15 Classroom management strategies to overcome teaching difficulties

We know the feeling. It can be draining when our wonderful students seem incapable of staying on task and getting work done. Rest assured, you’re not the first teacher to have a rough day. We have collected some strategies teachers can use to improve their classroom management skills.

1. Strategies to use before class

2. Strategies to use during class

Before class: Making a pre-emptive strike

Ever heard that failing to plan is planning to fail? Effective planning can eliminate many behavioural issues before the students walk through the door.

“Effective teachers have a classroom management plan with all the procedures necessary for a classroom to run consistently and smooth for learning to take place.”
~ Harry Wong

1. Reflect on your instruction2. Set clear expectations3. Set up your classroom
4. Use settling activities5. Make your lessons consistent6. Ensure students are prepared
7. Decide on fair consequences

1. Reflect on your instruction

Across the world, studies consistently indicate that teacher reflection is crucial to better classroom management. Reflection is about improving teaching practice and learning from experience. Becoming a more effective teacher is facilitated by:

Reflection will help you to stop internalising the poor behaviour of your students and start thinking about what they’re actually communicating. Are they bored? Is the work too difficult? Do they need extra support?

2. Set clear expectations

Researchers regularly state that classroom rules are integral to effective classroom management. Keeping your students aware of expectations can be supported by:

  • Outlining a small number of rules
  • Describing desired behaviour
  • Teaching the rules to students
  • Consistently communicating with students
  • Using visual displays
  • Tying rules to positive/negative consequences

Provide encouragement to your class when they are meeting expectations and remind them when they could be doing better.

3. Set up your classroom

You can use your classroom layout to your advantage in a variety of ways to make teaching easier for you. When setting up your room, it’s highly worthwhile considering:

Finally, don’t allow students to move the furniture around unless they have permission and have them leave the room as they found it.

Classroom Management Set up your classroom

4. Use settling activities

After lunch and Friday afternoons can be difficult periods for students to focus. Starting these classes off with a settling activity will help your students get into the mindset for classwork. For example, as developing our students’ literacy and numeracy skills is every teachers’ responsibility, they can be built into daily warm-up activities like:

  • Reading and comprehension
  • Watching an introductory video
  • Vocabulary spelling quiz
  • Re-writing sentences correctly
  • Googling 3 facts
  • Defining keywords

For peace and quiet, try dimming the lights and leading mindfulness activities to calm things down for 5-10 minutes before diving into lesson activities.

5. Make your lessons consistent

Consistency from you allows your students to predict what will happen in their classroom and create a sense of safety. Being consistent in classroom management requires a commitment from you to:

  • Respond the same way every time
  • Keep things simple
  • Not hesitate
  • Respond, then move on
  • Practice, practice, practice

Consistency also means having your activities ready to go before the class starts and implementing procedures to keep each lesson running smoothly.

6. Ensure students come to class prepared

Students consistently failing to bring the required equipment to class is frustrating. While the expectation should always come into class prepared to work, try teaching them a procedure to follow that includes:

  • Students handing out/collecting books/equipment each lesson
  • Borrowing from a friend first
  • Borrowing from you (include consequence)
  • Maintaining records
  • Calling home if the problem persists

Your school may even decide to include a portion of each subjects’ final grade to students coming prepared.

7. Decide on fair consequences

Let the students know what actions have what consequences and stick to them. Studies have shown that using logical consequences in your classroom is important because students can:

  • See the link between their behaviour and the consequence
  • Reflect on their behaviour
  • Predict and prevent re-occurrence
  • Think about how they treat others
  • Fix their mistakes
  • Maintain their dignity

Be firm, but fair because students will quickly learn how much they can get away with-with any teacher. They also will call foul if you’re not consistent, so if it’s good for one, it has to be good for all.

During class: Dealing with low-level classroom management and behavioural issues

Serious issues should be sent up the flagpole; however, professional teachers will be expected to deal with the everyday issues as they arise during a class. The following strategies are aimed at assisting teachers with minor issues that arise during class.

