Classroom Management ECI 423

Learning from “Natural” Teachers Have good instincts Remain calm and relaxed Be emotionally “warm” Students do the work (meaning, they are actively engaged) Keep your sense of humor Show that you mean business from Day 1

Steps to Successful Classroom Management Focus on Prevention Working the Crowd Arrange the Classroom Create Independent Learners Raise Expectations Build Classroom Structure Set Limits Produce Responsible Behavior

Focus on Prevention Positive Classroom Management Instruction Motivation Discipline Classroom Mgmt. System Be specific Simple procedures Prevent problems

Prevention… Instruction Mobility and Proximity Learned Helplessness (“Praise, Prompt, Leave”) Visual Modality (have lots of visuals to aid with understanding) Say, See, Do Teaching (Explain, Demonstrate, Students Do)

Prevention… Motivation Discipline Why Should I? (short term goals, preferred activities as rewards) Excellence and Accountability (reward quality) Discipline Rules and Routines Meaning Business (eye contact, body language, voice control

Working the Crowd Goofing off is directly related to the teacher’s physical distance from the student Effective teachers make an art of “working the crowd” (eye contact, energy, movement) Mobility and proximity are key tools to classroom management “Disrupt” the impulse to be disruptive

Red Zone – Close by (8 ft radius), students stop behavior Yellow Zone – About 14 ft. radius; coast is clear when teacher turns his/her back Green Zone –Go! Teacher not near.

The longer the students are in the Green Zone, the more likely they are to get off task.

Arranging the Classroom Remove obstacles to avoid tripping Include walkways Allow for teacher to get to students in the fewest possible steps Rows make for easy cleaning but create barriers for teachers Teacher’s Desk – get it out of the way!

Creating Independent Learners Wean the “Helpless Handraiser” S: “I don’t know what to do here.” T: “What part don’t you understand?” S: “All of it.”

Be clear, Be brief, Be gone. Helpless Handraiser Be clear, Be brief, Be gone.

Raise Expectations Focus on Motivation Manage Productivity (diligence, excellence) Focus on the things you can control (quantity and quality of work) Choose appropriate incentives (be proactive, not reactive)

Incentives for Diligence A task – things you have to do A preferred activity – things you want to do Criterion of Mastery – how well it is done

Build Classroom Structure Students can assess the absence of structure very quickly Students know if teachers are proactive or reactive, whether they are “pros” or “rookies” Rules are defined by REALITY (what students can actually get away with) Down time is detrimental to a lesson plan

Build Classroom Structure Structure begins the moment students walk in Well developed routines create positive work environments Classroom routines train students to carry out procedures with minimal wasted time Routines must be taught and practiced Communicate with parents

A note about “Rules” Be careful to avoid too many “Don’ts” Be clear about what are general rules or specific procedures/routines Teach these procedures (pay now or pay later) Establish standards Reinforce positive behavior

Setting Limits Brat Behavior – saying No to children, then giving them what they want if they act out builds brat behavior “No means No” Be consistent

Kind of Consistent? There are no degrees of consistency. Consistency has only two conditions: You are consistent You are Inconsistent

Setting Limits… Keep it positive Stay calm, stay strong (Calm is strength, Upset is weakness) Mean business Follow through Adjust as you go

Recognizing Backtalk The way to recognize backtalk is by the fact that the student’s mouth is open Whiny backtalk Denial Blame a neighbor Blame a teacher Compliment

Recognizing Backtalk… Non Verbal Backtalk Cry Push you aside Sidetrack Curve Balls The Last Hurrah The Cheap Shot

Producing Responsible Behavior Build Cooperation Teach Responsibility Turn Problem Students Around Initiate Preferred Activity Time “Family” approach

Game Plan Focus on Small Disruptions (they are more costly and big disruptions can grow from small ones) Learn to use Body Language Keep it cheap (the “look”) Commit to putting discipline on the front burner Mountains or Mole Hills?

The Game Plan Commitment and Follow-Through Weenie or Consistent? Signal Clarity Monitor your Physical Response – No mixed messages Eliminate Backtalk Smile

Resource Jones, Fred. Tools for Teaching. 1st. Fredric H Jones & Associates, 2000. Print.