Teachers handle many issues in a day, from disciplinary and behavior issues to a lack of adherence to the daily schedule cases. Consistently experiencing such challenges can sometimes make the teaching profession feel unrewarding. Luckily, teachers can use various classroom management strategies to inspire compliance among students.
It starts with having a solid classroom management plan that outlines the methods and techniques for running a classroom and each lesson. From there, teachers can also upgrade their classroom management skills through a degree in education and apply these additional 20 strategies to manage their classrooms better.
The Best Classroom Management Strategies Today
The five components of effective classroom management include developing behavioral standards, establishing working relationships with students, valuing your time as a teacher, familiarizing students with teaching methods, and anticipating student behavior.
Teachers should implement the following universal classroom management strategies for the best chance of succeeding at managing their classrooms:
Lead by Example
The most effective way for teachers to instill good student behavior is by leading through actions, not words. That’s because students’ minds are still developing, so they learn more from experiences. Therefore, doing simple things like avoiding electronic use, talking politely, and respecting everyone in the class can have a significant impact on molding better student behavior.
Teachers can manage classrooms better by involving students in rule-making, documenting the rules, and setting consequences for breaking them. Teachers should also reward good behavior and talk more positively about students.
Allow Students to Participate in Rule-Making
Most humans, from employees to students, comply better to set rules when involved in decision-making. Teachers can use this classroom management technique to ensure willful rather than forced compliance with classroom rules throughout the calendar year.
Write Down the Rules Down
For the rules to work, students should be able to see them every time they enter the classroom. Teachers should create professional charts with all rules typed and stick them in a visible place to ensure they remain on top of each student’s mind.
Hold Students Accountable for Breaking Rules
Once students have taken part in setting classroom rules and they’re drafted, teachers should start holding students accountable for breaking the set regulations. For each broken regulation, students should face a certain amount of consequence, even if it’s just acknowledging their indiscipline in front of the entire class.
Never Generalize the Entire Class
Teachers should avoid punishing the entire class for a mistake made by several students. Instead, they should identify and call out the bad-behaving students after the class and try to discover the cause of their bad behavior to see if they can come up with a solution.
Have a Friendly Aura
Teachers should generally be social and approachable human beings. Even on bad days, teachers should try to be the most optimistic in the classroom environment and not let their bad moods radiate to the rest of the class.
Let Students Thrive at What They Excel In
In every classroom, some students are gifted in academics while others have strengths in other areas, such as art. Teachers should support learners of all students in areas they show interest and passion.
Commend Students for Job Well Done
Students love to feel appreciated when they have put some effort toward doing the right things, and it keeps them motivated toward a good path. Therefore, teachers should regularly acknowledge class or student efforts to encourage positive participation and behavior in the classroom.
Reward Excellent Behavior
Teachers should reward good behavior from the entire class or students from time to time to encourage more of it. Rewards can include special parties, outdoor activities during free time, or treats.
Talk of Students in a Positive Light
Parents often hear from teachers only when their child has done wrong in school. Teachers should also contact parents with positive information or a good word about the children for better student-teacher and parent-teacher relationships.
Make Learning Exciting
Learning can become mundane and boring when it’s the same old regurgitated content. As such, teachers should spice up each day’s learning experience by setting the tone for an exciting day from the minute lessons start. This way, students will remain excited and expectant throughout the day.
Engage with Students on a One-to-One Basis
Teachers should get to know their students more personally to be in a better position to help them thrive. Privately, they should learn their students’ strengths and weaknesses in academics and life to help them grow.
Set Routines and Schedules
Students are creatures of habit. As such, teachers should set short- and long-term classroom routines and schedules that allow students to know what is expected of them at each point during the day for more productivity.
Establish Ways to Handle Bad Behavior
Bad behavior should never go unchecked in a classroom or students will become hardheaded. Instead, teachers should have creative ways to deal with bad behavior, such as unwarranted class disruptions, to show others that such behavior isn’t acceptable.
Classroom Management Techniques for Colleges and Institutions of Higher Learning
The topstrategies include building a community and a safe classroom, involving students in rule-making, having clear communication channels, being fair, knowing students personally, addressing conflict amicably, having positive classroom routines, being authentic, and partnering with guardians. Teachers can go the extra mile to get college and university students to comply with classroom regulations by implementing the following best classroom management strategies:
Build Student Relationships
Students in colleges and universities admire teachers who have positive personal relationships with them. They’re also more compliant in the classroom for teachers with whom they have a good rapport.
Have Diverse Teaching Methods
Students capture information better when it’s conveyed in various formats instead of one. These can include visual presentations such as graphs and PowerPoint presentations, group work, and takeaway assignments.
Always Show Excitement and Passion
The passion and enthusiasm shown by teachers rubs off on students too. Therefore, teachers should always try to be their most excited selves in classrooms to encourage active student participation and response.
Prepare for Every Class Adequately
Teachers should prepare thoroughly for every class they plan to attend during the day. They should review and improve their notes regularly to make them as easy to understand and enjoyable as possible for students.
Dedicate Some Social Time
Teachers should get to know their students better in social environments rather than only within campus corridors. For example, they can organize trips and outdoor team-building skills where they can interact with students personally.
Declare an “Electronics Off” Policy in Class
Teachers should implement a technology-off policy to prevent students from being distracted while in class. The only exception would be laptops for note-taking, but smartphones and other gadgets should be turned off until the end of the lesson.
Bring These Strategies to Life with UoPeople
These are the most effective classroom management strategies. To become better at implementing them, enroll in our teachers’ degree program today.
