5 Steps to Establish a Positive Classroom Management System

Positive, workable Classroom Management can be one of the most challenging things for teachers to develop, but it's one of the most important things to do when it comes to effective teaching and learning! To create a great environment for teachers and students, everyone needs to feel safe, comfortable, and confident. Putting thought, time, and effort into good Classroom Management has tremendous payoff for everyone throughout the entire school year. Want to know how it's done? Here are five great tips for anyone to develop effective Classroom Management!

Set clear classroom routines and expectations.

Decide upon the routines and behavior expectations you want your students to follow. Make them clear, positive, and specific. For example, instead of "no talking" you can say "work quietly during assignments."

Teach routines and expectations early and often.

Take the time to teach your routines and expectations. It will make everything you implement that much easier. Also, roll play situations to show what to do and what not to do. Make a PowerPoint or video of your routines and expectations so that if you need to revisit them (as reminders or for new students), you have them ready. It is time well spent, and you will reap the rewards in your classroom throughout the year.

Determine how you will reward positive behavior.

Rewards can be individual or earned by the class. Rewards do not have to cost a lot of money or even any money at all. For example, students can earn five minutes of white-board time, access to a special chair or class job, extra recess, and so on.

Reinforce positives early and often.

Focus on reinforcing positive behaviors. In order to shape behavior, you need to reward or praise early and often. When thinking about your day, pick one thing you are going to reinforce that day. If you are consistent with this reinforcement, you will gradually be able to do it less and less, and positive behaviors will become automatic.

Be specific with your praise.

When you reinforce positive behavior, be specific with your praise. Don't just say, "Good job," but say, "Good job cleaning up your desk and keeping it neat." Being specific really helps students understand that they are doing what is expected and reminds other students what they should be doing, too! By following these five steps you will set the stage for a positive and productive school year!