Effective Classroom Management StrategiesA smooth running classroom is the result of implementing

appropriate rules and procedures so that students know what is expected.

Either you set the standards, or your students will.

Successfulprofessionals are:

efficient

effective

Effective Teacher

Classroom manageme

nt

Mastery teachingPositive

expectations

Well

managed classroomPositive expectations

High achieveme

nt level

Am I in the right room?

Your room is clearly

labelled and welcoming

Where am I supposed to

sit?Assign

students a seat

What are the rules in this classroom?

Identify your class rules

and discipline plan

What students want to know when they enter your classroom on the first

day:

Your room is clearly labelled and welcoming

What will I be doing this

year?

Who is the teacher as a

person?

Will I be treated as a

human being?Prepare a

script

Why the First Day of School is so important

What is done on the first day will to a large extent, determine the success of that class.

Greet students personally as they enter the room.

On the First Day of School

Assign seats to students

On the First Day of School

On the First Day of School

Instruct students to begin the assignment at their desks as soon as they find their seat.

I put an assignment on the board every single day before the students came in to my classes. I now have one of the smoothest running classrooms, and the students produce more for me now than at any other time.

Shirley Bert Lee, Elementary TeacherThe First Days of School

I put an assignment on the board every single day before the students came in to my classes. I now have one of the smoothest running classrooms, and the students produce more for me now than at any other time.

Shirley Bert Lee, Elementary TeacherThe First Days of School

First Day Assignment

‘Bell Work’

reading math

revisionspelling

colouringdrawing

The one, single, most important factor governing student learning is classroom management.

Educational Leadership, January 1994

Classroom Discipline Plan

Discipline

RoutineProcedures

Discipline Plan

No more than 5 rules

Post the plan

where it can be seen

Rules Have Consequences

Never make a rule that

you are not willing to enforce

every time

Rules

Consequences

Rewards

Praise

Whole class PAT

Movie and popcorn

party

Joy of learning

The number one problem in classrooms is not discipline; it is

the lack of procedures and routines.

The First Days of School, p167

Procedures to teachOn the First Day of School

Entering the classroom

Starting work as soon as they

enter “bell work”

Students seeking help

End of lesson

Movement of students

Quieting a class

Without procedures and routines there is no

structure.Without structure, no one

knows what to do.

Without procedures and routines there is no

structure.Without structure, no

one knows what to do.

Teaching Procedures:Explain, Rehearse, Reinforce

Explain: state, explain, model

and demonstrate the procedure.

Rehearse: rehearse and practice the procedure under your supervision.

Reinforce: reteach, rehearse, practice, reinforce.

Procedure for quieting a class

When you hear me ring the bell ...

StopLook and

Listen

If you want your students to do something, they must physically do it and do it and do it and do it

over and over again.

... Until it is right

Waiting in line procedure

1.Feet together2.Arms at side3.No talking

Computer lab procedure

1. Wash hands2. No more than 2 people at a computer3. Clean the area before you leave4. Log out of all programs5. If it is the end of the day, close down the

computer.

Your procedures will become routines

•Until procedures become routine

Keep rehearsi

ng

•On doing it correctly

Congratulate

•At the next opportunity until it becomes a routine

Do it again

Procedures = achievement and responsible behaviour

Teach Responsible behaviour

Clean up handing

out

Bulletin Board

Clean up

General Chores

When students are late Asking for help Responding to help Listening and responding to

questions When you need

paper/pencil Sharpening pencils Turning in papers When absent When someone enters the

room Working co-operatively

An emergency alert When you need help Procedures for finishing

early Playground equipment Keeping work area tidy Walking in the hallway Going to the library Using computers When absent Going to the toilet Using the water fountain

Identify the procedures you need for your classroom and teach them as the need presents

Managing Behaviour

It has been estimated that a teacher makes more decisions in an

hour than an air traffic controller.

