Effective Classroom Managers Do These 5 Things
- MINDSET
Effective classroom managers know that they are in charge. They expect to be listened to. They respect students and command respect in turn.
Sometimes, a class gets away from all of us, but attempting to teach over the raucous is a big mistake. It may mean taking a deep breath and waiting for calm. It may mean assigning paperwork until they appreciate "class as usual." Whatever their methods, effective classroom managers always keep in mind that they are in charge of the classroom.
- PLANNING
Effective classroom managers plan from bell to bell a series of engaging lessons. But they are also flexible. They don't sweat when students finish early or the gym can't be used. They are ready to roll with plan B. Stations, broad vocabulary activities, task cards...they have 'em ready!
My current department head has a knack for using a variety of activities in the classroom. I don't think she spends longer than 15 minutes on any one thing, and she never has any down time. A typical class for her may be a 5 minute starter, followed by a quick review, followed by game approach drills, followed by several assessment for learning activities, a full game and a plenary at the end of the lesson....You get the idea.
She uses a stopwatch, her class is always moving, and she seldom has behavior issues
- HUMOUR
Effective classroom managers see the humor in everyday situations and just don't take the punches every teacher encounters so seriously. During my first harrowing days in the classroom, teachers were still offering the advice, "Don't let them see you smile until after Christmas." That used to work, but it is bad advice with today's students. I remember my first classroom observation. My mentor from the university said, "You look so serious all the time. Try smiling." Once I did that, I actually started building relationships with the students. And really, how can you lead someone you don't have a relationship with? Kids just don't blindly follow you because you're an adult anymore. I'm not saying you should wink and smile at bad behavior--you should never do that. But if students see that you enjoy your job, they appreciate it. Laugh when you can, and keep a journal of funny things that happen in the classroom.
- CONSISTENCY
Effective classroom managers expect good behavior and follow through with consequences equitably when it is not displayed. This is a tough one for me, and this goes back to having a sense of humor. I'm a sucker for funny, and if a student is being disruptive, and it happens to be funny, well....That's why I know I have to have a behavior plan in place. Some teachers have the same one year after year, and that's great. Mine is always based on the personality of the class. My expectations don't change, but the ways I implement warnings do. I've had classes that all I have to do is tell them what I expect and they comply, but that is so rare. Some classes need a quiet area--a place to send students to cool down and reflect. Tangible warning cards handed to students work better with others...1=a cease and desist, 2=a phone call home, 3=removal from the classroom. It just depends on the class.
- STRUCTURE
Effective classroom managers structure their classrooms so that students know what to expect--that's reassuring to them. They also structure the class in such a way that each student has specific responsibilities. Students like to know that the first five minutes of a class will be bellwork or that vocabulary quizzes will be every Friday. All of the most effective classroom managers I've ever observed have a basic outline around which they frame all of their classes. But great advice I got early on was to assign each student responsibilities each day. Whole class responsibilities involve putting "minutes" of the class into the absentee notebook, handing out materials, keeping the time for activities....I draw names out of a deck of index cards that students fill out on the first day of school for these responsibilities.
Excellent teaching doesn't matter without effective classroom management. It takes time--it takes trial and error, but these are the characteristics that I've been able to pinpoint in some of the most effective classroom managers that I've had the privilege to work with and observe.
