Classroom Management is everything teachers do to keep their students organized and engaged so their classrooms run smoothly. Teachers with strong management skills typically have less behavior issues because students know exactly what's expected and there is little down time to mess around. Less disruptions leads to higher academic achievement. This sounds pretty good, right? Check out some techniques below to add to or start building your Classroom Management Toolbox and improve the function of your classroom:
1️⃣ Entry Routines. Establish a consistent, daily routine that begins as soon as students enter the classroom.
2️⃣ Bell Work. Give a brief activity that students can complete as soon as they arrive in the classroom. This gets students settled, focused, productive, and prepared for instruction as quickly as possible. Packets with "Problem of the Day" type activities or daily practice are great for younger grades. Upper grades might be able to keep track of their own work in a notebook or on paper. Pick something related to your subject area or it's a great time to add in review of past material.
3️⃣ Transitions. Establish transition routines that students learn and can do quickly without much direction. The teacher explicitly teaches (and then practice repeatedly) the steps students should follow for a given prompt. For example, a teacher might say “reading time,” and students will know that they are expected to stop what they are working on, put away their materials, get their books, and begin reading silently on their own.
4️⃣ Seat Signals. Using nonverbal hand signals while seated is a way for students to indicate that they need something without disrupting class.
5️⃣ Positive Reinforcement. Recognize and praise students who have done something good, such as answering a difficult question or helping a peer. The goal is to establish a group culture in which learning accomplishments and positive actions are valued. This can take some time to normalize with upper grades.
6️⃣ Nonverbal Intervention. A teacher can make eye contact or gestures that let students know they are off-task, not paying attention, or misbehaving. This helps teachers efficiently and discretely manage student behavior without disruption.
7️⃣ Positive Group Correction. This is a quick verbal reminder that lets a group of students know what they should be doing (rather than focusing on what they should not be doing).
-Anonymous Individual Correction- a verbal reminder that is directed at an anonymous student.
-Private Individual Correction- a reminder given to an individual student as discretely as possible.
-Lightning-Quick Public Correction, a quick, positive reminder that tells an individual student what to do instead of what not to do.
8️⃣ Repetition. This can be used when students do not perform a basic task correctly, and the teacher asks them to do it again the correct way. Repetition establishes and reinforces consistent expectations.
9️⃣ Plan Minute to Minute. Every instructional minute counts in the classroom and planning bell to bell helps to cut down on chaos. The more prepared a teacher is, the more effective a lesson will be. Learning can't occur when students are not engaged and students can't be engaged if nothing is planned for them.
🔟 Classroom as a community. There is mutual respect built between teacher and student, removing any power struggle. Roles and boundaries are clearly defined.
***Techniques largely based on "Teach Like a Champion" by Doug Lemov***
More for Elementary:
https://www.weareteachers.com/classroom-management-techniques/
More for Jr High:
https://www.hmhco.com/blog/middle-school-classroom-management-strategies
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