Classroom Management Tip: Plan Smarter, Not Harder

Classroom management situations.

Last minute changes can occur especially in the classroom when the teacher is learning the rules of classroom management and how to teach rules and procedures. New teachers need to know not only how to teach, but also how to reinforce rules and procedures. So how organized should your classroom management plan be before that first discipline issue?

Classroom Management Tips

Here are some classroom-tested tips to help you plan smarter.

1. Spend quality time observing your students. By learning how your students interact with your instruction and with other students, you can develop a complete system of organization that is based on real classroom situations.

2. Find a mentor, an experienced teacher that you can review your classroom management plan and make suggestions. Now is the time to discuss classroom management strategies that are not effective. Students learn best when there is a serious learning environment. So take note of those difficult classroom management situations and what you specifically did

3. know that you will have to adapt to new situations in the classroom, as they will invariably arise. Your classroom rules and procedures are not set in stone: even the most experienced teachers are flexible in their classroom management methods and approaches.

4. Avoid locking yourself into a specific style of teaching and classroom management. New teachers who constantly experiment with different classroom management styles and approaches eventually connect with the one approach that allows them to empower their students. Part of the learning process involves experimentation, inquiry, and reflection. Allow all three of these elements to take place before fully committing to a specific style of teaching.

5. Learn to distinguish what is a true discipline problem and use school policies and regulations to support it. This helps set the stage for your own ability to distinguish what is a true discipline problem. If you enforce these policies and regulations well, students will eventually stop testing the limits. You will then be able to exercise your authority much more simply without much fuss.

6. As a teacher you need to organize yourself emotionally. Keep your work and family life in sync and in harmony. It’s easy to get overwhelmed quickly. Remember, a happy teacher is also a balanced teacher. Be sure to leave time at the end of the day to enjoy the simple pleasures: jogging, running on the beach, spending quality time with family and friends. Teaching is extremely stressful and involves a number of cognitive and emotional skills, especially with regard to building effective relationships between students and teachers.

As a new teacher, you will have good and bad lessons. Always remember what comes out of not-so-good lessons. There will be good days and bad days.