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One of a series of discussions by Maryland's Teachers of the Year about new teachers. This topic gives some hints and tips on successful classroom management strategies.
Question: There are many potential classroom difficulties that can be avoided with some simple classroom management techniques. Proactively planning learning areas, traffic flow, student seating, daily procedures, and means to reinforce behaviors can make each day flow more smoothly for students, and their teacher! What are some classroom management tools that you have found to be effective?
There is no “formula” for classroom management. Students and classes differ from teacher to teacher and from year to year. Here are some tips for successfully managing your classroom:
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Be consistent and fair: Communicate clear and consistent expectations from the first day of the school year.
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Establish Rules and Expectations Early On: It's much easier to start out more strict and then ease up rather than do the reverse.
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Treat Students as Individuals and with Respect: Put effort into building a respectful, caring relationship with each student.
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Use non-verbal cues: Cues such as eye contact, body language, and moving to the area of the issue often help with the situation before it becomes a problem and draws little attention to the entire class.
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Be Proactive: Make positive phone calls or send post cards help to build a rapport with parents as well as the child. In addition, making phone calls home issues of concern early help prevent major problems in the future. Praise students who are doing what is asked instead of spending time correcting the undesired behavior. Young kids really respond to this because they seek approval and want their name mentioned as well.
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Use “Secret Signals:” A secret signal can be used quietly between and student and the teacher to stop a behavior or signal a change in activities. These secret signals help so you do not have single out the student each time.
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Arrange the Classroom for Success: Plan traffic flow, leaving space around the closet and exit, and leaving space to and from supplies and books so that students can go in one way and out another. Plan to take line of sight into account arranging seating. Create clearly labeled bins for completed work, homework chart on the front of the board, a daily calendar with the schedule posted, and a bathroom pass and drink procedure that are explained the first day.
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Keep Students Engaged: Changing activities prevents behavior problems. Kids act up when they're bored and aren't interested. Utilize different groupings (individual, pairs, and groups) and varied teaching techniques (chants, rhymes, kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal etc) that will meet the numerous student learning styles.
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Be Prepared for Each Day: Make sure lessons and materials are ready and on hand. That way, there is no down time in a lesson, time that students may choose to play around. Try to have a plan for all of the students and implement lessons so that they will all be successful.
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Over Plan: Some students take longer to finish activities than others. As a result, students will get off task. Be sure to "over plan" with enrichment activities for those students who finish before others.
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Reward Desired Behaviors: Rewards can be given for clean, neat desks, good behavior. The rewards will motivate students.
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