Withitness
“Withitness,” a term coined by Jacob Kounin, is defined as “the art of running a classroom while having eyes in the back of your head” (aaeteachers.org).
Thesis: Withinness has made a significant impact in the development of a positive classroom climate, despite many critics. Kounin’s contribution is significant and remains an important part of classroom management still today.
Withitness can be used in the classroom in a myriad of ways. Kounin’s key teachings of withitness is being able to have “eyes in the back of one’s head.” This technique, or superpower many children believe to be real, is being able to foresee problems, stop issues before they turn into major problems and being able to keep control of the class all in one. …show more content…
Teachers who are always tuned in to what is going on have a much better chance of having a controlled classroom. By being able to predict a student’s behavior prior to them acting is key in keeping a class on task and focused. This also helps with lowering the amount of distractions which would take more time to address and solve. By using the four components of being withit, a teacher is able to maintain a balance within the classroom and with the students. Teachers are able to target the problem or the child who will act up, time out the situation, react to the student’s behavior and allow the child to respond (Johnston). Overall, withitness is something that every teacher should work towards improving. By doing so, they will be able to better connect with their classroom and will have a greater possibility to positively impact their students. The teacher has the responsibility to know what is happening and to be able to know how to handle any situation. Kounin’s withitness is, by definition of children, having “eyes in the back of the head.” It is one of the mysterious superpowers that teachers have that children cannot figure out and it is something that every good teacher should continue to
“Withitness,” a term coined by Jacob Kounin, is defined as “the art of running a classroom while having eyes in the back of your head” (aaeteachers.org).
Thesis: Withinness has made a significant impact in the development of a positive classroom climate, despite many critics. Kounin’s contribution is significant and remains an important part of classroom management still today.
Withitness can be used in the classroom in a myriad of ways. Kounin’s key teachings of withitness is being able to have “eyes in the back of one’s head.” This technique, or superpower many children believe to be real, is being able to foresee problems, stop issues before they turn into major problems and being able to keep control of the class all in one. …show more content…
Teachers who are always tuned in to what is going on have a much better chance of having a controlled classroom. By being able to predict a student’s behavior prior to them acting is key in keeping a class on task and focused. This also helps with lowering the amount of distractions which would take more time to address and solve. By using the four components of being withit, a teacher is able to maintain a balance within the classroom and with the students. Teachers are able to target the problem or the child who will act up, time out the situation, react to the student’s behavior and allow the child to respond (Johnston). Overall, withitness is something that every teacher should work towards improving. By doing so, they will be able to better connect with their classroom and will have a greater possibility to positively impact their students. The teacher has the responsibility to know what is happening and to be able to know how to handle any situation. Kounin’s withitness is, by definition of children, having “eyes in the back of the head.” It is one of the mysterious superpowers that teachers have that children cannot figure out and it is something that every good teacher should continue to