7 B E S T T I P S T O M A N A G E Y O U R C L A S S R O O M

B Y M I C H A E L G . S H E P PA R D

Whether you are a novice or experienced teacher, strategies for efficient and effective classroom management are vital in creating a strong, conducive, and positive learning environment.

T H E S E S K I L L S A N D T E C H N I Q U E S A R E L E V E R A G E D B Y T E A C H E R S T O K E E P T H E I R S T U D E N T S O R G A N I Z E D , O R D E R LY, F O C U S E D , AT T E N T I V E , O N TA S K , A N D A C A D E M I C A L LY P R O D U C T I V E D U R I N G C L A S S .

C L A S S R O O M M A N A G E M E N T, B Y D E F I N I T I O N , I S A P R O C E S S O F E N S U R I N G E F F I C I E N T A N D O P E R AT I O N A L T E A C H I N G D E S P I T E D I S R U P T I O N S O R N E G AT I V E C L A S S R O O M B E H AV I O R .

T H E S E S K I L L S A N D T E C H N I Q U E S A R E L E V E R A G E D B Y T E A C H E R S T O K E E P T H E I R S T U D E N T S O R G A N I Z E D , O R D E R LY, F O C U S E D , AT T E N T I V E , O N TA S K , A N D A C A D E M I C A L LY P R O D U C T I V E D U R I N G C L A S S .

W H E N C L A S S R O O M -M A N A G E M E N T S T R AT E G I E S A R E E X E C U T E D E F F E C T I V E LY, T E A C H E R S A R E A B L E T O M I N I M I Z E A N Y D I S T R A C T I O N S O R U N WA R R A N T E D B E H AV I O R T H AT C A N I M P E D E L E A R N I N G F O R A G R O U P O F S T U D E N T S , W H I L E M A X I M I Z I N G T H E B E H AV I O R T H AT FA C I L I TAT E S O R E N H A N C E S L E A R N I N G .

• These tips will go in depth of what you can do before class starts to problems and conflicts that can arise in the future.

Remember, a teacher is only as good as his or her class. It is your job to take control of your class so that you can provide an excellent set of education for your students.

1 . P I C K Y O U R R U L E S W I S E LY

• More rules do not always equate to better behavior.

• More rules can leave a class rigid and cold.

• Certain rules can be overcomplicated

• The best way to handle this is by creating no more than five standard rules.

2 . A LWAY S H A N D L E N E G AT I V E B E H AV I O R

• Always have a plan. Regardless of whether it is a small or a large infraction, you need to be consistent with your negative punishment.

• Allowing that type of leniency can only compromise your classroom culture and your relationship with your student.

3 . S T R U C T U R E Y O U R C L A S S I N T H E M O S T E F F E C T I V E WAY P O S S I B L E

• From seating charts to homework and classwork bins, make sure that you and your students know your classroom.

• The most important thing to bring positivity in your class is creating the perfect classroom environment.

• Make sure every part of the classroom has a purpose. Whether that is tables, bins, bookshelves, desk, etc. each part of furniture or object needs to be incorporated in some way.

• This will better enhance the rules and routines for your students to have a smoothly operating class.

4 . C R E AT E L O G I S T I C S F O R T H E L I T T L E T H I N G S

• Ask yourself various questions of how you want them taking notes, when you want them talking, and how you want them working.

• Ironing out these little routines will further enhance the positive learning environment.

• Similar to the structure of your classroom, you want to create various routines so that your students can operate in the most effective manner for your teaching.

• The best teachers are those who not just have the control of their classroom, but are completely comfortable teaching with the students.

• This all goes back to your confidence.

• For novice teachers, this can oftentimes be difficult because of the new challenges and environment that teacher face every single day.

• Once you finally get the groove of things, you will begin finding your teacher personality.

• The worst thing you can do is faking your personality. Be yourself. That is the only way to be confident.

5 . B E C A L M A N D C O M F O RTA B L E

6 . C O N F R O N T I S S U E S H E A D - O N T O F I N D A S O L U T I O N

• The best way to handle this situation is by confronting the issues you are consistently seeing.

• Make sure to be honest with the students. Let them know why you are changing your systems so that they can fully comprehend the magnitude of their behaviors.

• In addition, for individual students, if there is a problem, talk to them immediately.

• Whether it is a quick side conversation or an after school meeting, these head-on tactics can best nullify any type of heated situation.

7 . C R E AT E A P O S I T I V E W O R K A B L E AT M O S P H E R E

• As much as you want to have a manageable classroom environment, you also want your students to desire for new information.

• That being said, you need to make the classroom fun.

• Be relaxed, but be operational. Students find that their favorite and best memories of teachers and their classroom are the work that they did for them.