9 Strategic Steps To Successful Classroom Management

Being the center of attention may be challenging. We’ve created a guide for the new-gen teachers who are looking for some helpful props and tips to boost their classroom management strategies. Here are 9 steps to help you advance your classroom management skills.

Step 1. Enthusiasm is key to ideal behavior

When you’re just starting out, building a trustful relationship with students can be a struggle. Especially if you work with vulnerable teens that always try to make a statement or prove you are wrong. But what is worse is when nobody pays attention and you feel like there is a glass wall between you and them. It may even escalate to the point that you’ll find yourself crying at night because you feel helpless. There is a way out.

First, realize that it’s totally up to you how you respond to the ignorant behavior or defiance. Show your enthusiasm! Being open and positive is the greatest asset any teacher can have. Bringing an enthralling attitude to your classroom will help engage students in learning and participation. 

Every teacher wants to be liked by the students, but this is not the main point of teaching. You don’t need to be too nice, or act and talk the way your students do. Your goal is to be nice but firm to gain respect. More important is to show your desire to create a value-bringing learning environment. That’s why your enthusiasm is key.

Step 2. How to build trust while interacting 

No surprise, most kids don’t want to attend classes. Often, they feel like they are forced to spend a day coping with strict rules and overcoming challenges that they don’t really want to deal with. In case, they like their teacher, following rules and requirements becomes easier. To build trust, don’t see your class as a faceless group. Remember every face and name and make students feel like they are welcome and their opinion matters. Pronounce each name correctly, especially if you have kids with diverse cultural backgrounds. For many of us, our names mean a lot, and we don’t want other people to mispronounce them. 

Always use polite language when you talk to a child. And don’t forget the eye contact. Scan your behavior for anything that might need a change. For example, your speech sounds too calm. We all have bad days. Stick to the most respectful manner when you need to raise your concerns. 

Step 3. How to encourage students to participate in creating classroom rules 

Kids have more fun following rules when they help create those rules. If you decide to try this strategy, set up a class discussion and start brainstorming. This can be a priceless experience since it gives you a great chance to learn more about every student’s personality. Besides, by establishing distinct mutual rules you’ll avoid most of the potential problems in the future. Talk to your students on the go. Rules can be changed.

Remember, this experience should be fun and easy. Make brainstorming interactive and enjoyable for every participant. Don’t end up establishing a strict regime – participation should be voluntary and become a motivational tool in the learning process.

Step 4. How to deal with curbing distractions successfully 

Generations Y and Z are obsessed with gadgets and checking their social media feeds every minute. That constantly distracts attention and consumes time. So, this part speaks more to the issue of dealing with technology in class. Today teachers need to compete with Facebook, Snapchat, Telegram, etc for their students’ attention. 

The study conducted by the University of Michigan showed that students spent at least a third of their time in class browsing through websites which content is non-academic or not related to the class topic whatsoever. Some teachers may end up thinking that they need to put up an impressive show during a lecture to just keep the student’s attention. 

Another major issue is that technology in class often encourages cheating and disengagement from class participation. Students can just stare at their laptop screens without paying attention to the lecture. Finally, the sound of cell phones ringing is annoying and causes destruction. Teachers need to find ways of restraining technology in class. How to do that without being suppressive? 

Explain to your class that having phones with a sound on is a sign of disrespect and lack of courtesy. Ask students not to use cellphones during a lecture, put them on vibrate, and not to text in the class unless something urgent happens. Students need to recognize that lecture is important for transferring knowledge, since it prepares them for the future role in the professional workforce. 

Again, engagement in social person-to-person interaction and learning activities will be a great tool that will make them put their devices away.  There is a chance that they’ll forget about texting for a while. However, remember that technical devices can be a crucial learning tool for students with disabilities. Make sure they aren’t left out and disconnected from the rest of the group. 

Step 5. How to motivate students on learning plans

A successful teacher usually has a lot of things to manage during working hours. Not having a clear picture of what your teaching plan looks like can really ruin your day. Create a plan that works best for you so you don’t have to make it up on the go. Your plan should suit your style and approach but also accommodate all learners. Sounds like a flat out goal, right?

Sell your class to students like if you’re an experienced marketing specialist. Don’t just instruct students on their assignments, but try to invest enough effort in training and hands-on activities. Explain why paying attention to what you say may bring value in the future. Start a lesson by defining the main goal for the lecture. Don’t just stay at one spot in the classroom but try to move around and engage as many students as possible. Make sure you give clear and specific directions to prevent your class from having potential chaos. 

Spend not more than 10 minutes at the end of the lecture for a review. Make sure that when the bell rings nobody just jumps out of the seat and runs away. Everybody should know that leaving before the wrap up is disrespectful. Before leaving class, students should know about the next day’s homework, upcoming tests, or deadlines for any future projects. Talk about these things in advance.

Step 6. How to show students that their voice matters.

The new generation is used to collaboration because they do it online all the time. You can encourage it by using motivational and behavior-reinforcement techniques during the learning process. Students need to know that their work is valued and their voice matters. Celebrate their success with them and let them share it with peers. They need to speak out openly and tell the story about a project they accomplished. The purpose is to let them know that not only grades matter but also the effort they invested in completing the task.

So, split students into groups and do some teamwork. Make sure that they have fun! Then let the most hard-working team go over strategies they used to accomplish the task. When students get used to working in teams, it will build more respect and courtesy towards each other. Some might even discover that they have strong leadership skills. Others will learn how to be responsible.

Students should feel empowered to use their own voice and express their ideas freely and openly. Not only it will bring fresh ideas to class participation but also will become a useful tool in developing self-confidence. Student feedback can become a very important part of effective classroom management.

Step 7. How to stay in charge all year long.

Don’t let yourself be disorganized because it can lead to a student’s misbehavior and slacking in your class. Kids will get bored and unfocused and nobody wants these things to happen. So, careful planning and organizing your lectures become vital. It won’t let you down in terms of your professional goals and you will keep your cool. Definitely a well-planned day is much better compared to one where you ‘re trying to figure out how to stay on the right track. It can be exhausting.

Step 8. How to stay put and keep a good Impression.

The ability to maintain a positive attitude and always make a good impression is also an important key to successful class management. One of the most influential things would be personal appearance. Stick to a professional style in your dress code. People often tend to judge who you are by the way you look. Especially if they don’t really know you that well. So, dressing appropriately in formal attire would be a better choice for you. Don’t try to look like your students.

Step 9. Keep on cheerful attitude

Even if you are having a bad day, still try to greet everybody with a cheerful smile. Kids can be just as nervous as you are but they can lack the ability of self-restraint. If you smile it will decrease the level of tension and encourage them to smile in return. 

If you just started a new year of school teaching classes, create a warm, friendly, and welcoming environment for your students. You can use classroom supplies such as bulletin boards, chalkboards or whiteboards, wall posters, desk decorations, and so on.

And finally, be yourself, enjoy your new term, and just go with the flow!