Do you have high levels of pupil disengagement, aggression, and even low attendance in your class? It could be ineffective classroom management. Let's explore some strategies that can help.
The techniques and methods teachers use to create and keep a productive, well-managed classroom environment are known as classroom management strategies. According to the Ministry of Education, ineffective planning, teaching, and organisation in the classroom accounts for 80% of disruptive behaviour. As a result, it is crucial to establish such a setting for the efficient delivery of lessons and the processing of learning objectives.
Examples of disruptive behaviour in classrooms
Various types of disruptive behaviour can occur in classrooms, from minor infractions to more serious ones. Talking out of turn, getting up from one's seat without permission, yelling or emitting obnoxious noises, answering cell phones or allowing electronic devices to distract the class, eating, drinking, chewing gum, smoking, carrying pagers and cell phones, passing notes, sleeping in class, and being persistently late or leaving early are all examples of disruptive behaviour. The teacher and the other students may be negatively impacted by disruptive behaviour. It can impede learning by causing interruptions and distractions that make it challenging for students to concentrate on their work. Additionally, disruptive behaviour can foster a hostile atmosphere that makes it difficult for teachers to control disruptive behaviour in their classrooms.
The key steps to establishing a positive learning environment
One of the first ways to manage a classroom efficiently is to set clear expectations. This entails ensuring students understand the rules, boundaries and expectations for conduct, academic performance, and classroom procedures. Then, by consistently upholding them, these expectations will become ingrained. Those following them must be acknowledged or rewarded for their conduct, effort, or academic success. As a result of this encouraging feedback, learners are motivated to work hard and display exemplary behaviour.
Teachers can also take an interest in their students, pay attention to their worries, and give them encouraging feedback. If they feel respected and treated with dignity, they will treat the teacher with the same respect.
How to deal with misbehaviour in the classroom
However, if you notice that one student consistently exhibits disruptive behaviour, you must give them prompt and helpful feedback. Students will benefit from this, and expectations will be clearly understood. I noticed from my early teaching experiences that routines in the classroom helped with behaviour management. As a result, disruptive behaviour is significantly reduced. For instance, when administering tests, the instructions are always the same and repeated periodically to help students remember them. The students were able to prepare in advance for the test set.
Transitioning is a crucial part of classroom management. It includes moving from classwork to group work or from one room to another. This requires the teacher to lay out the expectations again. All students must understand the expectations and the purpose of the transition. Teachers can also use visual aids or cues to signal when it is time to transition, such as a timer or a specific sound.
Resources and Tools for Implementing Successful Classroom Management Techniques
According to a proverb, an empty vessel makes the loudest sound. The same is true of students, who, if not involved and engaged, become vacant in class and begin acting disruptively, which can completely ruin the lesson. Applying differentiation to instruction delivery is an effective way to ensure that your students are engaged. Differentiation allows teachers to tailor their instruction to meet the diverse needs of their students, helping students stay focused and motivated in the classroom. This approach can also help prevent disruptive behaviour and improve overall learning outcomes.
The use of technology has also become a method. Technology enhances the learning experience through interactive and engaging activities that allow personalised learning. It can also provide teachers with real-time data to track students' progress and adjust their teaching accordingly for differentiation. There are many digital tools available today that offer interesting online resources. E-spaces offer one such tool.
E-spaces created a digital tool for in-class evaluation. This tool gives a quiz based on the reviewed learning objectives and immediately notifies the student of their grade. Students do not have to wait a day or two for the teacher to mark their work before they know if they have comprehended the material. This feature saves time for both the students and the teacher. Additionally, it provides instant feedback to the students, which can help them identify areas where they need improvement. Extra work is assigned to struggling students to help them understand the concept. The ultimate goal is to increase student engagement. Teachers can also organise classes to focus on the students most in need of assistance. This increases the need for effective classroom management techniques.
You are invited to try out this tool at the BETT show at ExCel London from March 29th to March 31st.
Conclusion
Classroom management is essential for educational success, as it helps to minimise disruptive behaviour and creates an environment conducive to learning. Effective classroom management strategies include providing clear expectations, using positive reinforcement, and developing positive communication. Teachers should also be aware of different types of disruptive behaviour and how to address them. By implementing these strategies, teachers can ensure that their classrooms run smoothly and create an atmosphere where all students can learn effectively.
