It is impossible to achieve effective learning and teaching without proper classroom management techniques. Through these techniques, teachers are able to create an environment where students feel valued and safe. Different studies have suggested that effective classroom management strategies significantly enhance academic performance, classroom behavior, and student engagement.
For example, a study conducted by University of Colorado and Augusta suggest that the classrooms that are managed well promote positive environment that leads to better academic, social and well being of students. In this article, we will talk about some of the most effective classroom management strategies that boost students learning and engagement.
Classroom Management Strategies for Educators
Here are some of the best classroom management strategies that are proven to create a positive and healthy class environment for students and teachers. So, lets explore them one by one.
1. Set Clear Expectations
Setting clear and well-defined rules in the start of the school year fosters a positive classroom culture. Students are more likely to exhibit better behavior if they know what is expected of them and what is the ideal behavior. A study conducted by Marzano Research says that the teachers that set clear and well defined rules are able to improve the academic performance of students by 28%.
This classroom management technique minimizes disruptions and helps teachers to model ideal behavior themselves. Moreover, it promotes consistency and structure which serve as a foundation for student accountability and self-discipline.
2. Reinforce Positive Behavior
Reinforcing positive or good behavior means to acknowledge and reward ideal behavior. Students are more likely to repeat the behavior if the teachers acknowledges and appreciates it. A research published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis suggests that the positive reinforcement in students increase engagement by 30% as compared to their counterparts.
Now, the question arises how to reinforce this positive behavior? Well, a simple gesture like appreciation in front of other students, clapping, and leaving written notes can go a long way.
3. Manage Behavior Proactively
One of the most important classroom management strategies that is on this list is managing behavior proactively. What does proactive behavior management mean? Well, proactive behavior management implies that you as a teacher anticipate and prevent the negative or disruptive behavior before it occurs.
For example, students are more likely to show disruptive behaviors during lunch and pack up time. Hence, a good teacher is able to anticipate it beforehand and take steps such as remind students to behave well and follows a structured approach for smooth transitioning. A study conducted by National Education Association (NEA) concludes that the teachers who employ proactive strategies minimize the disciplinary incidences by 20%.
4. Using Interactive and Engaging Lessons
Teachers are always seeking ways to improve focus and reduce behavior issues of students in the classroom to foster a stress-free environment. One of the best ways to improve student engagement is to use interactive and engaging lessons and activities. Now a days, teachers are using game and project based learning to boost engagement and improve learning outcomes. Moreover, the students engagement techniques like group work, hands-on-activities, and digital tools make lectures more interesting.
Read our article: 8 Websites for Teachers to Create Gamified Lessons
When students are interested in what is being taught, they are less likely to show disruptive behaviors. A research conducted by Education Endowment Foundation indicates that the students who are taught through interactive teaching methods are visibly more focused. Moreover, these students show much better academic performances than their counterparts.
5. Remain Consistent and Establish Fair Discipline
While enforcing rules, it is pertinent to remain consistent. A non-consistent approach sends a message of favoritism and bias to the students which is detrimental for student-teacher relationship.
A study from the American Educational Research Journal suggests that when teachers fail to establish a consistent approach in enforcing rules then the students are more likely to feel that they are treated unfairly. These feelings in turn affect their academic performances and relationship with teachers.
Another study published in Journal of Educational Psychology states that the classrooms with consistent reinforcements have much lower percentage of behavioral incidents than other.
6. Establishing a Strong Student-Teacher Relationship
The foundation of a positive classroom culture is a strong relationship between students and teacher. Students model the behavior of the teachers they trust the most. When students have a better relationship with their teachers, they are more likely to follow the classroom rules.
But the question arises how to foster a positive student-teacher relationship? Well, the answer is quite simple. Regular check-ins, fairness in every matter, showing empathy, and being accessible are some of the ways a teacher can foster a positive relationship with the students.
A research by American Psychological Association (APA) concludes that disruptive behavior in students decrease by 31% if there is a positive relationship between students and teacher. Moreover, students are 21% more likely to stay engaged in the classroom than their counterparts.
7. Incorporating Social Emotional Learning (SEL) into the Curriculum
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) improves self regulation and interpersonal skills in the students. SEL is an educational method that incorporates social and emotional skills into the curricula. Through SEL, students learn to manage their emotions, show empathy towards others, maintain healthy relationships, make responsible decisions, and solve problems effectively.
SEL teaches students mindfulness, emotional recognition, and self management skills. Through these skills, students are able to regulate their emotions which in turn decreases the instances of emotional outbursts or conflicts.
8. Using Technology in the Classroom
The role of technology in managing the classroom effectively cannot be denied. In fact, it is one of the best classroom management strategies. Today, teachers can access and make use of many software and classroom management tools to monitor student behavior, give quick feedback, and manage assignments effectively. Some examples of widely used tools for managing the classroom include Google Classroom and ClassDojo.
According to an article by Grand Canyon University, using technology in the classroom allows students to access what they need. Technological tools allow them to maintain online calendars and keep track of their assignments and lectures using a learning management system (LMS).
Moreover, teachers can upload lessons whenever they want and take online classes from anywhere. This decreases mental stress in both teachers and students which in turn leads to a better classroom environment.
9. Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS)
Students can have an increased sense of responsibility and ownership when teachers involve them into problem solving and decision making process. Research shows that Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) results in significant reduction of behavioral disruptions in students.
CPS refers to an educational strategy where students actively participate in resolving conflicts and decision making in the classroom. This strategy improves critical skills in the students such as communication, logical reasoning, and empathy. Through this approach, students view problems as shared challenges and work together to solve them.
10. Seating Arrangements and Grouping Strategies
A good seat arrangement can minimize distraction and increase student engagement. Hence, the teachers should pay a great attention to how they arrange the seats and form groups in the class. A proper seating arrangement can make or break classroom unity and cohesion. Moreover, teachers can employ flexible grouping strategies like rotating groups or pairing students with different skills.
According to a research published in Journal of Applied Behavioral Phycology, students are twice as likely to show disruptive classroom behaviors when they chose their own seats than the teachers. This shows that the role of teacher in seating arrangements can also define the classroom environment.
Conclusion
Effective classroom management is foundation of the successful teaching because it creates an environment where students can grow academically and socially. These classroom management strategies-starting from setting clear expectations to the teacher’s role in seating arrangements-are all proven to improve students engagement, reduce disruptive behaviors and improve classroom environment. By utilizing each of these classroom management techniques, teachers can create a positive learning environment which can lead to better educational outcomes.