8 tips for proactive classroom management (2023)

In the 1950s, psychologists Jacob Kounin and Paul Gump discovered a curious side effect of discipline: if a student was disruptive and the teacher responded with severe discipline, the student might stop, but other students would begin to exhibit the same behavior. Kounin and Gump called it "Domino effect' and showed that efforts to control a classroom can backfire.

"The teacher interested in controlling domino effects can usually do better by giving the child clear directions rather than pressuring him," write Kounin and Gump.

Decades later, classroom management remains a touchy subject for teachers. Nearly half of new teachers say they feel "not at all prepared" or "just a little prepared" to deal with unruly students, in part because the average teacher education program spends just eight hours on the subject, according to one study.Post 2014National Council for Educational Quality. This lack of education comes at a price, with teachers reporting losses144 minutes of classbehavior problems on average every week, that is about three weeks a year.

Recent research confirms what Kounin and Gump discovered decades ago. FORStudy 2016found that negative attention, admonitions such as "Stop talking! Students in the study felt disconnected, had trouble concentrating, and were unable to effectively regulate their thoughts and emotions, a vicious cycle that "actually reinforces student inappropriate behavior" , explain the authors of the study.

8 proactive classroom management strategies

Rather than dealing with outages after they occur, it can be more effective to define conditions under which they are less likely to occur. Here are eight teaching strategies that teachers have shared with Edutopia.all backed by research.

1. Greet students at the door:At Van Ness Elementary School in Washington, DC, Falon Turner starts the day by waving, shaking hands or hugging each of her students. "During that time, I'm just trying to connect with them... It's like taking a pulse to see where they are," she says.

In a study published last yearGreet students at the doorhelped teachers set a positive tone for the rest of the day, increased school engagement by 20 percentage points, and reduced disruptive behavior by 9 percentage points, which translated to about an hour more engagement throughout the school day .

Video

2. Build, maintain and restore relationships:Building relationships with students through strategies such as greeting at the door is a good place to start. They also require maintenance throughout the school year and repairs during conflicts. "The stronger the relationship and the better we understand our students, the more knowledge and willingness we need to have when the pressure hits."he writesMarieke van Woerkom, Restorative Practices Instructor at the Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility in New York City.

Video

3. Use reminders and signals:"Novelty, like the sound of a wind chime or a rain stick, catches the attention of young students"he writesTodd Finley, former English teacher and current English teacher, who suggests using these techniques to quiet a noisy class.

Let older students know ahead of time if they need to follow directions. Reminders and hints are helpful in encouraging students to follow directions without appearing overly controlling or aggressive. For example, if you can expect an interrupt, e.g. B. When students get up from their seats when they finish an assignment early, quickly remind them of what they must do.

Reminders are usually verbal, but they can also be visual (turning on lights to signal it's time to be quiet), auditory (ringing a small bell to let students know they are waiting for the teacher). (with a hand signal). for students to return to their seats).

4. Optimize classroom seating:If students choose their own seats, they arethree times more likely to be disruptivethan in the allocation of seats. Eventually, they'll likely choose seats next to their friends and spend more time talking.

But that doesn't mean the choice is always bad. Giving students a sense of ownership in the space, along with clear expectations of behavior, can have surprising positive effects. A cozy space canReduce anxiety and improve academic performance. Emily Polak, a ninth-grade teacher in Madison, Alabama,gave your room a more comfortable atmosphereAdd a sofa, sofa, rugs, coffee table and posters. Your students choose where to sit, but if they can't get the job done, they are moved back to a table. “Disciplinary problems have decreased significantly. My students seem to feel more relaxed and motivated in an environment that values ​​their choices,” says Polak.

5. Praise certain behaviors:It may seem contradictory, howeverRecognize positive behavior and ignore low-level interruptscan be more effective than punishing or disciplining students. Rather than focusing on specific students, praise the behavior you want to reinforce. For example, tell students, "It's great that you were seated so quickly."

It is also useful to avoid the wordNO,suggestsAlyssa Nucaro, a sixth-grade English teacher in Memphis. Students are more likely to listen to instructions that provide clear reasons.

6. Set clear expectations:Rather than just pointing out rules of conduct, discuss with your students why these rules are important. Bobby Shaddox, a seventh-grade social studies teacher in Portland, Maine, works with his students to create a list of rules, words likeIncluding,in focus, jtaken in consideration- to build a sense of community. "It helps us control behavior in the classroom," says Shaddox. “Instead of a top-down list of rules that a teacher gives to a class, these are words that we generate together. Those are words we believe in."

Video

7. Actively monitor:"Presence is critical to maintaining classroom management and delivering instruction effectively, and it's a skill we're striving to develop."ExplainSol Henik, a high school teacher in Pleasant Hill, California. While it's tempting to sit at your desk and grade assignments, it's also an invitation for your students to get distracted. Stay active - move around the room, check student progress and ask questions. It's not about observing your students, it's about interacting with them.

AStudy 2017found that a teacher's non-verbal cues, such as smiling and eye contact, can reduce "the physical and/or psychological distance" they have with their students, thereby increasing students' positive feelings about the teacher and the course material, while improving behavior.

8. Be consistent in applying the rules:Kelly Wickham Hurst began her career as a public school administratorasked for disciplinea black student for violating the school's dress code by wearing baggy jeans. As they walked down the hall, he pointed to other children, all white, also wearing baggy pants. "Are you going to get him too or just me?" he asked. School and classroom expectations, rules, and routines must be followed and applied fairly to all students. Don't single out specific students, it's the behavior you need to focus on, not the student. Correct mistakes as you see them and provide additional instruction or reteach when misconduct occurs.