How to Build Effective Classroom Management Strategies
In this article we share effective classroom management strategies and resources, including how to control a noisy classroom, for the three main levels in education: primary, middle, and high school levels.
Classroom management must be the focus of the first week back into the classroom.
Teachers who spend the first week of school working on all aspects related to classroom management will find that their classrooms will effectively run themselves whereby allowing for real teaching and learning to take place.
Classroom Managment Infographic
Infographics are a great resource to display in the classroom because they summarize topics ideas that need to be reinforced again and again.
When students see the benefits to classroom management they will be reminded to follow rules and keep behavior in check.
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The strategies recommended in this article can be applied to both the traditional and online classrooms.
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How to Control a Noisy Classroom
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Our classroom management stategies guide help set the stage for a safe classroom environment and community.
But what about handling a noisy classroom that just won’t listen to what the teacher has to say?
The author of Take Control of the Noisy Class, Rob Flavin outlines approaches to calm students down so they begin to listen and respond to what the teacher has to say.
As Rob says, this book will help take your classroom from “chaos to calm in 15 minutes” . If you are struggling as a teacher with day to day classroom chaos, click on the image to get access to this simple and easy to implement guide.
To see other valuable resources from Rob Plavin, follow him, as we have done, on Amazon today!
In the early days of a new school year, a teacher must focus on classroom strategies for their sake and the sake of the students themselves.
The consequences for overlooking this important aspect to teaching will have serious negative impacts to learning.
Classroom Management Instructional Guide Video
Classroom management when done correct can really enhance how much students learn in the classroom, whether it be in the traditional in-person classroom or the online classroom.
When classroom management is not done correctly students will no only lose the chance to learn what they need it, they will also lose their identity in the classroom as they begin to feel lost with what is happening in the classroom.
Everything aspect we go on to mention in this article is summed up in the video below.
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Our Outline of the Five Important Strategies
Five important classroom strategies include:
1. Creating a Safe Classroom Environment
A safe classroom environment is one where teaching and learning are allowed to occur without any unnecessary interruptions or fear of embarrassment when mistakes happen.
2. Establishing Effective Classroom Rules and Routines
Classroom rules and routines contribute to the effective running of the classroom because students and teachers know what to expect and what to do when tasks are complete, and how to handle transitions between activities.
3. Establishing Easy Transitions
Transitions help keep the pace and energy of students in check as students are aware of when different activities begin and end.
4. Using Silent Cues
Rather than drawing unnecessary attention to others and causing more noise in the classroom, teachers can use silent cues to help students understand what needs to get done in the classroom.
5. Harnessing Teacher Intuition
Teacher intuition means knowing the difference between when students are their usual selves and when they are not and when it is best to step in to help when emotions get in the way of learning.
Proper classroom management strategies at any level in education works best when the teacher works with the students to establish certain ground rules.
What to Consider When Building Classroom Management Strategies
When it comes to rewards and consequences, teachers must include students in the discussion, and should not promise unattainable responses for either rewards or consequences.
These rules come from the students and means that students are in control of how the class starts and finishes, along with rewards and consequences to actions and behaviors in the class.
Teachers should NOT break their personal bank accounts in handing out rewards, but instead offer up rewards that have significant meanings to students and are worth their effort.
Teachers must NEVER make promises of rewards, and then not follow through with such promises. For example teachers should not promise bonus points on a test question, and then not deliver.
Just as important, teachers should NEVER offer a consequence that is not feasible for the student or teacher to carry out.
Teachers should be conscious of the fact that often times when punishing students they often end up punishing themselves.
If for example the student has their free time taken away, the teacher may have to give up their free time to spend with that student in time-out.
Classroom Management Strategies At Any Stage
In looking at the different levels of education, the one common thread is that the teacher and students should work on the strategies together.
The different approaches to classroom management strategies will vary with how much attention students give towards their teacher.
Classroom Management & The Primary School Level
At this level the students are more focused on being pleasing to their teacher, and their friends are pretty much after-thoughts where they have no shame in calling out each other when they are not behaving as they should.
Students at this level can be tasked with simple classroom jobs as it makes them feel like they belong and a sense of responsibility.
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They are accepting of rules presented by the teacher, so there is no need to negotiate which rules make it to the list.
Consequences should revolve around showing what actions make students happy or sad, and that students want to be happy and not sad.
Classroom Management & The Middle School Level
The tides begin to turn at this stage of learning as students begin to focus on being pleasing to their fellow classmates and friends rather than the teacher.
This means that the teacher needs to become more of an expert in negotiations between two choices, making one choice (the recommended one) seeming to be much more appealing than the other.Â
Students at this stage assume much more responsibility in forming proper classroom rules and procedures as such that the teacher is seeing a class essentially run itself.
The students help to determine the rewards and consequences that the students function as a team and that any consequences may reflect badly on the class instead of one individual.
Students may take ownership of their consequences by writing why they are receiving the consequence and in understanding that this goes into their portfolios for the class.
Classroom Management & The High School Level
The teacher at this level is mainly the mediator as negotiations are much more decided among students and respect for the teacher develops, if the teacher is versed in communication and knowing when to step in to mediate the negotiations.
Since the students at this stage are fully aware of how consequences may impact on their reputation and/or grades, there is no real need to emphasize consequences other than the first day of school.
Students may understand that any official consequences may be recorded in their official records that could impact on their future educational careers.
Classroom Management Strategies In The Online Classroom
When it comes to place, that is the face-to-face classroom verses the online classroom, classroom management strategies should have the same impact, but naturally the approach will vary.
Sure the “mute” button could act as a good source of control for a noisy online classroom, but teachers should not depend on technology alone to help in discipling the students.
In the online class, students are to be made aware in the beginning of the class that if they fail to abide by the classroom rules or procedures, then they would need to fill out a report and it goes into their portfolio.
However, students should also be aware that any rewards they receive also goes into their portfolio.
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Classroom Related Topics
Getting your classroom ready also helps with classroom management since it is the beginning of establishing a safe learning environment.
Learn more about getting your classroom ready by clicking here.
Classroom management done correctly brings as sense of comfort to the class, much like the comfort that comes from a good meal in the kitchen.
Click here to learn more about how the kitchen connects to the classroom.
Related Topics
Connect to our other pages as you navigate through our website. Explore what these pages have to offer you and you will be glad you did!
- ELA Oral Presentation Rubrics for the Classroom
- Teacher Identity in the Online Classroom
- What Are Formative Assessments in Education?
- Effective Lesson Plans Checklist for Teachers
- 5 Important Tips for PreService Teachers
- The Main Focus of Teaching Educational Strategies
- 5 Ways to Increase Student Participation in the Classroom
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Final Thoughts…
Classroom management is very important to both the teacher and the students in the classroom. It should not dismissed by the teacher because they expect students will stay well-behaved during the entire class.
Teachers who encourage students to become part of the classroom in setting up a positive learning environment find that it benefits both students and the teacher, because the time spent in the classroom can be used effectively when it comes to learning.
This also helps when building the teacher – student relationship in making learning easier.
When students are ready to learn the teachers can improve their teaching strategies effectively in the classroom.
Share Your Thoughts!
We would like to hear from you! Let know your thoughts in the comments below on classroom management strategies in the classroom.
I love how this article also includes classroom management in an online setting. True, having the microphones muted is really helpful in minimizing classroom noise; however, it is also good to consider that having a super quiet class might also feel a bit awkward.
Well said, and thank you for your kind words! I am glad you enjoyed the article!