Educators acknowledge that classroom behavior is worse than pre-pandemic levels, according to an article in Education Week. EdWeek Research Center surveys in post-pandemic years show an increasing percentage of educators reporting deteriorating student behavior, from 66% in 2021, to 70% in 2023, to 72% in 2024.
Behavior might improve slightly as more schools and districts implement bans on cellphones, which are frequently blamed for classroom disruptions and disciplinary actions. But removing cellphones from classrooms won’t solve all classroom management challenges.
What to do?
Education Week conducted an unscientific social media poll to find out, asking educators: What are your best strategies for effective classroom management?
The poll garnered 752 votes. “Building strong relationships” was the leading solution, getting 59% of the vote. “Maintaining consistent rules” earned 28% of the votes. “Offering positive reinforcement” received 10%.
Many survey respondents leaned into the need for both classroom rules and routines and relationship-building with students.
Here’s a sampling of comments, lightly edited for clarity and length:
Set expectations and routines early. Practice them repeatedly until those routines become habits. Be firm, fair, consistent.
Shawn R.
For that one group that won’t get it together, start writing everything in a notebook. I find a clipboard to be even more effective actually. The kids have no idea what I’m writing, but the idea of documentation makes them shape up.
Julie P.
Proximity. I stand beside the hot spot until they stop distracting. It’s effective.
Brian N.
Research reinforces the strategy of teachers getting to better know their students and building strong relationships with them.
A 2013 study of 1,000 male middle and high school students from six countries, including the United States, found most students acknowledged that a positive relationship with their teacher had a strong impact on their learning.
“When there’s a teacher that I have a relationship with, I 100% try harder in class. Even if I got no sleep the night before, I’ll stay up for first period because I like the teacher,” Warren Coates, a senior at Smyrna High School in central Delaware during the 2025-26 school year, told Education Week in a study last fall.
Teachers as well as students recognize the value of strong student-teacher relationships combined with classroom rules and routines. Some teacher comments:
Routine, structure, positive reinforcement, relationships…they [students] will run through a brick wall for you if they know you care! That doesn’t mean every day will be perfect, but it will be better!
Sammi D.H.
There needs to for clear, simple, and concise rules and routine. There must also be effective rewards and consequences. That does not mean a punishment. These must be well-displayed and carried out consistently. Finally, you do need to get to know your students and your students need to get to know you. That helps you to understand what approaches are needed, to understand problems, and to help each other out.
Duane D.
Building positive relationships goes without saying. However, love without accountability isn’t love. It’s enabling.
Tiffany N.S.
Education Week
