5 Tips for Effective Classroom Management

As teachers, we often use the phrase "classroom management". We talk about it with our peers. We discuss it at professional development sessions.

Classroom management is about fostering a positive and organized learning environment. Effective classroom management addresses both the academic and emotional needs of students. The goal is to create an environment where students can focus, feel safe and respected. This sets students up for success both academically and socially. It lays the foundation for a thriving educational experience.

In this blog, I will share why effective classroom management is crucial and 5 tips to achieve it.

The Importance of Effective Classroom Management

Creates an environment conducive to learning

Effective classroom management sets the tone for the learning environment. It maximises learning time. Teachers can focus on teaching and facilitating discussions. Students have more time to engage in meaningful activities.

In a well-managed classroom, expectations are clear and rules are consistently enforced. Students feel safe, supported, and respected when behavioural issues are addressed and prevented.

Many will resonate with the pain of bad classroom management. A lot of effort is wasted trying to get students' attention and get them to participate. They become disengaged and even disruptive in class.

Builds rapport with students and fosters a sense of community

Effective classroom management helps build rapport with students. It fosters positive relationships between teachers and students.

As a result, students feel respected and valued. The classroom culture is more supportive and inclusive.

At the start of course, I see students sit in the same spot and interact with the same people every lesson. As I work to build trust with my students, I also observe that trust also develops between students. As the course progresses, I see the same students go out of their way to help others in need. I see them meet and discuss about the class afterwards.

Building rapport also helps develop a sense of community and ownership. Both in the classroom and outside of it. This sense of community enhances cooperation, collaboration, and mutual respect among students.

ESL classrooms consist of students with various cultural, social and economic backgrounds. Many colleagues have shared how their students don't interact due to their differences. Students need a culture and an environment where they belong and feel respected. A well-managed classroom provides a safe space for students to express themselves and share ideas.

5 tips for effective classroom management

Here are 5 tips for effective classroom management

Tip 1: Pre-decide the duration and start times for each activity

Whilst planning activities for your lesson, pre-decide 2 things ahead of time.

1. The duration of each activity e.g. 15 minutes
2. The start time for each activity e.g. 8:45am

I've seen many lesson plans with a duration for each activity but not actual start times. Pre-deciding the start time for each activity may seem redundant. But here are the benefits:

• Saves you from having to calculate the beginning and end time for each activity. Calculating start and end times is an unnecessary distraction. It creates unnecessary stress that takes the focus away from teaching.
• Helps you to quickly know if you're on track of behind schedule.

Tip 2: Set a timer

My favourite way to do this is to find a video on Youtube and include it my slides. Slides Generator makes it easy to add slides with video.

Here are the benefits of doing this:

• There's less or no need to remind students how much time they have left.
• Helps students stay disciplined and focused on the task at hand.
• Provides a visual cue for the beginning and end of a task.
• Helps boost productivity by creating a sense of time awareness and urgency. Students are more motivated when activities are time-boxed.
• Reduces anxiety and uncertainty when everyone knows that time is being kept track of.

Tip 3: Foster a familiar routine

For example, I start my lessons with a warmer then homework checking. These are the benefits of fostering a familiar routine:

• Provides a sense of predictability and structure.
• Helps reduce anxiety in students by minimizing uncertainty.
• Helps facilitate smooth transitions between different activities or subjects. Students can transition more easily from one task to another when they know the routine.
• Helps set expectations for behavior and participation.

Tip 4: Incorporate mini breaks

This could be as short as 5 minutes after a major activity. Incorporating mini breaks after major activities has the following benefits:

• Allows students to recharge and refocus. This can be especially important when attention and concentration start to wane.
• Helps maintain or rekindle students' interest in the lesson. Students may return to class with renewed energy and a clearer mindset, leading to better engagement and performance.
• Allows students to revise their notes, process new information and consolidate learning. This processing time can contribute to better retention and understanding of the material.
• Provides opportunities for discussion and social interaction among students. This strengthens peer relationships, promotes teamwork, and contributes to a positive classroom culture.
• Allows me to gather my thoughts, check students' understanding of the content or manage administrative tasks.

Tip 5: Use a collaboration tool such as Google Docs

Why Google Docs? I've found that most students just know how to work intuitively with it. Whereas with Google Slides, they seem to take a lot longer to work out how to use it.

One of my favourite activities is creating a table and getting students to work in groups on one of the columns. Here's an example:

This allows me to monitor students' work at a glance and leave comments. Students can see immediate feedback. Seeing their peers at work also helps them focus better.

Sometimes when you ask students to collaborate, only one student per group does the work. With Google Docs, I can see if all students are contributing. I can quickly help if needed.

Conclusion

Effective classroom management can be achieved by making small changes. By taking small steps, you will reap the rewards as you see your students thrive in a community of trust and respect. Classes will be more engaging and less stressful. Effective classroom management may require trying some new things but it is totally worth the time and effort.