Classroom Management Section 1 Taken from Annette Breaux’s 101 Answers for New Teachers and their Mentors

Tip 1: start the year successfully Plan every moment of day 1. Greet each student as (s)he enters the classroom. Consider an ice-breaker activity. Consider sharing a little about yourself.

Tip 2: make classroom management a priority Establishing clear, simply-stated, consistent classroom expectations is an enormous deterrent to behavioral challenges. Consider seeking the advice of peers with strong classroom management practices. Be aware of school-wide expectations in order to align your class routines with them. Students respond positively to being treated fairly and respectfully.

Tip 3: have procedures for almost everything Any activity that does not lend itself to creative expression needs procedures.

Tip 4: minimize discipline problems The teachers who experience the fewest discipline problems are the ones who have established ways of preventing most behavior problems through the structure of their classroom management plans.

Tip 5: use the “are you alright?” technique If a student is doing something inappropriate during class, discreetly (during independent work time, for example) sincerely ask him/her, “Are you alright?” Sometimes receiving a concerned and caring reaction instead of anger and frustration has a profound effect on a student.

Tip 6: greet students daily People appreciate and respond positively to environments where they are made to feel welcomed and special.

Tip 7: learn what to overlook There is no foolproof list of what can be overlooked and what cannot, but any behavior that is not impeding the learning of others and that will likely correct itself can usually be overlooked.

Tip 8: Handle discipline problems discreetly Do not say or do anything to your students in your classroom that you would not feel comfortable having your own principal say or do to you in a faculty meeting.

Tip 9: handle your own discipline problems It is said that 90% of a school’s discipline referrals comes from 10% of the teachers.

Tip 10: catch students behaving Students crave and thrive on sincere and earned recognition and praise, and the positive behavior is contagious.

Tip 11: be proactive Being proactive means recognizing potential problems and stopping them before they become actual problems. It is vital for a teacher to be observant, aware, and undistracted in order to be proactive.

Tip 12: provide frequent stretch breaks Students are often off task or talking at inappropriate times because they are restless and in desperate need of some action. There are a number of productive ways to provide students a physical and mental release (explore Brain Gym activities, for example).

Tip 13: use proximity Physical distance equates to mental distance in the classroom. If a student is off task, the simple act of standing closer to him/her will usually pull him/her back into the lesson.

Tip 14: do not provoke defensiveness When teachers act out of anger or frustration, it evokes a defense response in students. Tone, facial expressions, and words can build or break relationships with students.

Tip 15: avoid down time The way to avoid down time is to structure every minute of the entire class period.

Tip 16: Put students at ease In a negative environment-one where students are fearful, uncomfortable, and anxious-very little learning can take place. Consider sharing with students what they can expect from you: “I will never raise my voice in anger.” “I will never intentionally embarrass you.”

Tip 17: provide structured “bell work” Effective teachers know that they must have a structured and meaningful activity awaiting students each day as they enter the classroom.

Tip 18: avoid power struggles with students Effective teachers do not engage in power struggles with students, and they defuse situations immediately by not providing an agitated student with the desired response.

Tip 19: hold private practice sessions If you deal with a student’s misbehavior in front of the class, the behavior will rarely improve. It may even worsen because the student will have an audience and a need to save face.

Tip 20: make the punishment fit the misbehavior You want to instill in students the belief that rules exist for a reason, and if they choose to disregard a rule then a logical consequence will follow.

Tip 21: Attack the problem, not the person One of the biggest mistakes a teacher can make is to confuse the problem with the person. It is very difficult to build trust when students feel emotionally unsafe in a classroom. Preserving a student’s dignity is crucial.

Tip 22: start over on any day! Instead of fretting over past mistakes or failed attempts at maintaining the classroom environment you desire, determine what did not work, learn from it, and start over today.