randomly selected from the three senatorial districts in Rivers state. Self-constructed questionnaire was administered to the respondents for data collection. The collated data was analyzed using frequency, mean and standard deviation method. The result revealed that establishing clear rules and regulation in the class, communicating the set rules with the learners, enforcement of classroom rules promptly, consistently and equitably among others are the strategies/procedures for effective classroom management. A portion of the study also discovered that effective classroom management stimulates efficient teaching and learning process, enhances students’ achievement of lesson objective, creates a productive and conducive learning environment, helps students to maintain rules and regulations, instills moral discipline among students, just to mention few. Whereas, poorly planned instruction, lack of classroom rules and regulation, poor classroom setting and others were determined as the factors militating effective classroom management. Findings revealed that boldness, self-coordination, indiscrimination, harshness, preparedness, among others are qualities that will enhance classroom management practices among teachers. It was therefore recommended that physics teachers should be provided with necessary instructional material to enhance proper self coordination and preparedness

Keywords: classroom, management, strategies, procedures, teaching, physics