1. By Jason Despain jason.despain@smail.astate.edu
Classroom Management
By Jason Despain

2. Common Reasons for Bad Management
Disruptive Students
Lack of Confidence
Poor Teaching Strategies
Lack of Well Defined Rules

3. Disruptive Students
Disruptive students can sometimes cause a lack of classroom management. There are always going to be those students who want to act up in class and it is important for us as teachers to establish the confidence and presence necessary for our students to respect us.

4. Lack of Confidence
Sometimes teachers will have a lack of confidence in their teaching and classroom managing abilities. Students can sense this and it may cause them to push the teacher around. It’s important for teachers to have the proper confidence and presence to develop a good classroom management strategy.

5. Poor Teaching Strategies
If a teacher is presenting a lesson in a way that is boring and unengaging then the students will have a hard time wanting to sit through the lesson and listen. This can cause disruption, outbursts, sleeping, etc. A good classroom manager will develop lessons that are both engaging and entertaining.

6. Lack of Well Defined Rules
A teacher who does not establish a set of well defined rules on the first day of class runs into the risk of kids acting up. If the students see that there are no rules set forth in the beginning, they will be more inclined to test the waters and see how far they can go in regards to acting out.
It’s important to establish rules on the first day to let them know who’s in charge and what consequences there will be.

7. Strategies for Good Management
Anticipate Problems
Think of all possibilities
Be creative
Show that it Pays to Behave
Give out prizes/rewards
Ex. Raffle Tickets, Candy

8. Strategies Cont. Never Punish an Entire Class
There are always some kids following directions.
Build Content-Related Anticipation
At the beginning of class, say “Later today, I’ll tell you…”
How the Death Star was not scientifically feasible.
How math and chicken strips are related

9. Strategies Cont. Change the Tone Be Enthusiastic Don’t try to be Liked
If chaos ensues, do something to change the mood.
Play a certain song
Start singing
Be Enthusiastic
The more enthusiastic you are about what you do, the more kids will listen.
Don’t try to be Liked
Nobody likes someone who obsesses over being liked by everybody.
Be yourself and gain respect that way.

10. Strategies Cont. Forgive Give choices Every new day is a fresh start.
Nobody’s perfect
Give choices
“Do you want to do this in class or take it home?”
Group or Independent Work

11. Strategies Cont. Announce your Goals Establish Routines Be Trustworthy
“Yesterday the noise was at a 9 during work time. Let’s shoot for a 5 today.”
Establish Routines
Post the day’s schedule
Keep things predictable
Be Trustworthy
When you tell your students something, follow through with it.
“If you are quiet, I will give you each 20 extra minutes of free time today.”
Be Yourself
You must be the same teacher yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

12. References
to-earn-your-students-respect/
strategies-todd-finley