5 Essential Classroom Management Strategies

Many new teachers find themselvesprey on weakness.  Always stay one step ahead
overwhelmed by the diverse behaviors andin your thinking.  For example, when one lesson is
personalities in their classrooms.  Teacher prepalmost over, be thinking whether you want the
courses often do not equip teachers withstudents at their desks or the rug for the next
adequate strategies for classroom management.activity.  While they are writing their names and
Here are 5 foolproof tips to control behavior andthe date on their paper, grab the materials for
maximize instructional time in your classroom.the next lesson so you will be ready as soon as
1.    Praise positive behaviors. Rather thanyour students finish the current assignment.  And
constantly correcting Johnny and giving himdon't forget to let your students help you.  One
negative attention, ignore his behavior wheneverstudent can be collecting papers while another
possible and focus on your model students.  Ifstudent is passing out the next assignment.
you say, “Becky is doing such a nice job of5.    Silence is powerful. When your class
sitting at the rug.  I can tell she is focused andbecomes unruly, do not shout over them.  They
here to learn,” Johnny will most likely copy herwill win every time.  Instead, use a calm, quiet
behavior in hopes that you say his name, too.  Ifvoice.  They will mirror your emotions and tone. 
he corrects his own behavior, make eye contactI only raise my voice few times each year, and
and give him verbal praise immediately.then my students know I REALLY mean
2.    Provide SOME extrinsic rewards. While ourbusiness.  Try counting backwards from 10
ultimate goal is for students to intrinsically monitorslowly (and show it on your fingers as a visual
their own behavior, children thrive when they arecue).  This shows the students that you value
working toward some sort of goal.  This doestheir conversations and you respect them enough
not necessarily mean you have to spend a lot ofto let them finish, but you also need them to
money on rewards.  Some of the most popularrefocus.  When teaching, if you need to stop
“prizes” in my class are 1 night of notalking mid-sentence because you feel that no one
homework, lunch and board games with theis listening, do it.  Most of your kids will notice and
teacher (the students eat their cafeteria lunchesstop talking immediately, and then they will signal
in my classroom), and sitting at the teacher'sto the kids who are still talking.  In my class, we
desk for a day.have an unwritten rule that says, “If you
3.    Post your rules in the front of the classwaste my time, I waste yours.”  For every
next to the chalkboard and refer to them often.minute I spend waiting for the class to quiet
Be specific with your verbal praise: “Johnny,down, they lose one minute of their recess.  I
thank you for following rule #5—Raise yourusually only have to do this a few times in the
hand to speak.”  Also, keep the wording ofbeginning of the year for my students to learn.  
your rules simple and kid-friendly.  Here are theNow when they see me looking at the clock, they
classroom rules I use for my lower elementaryknow I'm waiting for them to get quiet.
students:   1) Listen carefully.  2) FollowThese 5 strategies tell your students that you are
directions.  3) Work quietly.  4) Respect people,in control, and that you have high expectations
places, and things.  5) Raise your hand to speak. for their behavior.  By using these classroom
6) Clean up after yourself.management strategies, you will spend less time
4.    Plan ahead for effective transitions. Yourmanaging difficult behaviors, and more time
students are like sharks—they smell fear andteaching!