Class Management

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