Managing the classroom
Well-managed classrooms require less disciplinary action. However, even the best classroom manager can use a few tips. Here are some classroom management tactics to reduce misbehavior so teachers can focus their energy on quality instructional time.
Practice time management
Discipline problems generally occur when students become disengaged. Predictable routines help structure blocks of time in the classroom. To keep students focused, plan different blocks of time in the classroom. Each block of time in the classroom should be planned, no matter how short.
Allocated time accounts for the total amount of teacher instruction and student learning.
Instructional time is the time teachers spend actively teaching.
During engaged time, students work on tasks on their own.
Teachers prove that students learned the content or new skills in academic learning time.
Plan for disruptions
A typical school day is filled with disruptions. Teachers need to be flexible and develop a series of plans to deal with anticipated classroom disruptions. Consider the following suggestions:
Typical times for student disruptions are usually at the start of the lesson, at the beginning of the class period, when topics change or at the end of a lesson or class period. Be ready to re-task students when they get off the established routine(s).
Greet students by name at the door to get a feel for their moods.
Diffuse conflicts in the classroom through re-tasking, engaging in dialogue, temporarily relocating a student to cool off, addressing the student(s) as privately as possible and using a non-threatening tone.
If removing a student from the classroom, make sure it doesn’t become a routine practice.
Prepare the physical environment
The physical arrangement of furniture, resources and supplies must achieve the following:
Minimize distractions, ease the flow of traffic and provide teacher(s) with good access to students.
Assists with transitions between classroom activities and limits distractions.
Supports quality student interactions.
Ensures adequate supervision.
Establish consistent rules
In making the classroom rules, consider the following suggestions:
Involve students in creating the classroom management plan.
Keep things simple; too many rules make students feel stressed.
Establish rules that cover behaviors that specifically interfere with learning and engagement.
Keep the language appropriate to the developmental level of the students.
Refer to rules regularly and positively.
Align your classroom rules with school rules; revisit them regularly.
Establish clear consequences for rule-breakers.