Effective Classroom Management Strategies

The most successful classes are those where the teacher has a clear idea of what is expected from the students and the students known what the teacher expects from there.

Harry Wong, Educator`

The role of a teacher is dynamic and significant regardless of the teaching level. Whether you're teaching in elementary, middle, high school, or college level, your job to educate goes beyond teaching theories and facts, but also to encourage positive behavior and character of your students.

In this article, we'll explore how important effective classroom management ideas are and review the best ways to implement them when misbehaviors or disruptions happen during lessons.

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🌟 What Is Positive Behavior Mangement?

Almost every educator would agree that a conducive classroom environment would lead to the best teaching and learning experience. However, student behavior is often unpredictable, and sometimes disruptions and distractions do take place, whether major or minor ones.

This is where positive behavior management comes in, where educators can apply effective approaches to guide students in a structured and relational manner for a long-term difference. The end goal is to help students have good discipline and conduct voluntarily, especially in these key areas:

In other words, positive behavior management exists to meet the primary needs of students and educators. There are social needs and emotional needs where everyone (including teachers) feels respected and appreciated as they interact in the classroom. For instance, no bad mouthing and bullying will be tolerated.

🚫 Common Behavior Challenges in the Classroom

After reviewing the significance of positive behavior management, let's look at some of the most common behavior challenges that you may encounter in the classroom.

Important note: Different types of behavioral challenges at different school levels would require different types of management strategies or interventions.

For instance, you'll have different ways to address an elementary school student who always shows his or her temper when they cannot complete a given task, as compared to a high school student who brought an electronic vape to school.

🎯 Top Classroom Behavior Strategies That Work

As educators, you must remember that positive behavior management is a tool to educate students on what is right and allowed without dismissing their misbehavior. When pointing out their mistakes or misbehaviors, the goal is not to make them feel awful and guilty, but to make them reflect and grow so that they will not repeat the same behavior.

Remember, your classroom behavior strategies can only work effectively if you can earn the respect of your students.

✅ Strategy 1: Remain Assertive and Consistent When Disruptions Happen

Engaging in unnecessary arguments with your students may disrupt the flow of your lessons and even cause them to rebel further.

When facing similar disruptions from different students, be consistent in setting rules ¹ and stating the same instructions calmly without shouting, and give them time to respond.

Example: Everyone needs to finish reading at least 3 pages by themselves before changing seats for group discussions.

✅ Strategy 2: Build Relationships and Social Skills

One way to build rapport and trust with your students is to demonstrate that you genuinely care for them and understand their interests and strengths. That way, they will feel a sense of security and belonging throughout the lessons.

Example: Adam/ Susan, since you are good at drawing, can you come out and draw a cube on the backboard?

✅ Strategy 3: Apply Positive Reinforcement and Restorative Practices

This is perhaps the most important strategy to foster long-term growth and changes in students. When noticing good behaviors in students, be specific and sincere. On the other hand, when there's a disruption or mistake, allow students to reflect, take responsibility for their actions and make amends.

• Positive reinforcement: I noticed that you quietly tidied the bulletin board this morning. Thank you. (Verbal praise)
• Restorative practice: I noticed some tension between you and Susan yesterday. She said she’d like to talk things through. Would you be open to that?

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✋ How to Create a Positive Classroom Environment

Like Rome, a positive classroom environment is not built in a day. As you plan your lessons to help students concentrate better through a conducive teaching and learning environment, remember that the effectiveness of the strategies mentioned earlier depends on these two key factors:

Important note: Positive classroom management can only be effective when you do not abuse your position of authority as an educator, as it can sometimes be too easy to make a statement about the severity of your discipline or management. There should also be a different positive behavior management approach for students with special education needs

🤔 When and How to Escalate Behavior Interventions

Sometimes, there are serious issues which require educators and even the school to take disciplinary action to work together for an effective and favorable outcome. Positive behavior management can still be applied in a structured and timely manner to help the student while being intentional and respectful, as shown in the following steps:

Don’t forget that humiliating and demeaning punishments should be fully avoided and that corporal punishment is illegal. It's worth noting that a student's behavior in the classroom might be due to an underlying problem that you aren't aware of ². If you have concerns that any of the students in your class are experiencing issues at school or home, make sure you speak to the appropriate authorities.

🎉 Master Positive Behavior Management Skills with Superprof

If you'd like help with teaching, you could always look for private tutors. On Superprof, there are tutors for a large variety of subjects as well as those who specialise in teaching or pedagogy. If you're just starting as a new teacher and would like some tips on behavior management or even what attire guidelines are for different educational institutions, you'll be in good hands.

Group tutorials are great for those on a budget, as the cost of the tutor's time is shared amongst several students. This does mean that you won't be able to get lessons that are tailored specifically to you, but if you're looking to brush up on your subject, for example, this type of learning approach could be very useful and affordable.

If you can't find any suitable or available tutors in your local area, you can always broaden your search to include private online tutors from all over the country and around the world. As long as you have a webcam and a decent internet connection, there's no limit to how far away your tutors can be.

Don't forget that a lot of tutors on the Superprof website offer the first lesson for free. Once you've found a few tutors that you think could be suitable, get in touch with them to arrange a free lesson. You can try out several tutors before deciding upon the one that's right for you and how you like to learn.

We hope you've found this article insightful. Remember, when you have positive classroom management and a strong rapport with your students, you'll build a conducive and effective learning experience!