1. Quintanilla Middle School
Classroom Management
Quintanilla Middle School

2. What is Classroom Management?
In The First Days of School, Harry Wong states, “Classroom management is the practices and procedures that allow teachers to teach and students to learn.”

4. The Ideal Teacher: Enjoys students.
Uses different teaching techniques.
Has a great sense of humor.
Acts like an adult and not a child (or high school student).
Keeps promises.
Is organized.
Knows the subject matter.
Admits when he or she is wrong.
Uses a pleasant voice.
Is enthusiastic about the subject.
Is willing to listen to both sides of an issue.
Has a reputation for giving challenging work.
Isn’t a pushover. Keeps misbehaving students in line.
Keeps everyone busy.
Does not have favorites.
Is polite to everyone all of the time.
Is friendly and fair.
According to Julia G. Thompson, author of Discipline Survival Kit for the Secondary Teacher

5. The Teacher-Student Relationship
You should show that you care about your students. Attend sporting events, ask about their hobbies, make a connection.
You should have a thorough knowledge of your subject matter. Being prepared builds trust.
You should take command of the class. If you are not the classroom leader, the students will gladly assume the position.
You should act in a mature manner all of the time. Don’t be sarcastic. Don’t tell lies. Don’t lose your temper.
You should maintain a certain emotional distance between yourself and your students. Students have peers. They need you to teach.
This sets a positive classroom culture!
From First-Year Teacher’s Survival Kit, by Julia G. Thompson

6. Effective Instruction
Two of the most important key factors in effective instruction are:
Room arrangement
Time management

7. Movement is the key
Be able to have quick access to any student at any time.
Be comfortable moving around your room during instructional periods.
Being in close proximity to a student is an effective deterrent.

8. Effective Time Management Curbs Discipline Problems
The more engaged a student is the better he behaves.
Students tend to be more distracted during these 3 phases of instruction:
The beginning of class
Transitions
The end of class

9. Ideas for the Beginning of Class
It is ESSENTIAL that the students have an activity to complete as soon as the bell rings.
Take roll while the students are working on the assignment.
Have your students:
Create a test question.
Illustrate important information.
Scan the day’s reading assignment.
Take a mini-quiz.
Draw a cartoon.
Summarize the previous day’s topic.
According to Julia G. Thompson, author of Discipline Survival Kit for the Secondary Teacher

10. Managing Transitions
Julia G. Thompson suggests the following techniques:
Time students between transitions.
Provide students with a checklist of the day’s activities.
Give students activities to “sponge” any dead time.
List ten words associated with the lesson today.
Defend your position on…
Make flashcards for this unit.
Circle the key words from yesterday’s notes.

11. Ending Class Without Chaos
The end of class should be as structured as the beginning.
Closing exercises will provide a constructive review of the day’s lesson.
Be sure that you dismiss the students and not the bell.
Some more ideas to try from Julia G. Thompson:
Chain Games
Rapid-fire drills
Predict the next lesson
Review homework directions
Show a relevant cartoon
Play a game for bonus points

12. An Effective Discipline Plan
The 3 most important student behaviors to teach on the first days of school are:
Discipline
Procedures
Routines
“If you do not have a plan, you are planning to fail.”
From The First Days of School, by Harry Wong

13. Your Discipline Plan

14. The Rules About Rules
Wong writes, “The function of a rule is to prevent or encourage behavior by clearly stating student expectations.”
General Rules:
Respect others.
Be polite and helpful.
Specific Rules:
Be in class on time.
Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
What are the advantages and disadvantages to both?

15. Creating Your Class Rules
Only have 3 to 5 rules
State rules positively.
Make the rules easy for you and your students to remember.
Be able to enforce the rules consistently.
Remember:
Rules deal with behavior, not procedures.

16. Rewards
Harry Wong emphasizes, “The best reward is the satisfaction of a job well done.”
Some examples include:
Praise
A note home (Good News Cards)
Student of the day, week, or month
Tangible rewards
Work posted
Certificates of Honor
Coupons

17. Penalties Time out Demerit or fine Detention
Assignment to write ways to correct problem
Being last to leave
Loss of reward
Exclusion of class participation

18. Enlist Parent Support
Be sure to send a copy of your discipline plan home to parents the first day of school.
Make positive parent contact before you need their assistance with a problem.
Contact parents as soon as you see a change in their child’s behavior patterns.
Parents can be one of your biggest allies in managing the student’s behavior.

19. Procedures and Routines
Harry Wong writes in The First Days of School, “The number one problem in the classroom is not discipline; it is the lack of procedures and routines.”
Wong also states, “A procedure is simply a method or process for how things are to be done in a classroom.”
Procedures answer the question, “What do I do when…?”

20. Classroom Procedures That Must Become Routine:
Beginning of a period. Do students know what to do?
Quieting a class. Do students know how you will quiet them down?
Students seeking help. Do students know how to get your attention?
Movement of students and papers. Do students know how to move about the room and pass papers in?
End of period. Do students know who or what will dismiss them at the end of the period?
From The First Days of School, by Harry Wong

21. Procedures to Consider
Asking a question
Responding to fire, severe weather, and tornado drills
Leaving the classroom
When visitors arrive
Keeping a notebook
Interruptions
Getting classroom materials
Entering the classroom
Getting to work immediately
End of class dismissal
Participating in class discussions
Changing groups
Turning in papers
When you finish early
From The First Days of School, by Harry Wong

22. You Must Teach Procedures!
EXPLAIN
REHEARSE
REINFORCE

23. 4 Actions That Helped Me and Will Help You Too!
Maintain a professional relationship with students and fellow colleagues.
Be fair and consistent with students regardless of who they are.
Use class time wisely to avoid misbehaviors.
Take an interest in students’ extracurricular activities.