Effective classroom management strategies are those strategies a teacher uses in order to maintain an atmosphere of ongoing learning. Good strategies help students know exactly what is expected of them and how they should behave during a lesson. Teachers should reinforce classroom rules continually throughout the year.The rule of 90-10 means that classroom time should be spent 90% on classroom rules so that 10% can be spent on actual learning. When teachers teach classroom rules in this consistent manner, they will find they have more and more time to devote to actual classroom teaching.
Teaching Management Strategies: Always Define the Rule
Children in elementary school need classroom rules and procedures that are clear and explicit. There are a few principles for establishing effective classroom rules for behavior.
- Decide on exactly those classroom rules that will help you run an effectively run classroom. If students coming in late is an issue for your classroom management, then your first rule should be: “Come to class on time.”
- Keep each classroom rule brief. State exactly what you mean.
- Illustrate the rule with specific examples of behavior that you expect. For example: demonstrate to the students what it means to come to class on time by explaining that they need to organize their time during the bathroom breaks, look at their watches to keep track of time, and start to head in the direction of the classroom before their break time is up.
- Make sure you have a logical consequence to the rule. If your consequence cannot be backed-up either by school policy or practical classroom procedures, chances are it is not a feasible and practical classroom rule.
Reteach the Classroom Rules Over Again
Elementary school children need reminding again and again. It is not enough to assume they know exactly how you expect them to behave. Here are a few tips to help your classroom running effectively.
- Spend the first 5-10 minutes of a lesson reviewing and reteaching the rules. Use a poster with the rules clearly written in an area of the classroom, preferably tacked on the board where students can clearly see them.
- When discipline problems begin, you may need to stop the lesson completely. Ask the class what needed to be done differently so the lesson time could be better spent. Help the student understand and distinguish between the outcomes of following the rules.
Encourage the students to reflect on their performance with regard to the classroom rules. Ask them which rules they managed to stick to and if it helped improved their performance and learning.
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