1. Laugh2. Simply Wait3. Communicate4. Proximity
5. Check-in6. Positive reinforcement7. Reflect and communicate8. Build rapport

1. Laugh

What you already may know about the benefits of cracking a dad joke in the classroom is backed by plenty of evidence. Research indicates that humour in the classroom can facilitate student engagement and their learning. Further, laughing as a management strategy works because it:

  • Relieves tension
  • Increases motivation
  • Creates a positive learning environment
  • Facilitates communication
  • Improves focus
  • Builds rapport
  • Encourages resilience

Finally, a comprehensive New Zealand study found it is important that the humour used in your classroom remains appropriate, so always use your professional judgement and maintain respectful boundaries.

Classroom management laugh

2. Simply wait

Waiting for your students to quieten down is not just a funny meme. Think of it more as an alternative to constantly calling out every negative behaviour (the students will probably ignore this anyway) which can exacerbate problems with your students. It’s better to stay calm, be patient, and just wait. Trying the following strategies out can also help:

After a minute or two they should start self-calming and re-focus. Resist the urge to engage in verbal battles. If you refuse to be drawn in, students will learn that there’s no point baiting you.

3. Communicate

The louder you get, the louder they are going to get. Talking clearly, calmly, and confidently will encourage students to quieten down and hear what you are saying. Dr. Bill Rogers offers detailed advice to teachers including:

  • Using verbal and non-verbal cues
  • Using tactical pauses
  • Repeating clear, calm instructions
  • Avoiding requests/pointless questions
  • Reinforcing expectations
  • Ignoring secondary behaviours

Don’t be embarrassed to practice this in front of a mirror.

We also have some great videos in our library for teachers interested in improving their communication with students with autism and people with disabilities.

4. Proximity

Still not focused? Walk quietly and position yourself close to disruptive students. Your position in the classroom will impact the behaviour of your students, so it’s worth considering:

  • Having clear pathways in your room
  • Being accessible to every student
  • Developing non-verbal cues
  • Not hovering too long
  • Not standing over students
  • Crouching to student level

By circulating naturally, you imply a sense confidence and comfort, and you can be more observant of what’s happening in your classroom. Don’t hide behind your desk forever!

5. Check-in

If you know of some students that have problems settling in general, check-in with them, ask if they have understood the instructions or require help. Checking-in allows you to:

  • Build connections
  • Refocus the student
  • Check understanding
  • Provide clarification
  • Support progress
  • Encourage appropriate behaviour

Ask them how their day has been going. Give them a moment to respond and when they’re attentive, re-focus them to work and be available to help them if needed. Keep interactions positive as much as possible.

Classroom management check in

6. Positive reinforcement

Students will constantly seek the attention of their peers or teacher. There is growing evidence that acknowledging and rewarding positive behaviour is effective in motivating student compliance. Positively reinforcing students involves:

If students want your attention, teach them they’ll only get it if they’re doing the right thing. Devise a reward system to motivate students if it’s appropriate for your school.

7. Reflect and communicate

When you have had a chance to decompress after a stressful day, it’s important not to internalise things. Taking proactive steps to help address behavioural issues can include:

  • Making a list of unwanted, recurring behaviour
  • Focusing on the behaviour, not the student
  • Seeking assistance from colleagues
  • Co-developing management strategies
  • Sticking to your plan
  • Talking one-on-one with the student

Schools that come together to address behavioural issues get the best results.

8. Build rapport

“When you are faced with resistance you never win on the strength of your argument, you win on the strength of your relationship.”
~ Dr. Xavier Amador

This one will take time but think beyond the classroom when you’re dealing with your students. Building genuine connections is making an effort to:

Whether your class is small or large, the strength of your relationship with each student directly influences their behaviour. It’s worth putting in the effort.

Obviously, teachers need to be well-aware of and abide by their school’s behavioural policies. Remember to be patient. Nobody becomes an expert in classroom management overnight and by practicing strategies and building consistency, you will see results. Remember too, that they are just kids. Don’t sweat a sweaty teenager—it probably isn’t personal. Don’t worry if they take several lessons before they learn to quieten down—you will get there. Vent. Talk things out with your colleagues. Teaching is a challenging career and ClickView is always here to help you meet those challenges.

Good luck and stay sane!

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