Classroom management is not the same as discipline. Once you know the tricks of the trade, your classroom will become an oasis of learning.
Routines give both teachers and students the ability to see clearly what is expected and know how to follow through. Brain research shows that we look for patterns in everything we do: from reading, spelling, and every day activities… to following the rules at school.
Simply put, when a teacher sets routines, trains students to follow them, then holds high performance expectations, students will do better.
This is the essence of managing a classroom.
Children operate better in an environment that is structured and positive, yet one where they are very sure of the limits.
The key to effectively running any classroom though, lies in how willing the teacher is to take the time and train students how THEY ought to be running the room.
Definition of Classroom Management
Classroom management is how teachers run the day-to-day business of teaching and learning. It is how you maximize student potential by creating an environment that is conducive to learning.
One of the qualities of a good teacher is knowing how to use procedures to produce stellar results, and the corporate world applies this principle as well. It’s simply a matter of having a workable classroom management plan.
- Classroom Rules and Procedures
- Discipline
- Teacher-Student Relationships
- Mental Set: the readiness of a teacher to bring consistency to his or her own management of the classroom
It stands to reason that the more time a teacher has to spend dealing with behaviors, the lower rate of success his/her students will experience. That leads us to the three primary roles for a classroom teacher:
- making choices about instructional strategies
- designing curriculum
- employing management strategies
If a teacher does not understand the third point, the other two roles will be ultimately ineffective.
- More about classroom management.
- Management plan for the classroom.
- The importance of classroom routines
- Classroom management tips
What about classroom awards?
- Parent-teacher communication
- Classroom newsletters
- Classroom discipline
- Behavior intervention plan
Meet Your Teacher Ideas to set a positive tone for the year
Harry and Rosemary Wong
Harry and Rosemary Wong are well known for their passion about helping teachers learn to manage their classrooms effectively.
They write for Primary Education Oasis from time to time and I am thrilled to have their expertise! Click here for more information about the Wongs and to read their articles.
The Importance of Effectively Managing a Classroom
Classroom routines and behavior management are important because:
- Good teachers know how to use procedures to produce stellar results
- Your students will enjoy class more when they know and expect order and routine procedures
- Effective teaching and learning will not take place when there exists poor management:
- As teacher effectiveness increases, lower-achieving students are the first to benefit
(Sanders, William L.) - The most effective teachers are able to produce 9 months (or more!) of learning than ineffective teachers
(Rowan B., R. Correnti, and R. Miller) - Teacher expertise accounts for more than 90% of student variation in achievement
(National Teaching and America’s Future)
- As teacher effectiveness increases, lower-achieving students are the first to benefit
- You will know your students so well that you can recognize if behavior issues are coming from students who are struggling with the curriculum or are stemming from social emotional issues