Classroom management is one of the toughest things that teachers do – and it is a skill that you can develop and perfect over time, according to a post on the We Are Teachers website. Use these teacher-tested classroom management strategies and techniques to create and manage your classroom environment.
1) Understand special needs
Consider and plan for the needs in your classroom. Regularly review IEP and 504 plans and share any issues or questions with the special ed team. Be transparent with these students so they know the plan—and they know you know it too. Make it a team effort. Encourage kids to remind you of their accommodations. Transparency and collaboration reduce anxieties and empower students to ask for what they need.
2) Know the difference between equality and equity
As you learn more about your students, look for ways to recognize their diverse characteristics in your lessons. Educate yourself on the differences between equality and equity. Equality means giving everyone the same resources and opportunities, treating everyone identically. Equity means giving people different resources based on their individual needs. Make it a point to understand the challenges many of your students face both in and out of the classroom.
3) Privately address learning struggles one-on-one
When a student struggles, teachers might want to spend extra time one-on-one on a topic that only a few kids need help with. Privately address challenges directly with the student(s) affected. These conversations will get easier over time and can help build strong relationships.
4) Don’t take things personally
Kids often take out their wider life frustrations on teachers and other students. It’s tempting to take this venting personally and respond emotionally. Step back and return to your behavior management plan. Ask, “What does this student need right now?” and proceed according to your plan. If there truly is a personal conflict, address that privately and individually. You don’t want a classroom shouting match.
5) Focus on the facts
Truly address the problem you have, not the one you think you have. If one student is constantly interrupting the class, start keeping track. Stick to the facts. (Perhaps bring in another teacher or admin to observe and keep track for you.) The behavior might not happen as often as you think, or there might be a pattern to the behavior problem that suggests its own solution. Use classroom management techniques that take on situations with logic rather than emotion or frustration.
6) Stay organized
Organization is one of the most important classroom management strategies. There’s a reason so many teachers love their daily planners and can’t get enough classroom organization ideas.
7) Give students responsibility
Organization can be helped by off-loading some responsibilities. Delegation is one of the best classroom management strategies because it empowers your students. Give them tasks such as taking attendance, cleaning up workstations, passing out papers, and even grading each other’s homework. Look for ways they can do things for themselves.
8) Plan, plan, plan
Develop lesson plans that work for your teaching style, accommodate all learners, meet curriculum standards, and trigger the curiosity of your students. The more you do it, the better you’ll get. A well-planned day is one of the best classroom management strategies that has an immediate positive impact. It also can mean the difference between being tired and flat-out exhausted.
9) Be flexible
Teachers must be flexible and make adjustments as needed. Build extra time into every lesson plan for the unexpected — snow days, sick kids, escaped hamsters, and other unforeseen emergencies — and keep a supply of early-finisher activities on hand, too. Use classroom management strategies to help you go with the flow, easing stress and fatigue.
10) Default to compassion
Compassion is a classroom management strategy that can be a difference-maker with your most challenging students. Examples: A kid shows up late. “Everything OK? We missed you.” A kid doesn’t have their homework for the fourth time this week. “Hey, is something going on that’s making it hard for you to get your work done? This is really important, and I want to make sure you’re able to do what you need to do.” A kid throws a tantrum in class. “Wow, you’re really struggling with self-control. Can you tell me why? Are you hungry or tired?”. Ask questions, listen closely, use empathy to show that you care.
We Are Teachers
