A teacher seeks to manage their classroom, not to discipline it. A properly managed class is productive and positive, while a overly disciplined class is rigid and lacks creativity.
- Work on creating a predictable environment that has a routine. A well organized and scheduled class creates order and security for the students.
- Make sure you are always fully prepared for all of your classes. Students are smart and know when you are just trying to wing it, and they will resent you for trying.
- Communicate simple and clear classroom expectations. How can you expect your students to do what you want if they don’t understand what you want them to do?
- Start off every year by handing out a classroom management plan. Display it in the room by pinning it to an announcement or bulletin board.
- Speak only when students are ready to listen. Trying to speak over your students will only create a shouting match.
- Be consistent when addressing behavioral issues. Don’t play favorites with your students, or else you will jeopardize your authority as a teacher and classroom leader.
- Always have a well-designed and engaging lesson. We don’t all have to be entertainers in the class, but we must be able to craft lessons and activities that are interactive and captivating.
- Respect your students and they will respect you.
- Try to use humor to diffuse certain problematic situations. But remember the golden rule of classroom humor: jokes should be inclusive not exclusive. Don’t be sarcastic or pick on your students.
- Set high expectations. Come to class expecting that your students will behave, not that they will misbehave.
- Always have additional teaching activities ready to fill any unexpected free-time. These activities should be educational, and not just classroom fillers.
- Keep the number of classroom rules to a minimum. 5 rules is acceptable, 500 is not!
- Learn to forgive. Never hold a grudge toward a student that has acted up or misbehaved.
- Avoid water-cooler or staffroom talk. Complaining about students to other colleagues just creates a negative teaching atmosphere. It also doesn’t help to fix the situation.
- Seek out tips and tricks from senior staff members. You’re not alone, teaching is a team effort.
- Always reward positive student behavior. A simple compliment can go a long way to changing a student’s overall attitude and demeanor.
- Teach students how to mediate their own problems. Become a role-model through your actions and remarks.
- Use a visual cue to show your class that they are getting off task. Remember that your cue should be age appropriate.
- Create a seating chart to organize the classroom layout. Some students need to be in front in order for them to concentrate.