5 Common Forms of Classroom Management

Learning to manage a classroom full of students can be quite tricky. However, there are ways to help maintain order throughout the school year. Discipline is the most effective manner in which to manage a classroom as long as rules and consequences are clearly visible to all students. With this in mind, once students are made aware that there are consequences for rule breaking, they are more likely to behave.

Tell Students the Rules and Consequences on the First Day of Class

Effective classroom management begins at the very beginning. In fact, it is critically important for an instructor to explain to the class what to expect and what disciplinary action will be taken for rule breaking. However, if students are not told these guidelines specifically, at the very beginning, they may claim that they did not know the rules. Although ignorance is never a good defense, many students will proclaim their innocence to avoid discipline. By starting classroom management from the very beginning, everyone will be familiar with rules and expectations.

Give Students a Reminder

After the rules have been established, students will generally follow them. However, all students will make mistakes occasionally. When a student breaks or bends a rule the first time, it is good to give a reminder. For instance, if a student's cell phone rings during class, it is recommended that the student is reminded of the rule. Once the reminder is given, a student will likely make sure it does not happen again.

Follow Reminders with Warnings

A warning is given after a student has disregarded an instructor's reminder. However, when an infraction occurs on multiple occasions, a teacher must move forward by giving the student a warning. A warning tells the student that if his or her behavior continues, stricter punishment is to follow. In most cases, this will be sufficient, as the average person is unlikely to desire further disciplinary action.

Send Notice to Parents and Guardians

This disciplinary action occurs frequently when teaching children. In fact, the average child does not want to let parents know that they are misbehaving in school. The note will simply inform the parent or guardian of the child's misbehavior in class and warn that further rule breaking will result in stricter disciplinary measures. Most likely, this will end a child's bad behavior. Consequently, parents are an excellent tool to utilize in classroom management. A trip to the Administrative Office When a student has continually disregarded a teacher's disciplinary measures, the only classroom management technique available left is to send the student to the administration office. Once the disruptive student has left the classroom, order is restored. However, a teacher should remember that this is generally the last resort when dealing with a misbehaving student. Consequently, if a student is attempting to harm another student it will be appropriate to jump straight to this final action. Furthermore, a teacher must be able to reasonably manage students in the classroom.

The most important thing a teacher must remember is that consistency is crucial. Students will take advantage of a teacher who is inconsistent in disciplining unacceptable behavior. By following these guidelines for classroom management, a teacher can feel confident that they are doing their best.