Classroom Management:
The purpose of effective classroom management is to create a respectful agreement between the teacher and the students so that both parties are equally represented and supported. Accordingly, the goal of such management is for the teacher and students to focus on positivity, inclusiveness, and progress, rather than centering on negativity, limitations, and setbacks. Teachers will know if they have met the classroom management objective by the level of student engagement in the classroom, the percentage of teacher talk to student talk, and the tone of voice used during this talk.
A teacher can implement effective classroom management by:
Student Representation:
Including students in the decision-making process gives them a prominent voice within the classroom. When students are given rules without knowing why in a top-down manner, they are more likely to question or refuse them. However, when students are allowed a say in what happens in the classroom, they gain agency and are, therefore, more likely to follow agreed-upon rules and procedures. This could be something as simple as asking for feedback on a deadline or a choice of activities, or something more complex like a behavioral contract or having students draft the classroom rules.
Here is a list of classroom jobs that students in my classes sign up for each month. In this way, students feel a sense of responsibility and unity in the classroom, as well as a sense of pride in fulfilling their chosen duty.
Research-Based Practices:
These are important to use with behavior as well as with academics. Research-based practices are best to implement because the results of such methods are supported by repeatable experiments and documented research. In my classroom, I implement surface techniques such as proximity control, reminders, eye contact, specific praise, small prizes like candy or pencils, and issuing warnings/reminders or holding conversations before consequences. Intervention Central is one resource that I consistently use to investigate research-based practices.
I follow the procedures described in the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) model, which focuses on replacing negative behaviors with positive ones then reinforcing the latter. As such, I am familiar, too, with and do implement the Response to Intervention (RTI) model when behaviors require attention beyond tier-one techniques.
Consistency is Key:
In order to host a positive and effective classroom, consistency truly is the key. If expectations are not clearly stated and then adhered to, students will not understand how to behave in class; there will be no clear line between what to do and what not to do. Thus, it is imperative to always follow-through on what has been said, and to be fair and impartial across all situations.
Below are three posters I have on the bulletin board in my classroom to remind students of our classroom purpose, of the class rules/procedures, and of the consequences for not following the specified rules/procedures.
Classroom Management Plan:
Please click here to view my most current Classroom Management Plan, which includes rules and procedures I implement to create a consistent, productive, and positive learning environment for all students.