Tools for Teaching, Fred Jones

Your Room – placement of furniture

‘work the crowd’

Make eye contact

with those at a distance

Green: Clear to

goof off –teacher not

nearby

Managing stress will enable you to manage the classroom more effectively

If you are calm, you will have a calming effect on those around you

Remaining calm in the face of stress, is a skill

What you say non-verbally will have a greater impact than what you say verbally

Body language is the

language of emotion

and intention.

Managing classroom disruptions

Calm the student

•Get them back on task

Focus on

small disrupti

ons

Big disruption

s grow from small disruption

s

A difficult choice?

Discipline or instruction?

How big is the

disruption

How important is

the assignment?

No means no every

time

At some point, dealing with the same provocations from the same students over and over again will become personal.

Being consistent

If you respond based upon your feelings, you can never be consistent.

Managing classroom disruptions

Learn to Relax

Reading students body language

Non-compliance

•Check the feet

Reading students body language

With good eye contact there is a tension between the teacher and the student that builds with each passing second.

Walk over to the green zone

Move towards the disruptive student

Say their names in a flat tone of

voice

Moving InWalk to the edge of the desk, stand relaxed and uprightLook at feet and legsVisual prompt to move fully aroundIf half attempt given to you - Verbal promptRest your weight on both palms, watch and waitWait long enough for a stable return to workIf you are given eye prompts - student looks up and down, stay downThank the student and stay down, watch and wait.

Moving OutRepeat the process with the second studentStand slowly after thanking the second studentIf Eyes up, eyes down: waitas you leave, turn fully towards disrupters

Do not move away too

quickly

Camouflage

Work the crowd

Use eye contact

Protect student from

embarrassment

Arrive at the disrupter’s desk

and give a knowing look

Apply Rules, consequences and rewards Implement Procedures Plan ahead Assignments posted daily

Effective teachers:

Join Associations Attend Conferences Subscriptions Internet groups Set up a personal learning network Learn from experts around you

Be a top professional

Images: lightbulb, Joe Colburn Classroom by Dave_mcmt Kids Painting, image by pingu1963 School entrance by Dave-mcmt Teacher, by EditorB Blackboard kid, image taken from friendofsnails Handshake by sudama http://www.flickr.com/photos/35468150609@N01/16557880 Chalkboard background to school boy, by winged photography School boy, by tomfhaines Desks, by Ben Werdmuller Slide 11, classroom by Liz Marie Notepad image by efekt Bell work, school door image by Dave_mcmt Discipline classroom by EditorB Rules by faeryboots Classroom rules by szlea Rewards image by (classroom) LizMarie Shhh by said&done Responsible behavour, tidy area in classroom by LizMarie Cloud question mark by fontplaydotcom School building by Dave_mcmt Rehearse image by yeowatzup Gymnastic image (poutre) by Raoheal Goetter Rehearse2 by markwick Ballet image by nayrb7

References

Classroom rules by LindaH Parking image by Jaako Broken light bulb image by Kyle May Slide 25, Well ordered classroom by glassbeednorth Classroom 2, by glassbeednorth Slide 34, Forming a line image, by woodleywonderworks Pencil image by arquera Computer lab, laffy4K Practising routine, image by pingu1963 Playing piano by flickrized Classroom (empty desks) by saibotregeel Clock image by tamelyn Crowd control (image for fill) by James Cridland Traffic light image by Johnmarchan Calm picture, island, by eindzel On task, image by pingu1963 Mad expression by kevin dooley Discipline image by hyperscholar Blind eye, image by DerrekT Students at desks by hoyasmeg Expression, body language by EditorB Relax by *Hini* Student sitting at desk, image by foundphotosli Smiley face image by xtheowl Portrait by flikr Green light by James Cridland Moving In image, classroom by hoyasmeg Moving Out image by peidianlong Camouflage by jmurawski

Jones, F, 2007, Tools for Teaching, Fredric Jones & Associates Wong, H & R, 2004, The First Days of School, Harry K Wong Publications