Classroom Management Wiki

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Classroom Management

Classroom management is the set of techniques and procedures for ensuring that classrooms run smoothly and effectively. Effective classroom management promotes student learning and minimizes or eliminates disruptive behaviors. In addition to suggesting ways to establish a productive learning environment and avoid disruptions, classroom management also addresses how to handle disruptive behavior when it does occur.

While classroom management includes guidance for making classrooms more effective learning environments, the focus of classroom management is often on avoiding classroom disruptions due to student behavior. Dealing with undesirable student behavior is often high on the list of concerns of new teachers. Disruptions and other undesirable behavior by students is one of the most frustrating aspects of teaching and is the cause of many teachers deciding to leave the profession, in addition to being  among the leading causes of dissatisfaction among teachers who continue to teach.

Causes of classroom behavior problems

Causes of student inattentiveness and disruptive behavior include:

• Teaching issues that cause behavior problems
  • Poor planning and preparation
  • Poor management of attention and time
  • Boring instruction
  • Confusing presentation
• Learning environment issues that cause behavior problems 
  • Poor personal relationship with students
  • Unclear or inconsistent expectations and consequences
  • Lack of student control; powerlessness
• Student causes 
  • Physical. emotional or attitudinal causes
  • Feeling incapable of doing the work
  • Conflict of values

Solutions to misbehavior

• Behavioral methods
  • Punishment
  • Behavior modification
• Cognitive methods/Building self-discipline
  • Self-awareness training
  • Logical consequences
  • Discipline with Dignity
  • Teacher effectiveness training
• Social methods
  • Personal influence
• Other methods
  • Schools Without Failure 

Approaches for Administrators

• Encourage collaboration among teachers
• Institute a mentor program for new teachers
• Reciprocal classroom observations in person or by video

Sources

Mendler, Allen N., Motivating Students Who Don't Care: Successful Techniques for Educators. Solution Tree Press, 2000.

Saphier, Jon, Robert Glower. The Skillful Teacher: Building Your Teaching Skills. Research for Better Teaching, Inc., 1997.