CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Classroom management is the essential
teaching skill. Teachers cannot teach and students cannot learn in a classroom
plagued with disruptions. Proactive classroom management is based on organizing
the classroom in ways that create a positive physical and emotional environment.
Proactive teachers establish routines, lessons, and disciplinary strategies
that teach students self-control. As students take more responsibility for
their learning and behavior, teachers spend less time correcting misbehavior. Less
attention to discipline concerns translates into more time for teaching and
learning.
Good classroom management is a cornerstone of effective teaching. The
challenge is to keep your students engaged in your lessons, and to maintain the
harmonious culture that keeps them wanting to learn and accepting discipline.
CLASSROOM ARRANGEMENT
The teacher must be able to observe all students at
all times and to monitor work and behavior. The teacher should also be able to
see the door from his or her desk.
Frequently used areas of the room and traffic lanes
should be unobstructed and easily accessible.
Students should be able to see the teacher and
presentation area without undue turning or movement.
Commonly used classroom materials, e.g., books,
attendance pads, absence permits, and student reference materials should be
readily available.
Some degree of decoration will help add to the attractiveness
of the room.
5 TIPS ON CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
1)
Know your students and
help them get to know each other
Take the time to find out more about your students and
understand the circumstances they face in their own lives. Place yourself in
their shoes as best you can. By understanding them and their needs, you will be
able to teach them more effectively.
Use age-appropriate activities to allow students to learn each other's names and share something about
themselves.
Fostering these connections from the start of the year promotes greater empathy between students,
and therefore fewer
conflicts and disruptions.
Let your students know you too. The more comfortable the
students feel with you, the more likely they are to trust you.
2. Create a positive classroom environment
Building a sense of community in your class encourages
your students to care for and look out for one another. Compliment the class as a whole when they achieve something. Make students feel like they matter by
allowing them to have input in its layout and design, and giving them some responsibilities in the classroom. For example, get
students to write some banners and charts that go on the walls.
Be sure to smile and greet your students each day. Try not to
raise your voice, as this often causes students to switch off or become
resentful. Instead, wait for the class to become quiet – it will eventually
grow uncomfortable to the point that students begin to silence each other.
3. Establish rewards, rules and consequences
At the start of the year, discuss with your students the sort
of behaviour that should be expected in the classroom. Allow these discussions
to inform the rules that are established, the rewards for upholding them and
consequences for breaking them. This is the framework for which you can manage behaviour in your class. It is important now to
follow through, so students continue to trust you.
Reinforce good behaviour with praise and rewards that
have been agreed upon. Similarly, address
behavioural issues quickly in a fair and consistent manner.
Be a positive role model for your students. Your class will
learn from what you do, not just what you say. Be pleasant, patient, caring,
and open to laughter and fun.
Smile. Be fair to everyone, acknowledging if an
exception has been made for someone. Don’t call on the same students all the time, as this can
cause resentment. If issues arise with students or between students, be sure to
calmly address them as soon as possible. Approach them quietly, actively listen
to what they have to say and avoid acting in a way that may appear
confrontational.
4. Have well-prepared, engaging lessons
At the start of the lesson, outline what you are going to
teach and the expected learning outcomes. Always over-plan so that students
don’t get bored and disruptive. Planning and establishing routines also makes
your job easier and helps keep
kids on track because they feel safer when they know what to expect,
thus saving learning time.
5. Make communication a priority
Communication with your students and their parents is an
important part of effective teaching and classroom management. Not everyone is
comfortable raising issues in front of everyone, and it may be inappropriate to
do so at times, so let the class know of where and when you are available to be
approached quietly after the lesson. Furthermore, not all students communicate
best verbally or in person, so offer other methods of communication. They may
find your work email address or a professional Twitter account convenient to
them. A suggestion box where students can leave notes anonymously may also make
them feel more at ease.
When it comes to school work, consider setting up a website or
wiki so that students can easily catch up on things they may have missed or
forgotten. This also allows parents to check in on what their children are
learning.
Ringing home with positive news, rather than only when there
is a problem, reinforces a good
relationship with your students’ parents. If something negative needs to
be addressed, include a positive first before calmly bringing up the other
point. Encourage parents to get in touch with you with any concerns they may
have. Consider having business cards on display at parent nights