Effective classroom management
In order to create a positive learning culture within a school,effective interventions need to be implemented. We will consider thefollowing interventions:
• effective classroom management
• positive relationships
• the classroom.
The ‘Tips for teachers – practical advice‘ section (pages 92–99) alsosets out some practical tips for teachers to help them with their personal effectiveness.
Effective classroom management
Effective behaviour management is based on the teacher‘s ability to successfully create a well-managed, structured classroom environment so that learning can occur. Teaching a number of children with different needs, behaviours and attention spans can be challenging. However, when a positive learning culture is created, the children will learn better because they will know what is expected of them.
Well-managed classrooms:
• begin the year with a set of rules and routines which are understood by all children
• have agreed rewards and positive reinforcements
• have set sanctions for misbehaviour
• have a selection of options for dealing with disciplinary problems
• make use of their physical space
• have well-planned lessons
• encourage respect and develop positive relationships.
Tips: Behaviour theory
• A child will repeat a behaviour if it is being rewarded.
• A child will be less likely to repeat a behaviour if sanctions are issued.
• If there is no consistency with rewards and sanctions then it
is likely the child will continue to display the unwanted behaviour.
• The more attention the teacher gives to a child‘s behavior the more likely it is that that behaviour will be repeated.
Rules
Rules create clear expectations for the children and need to define what is acceptable behaviour. These must be reinforced on a regular basis and placed in a visible place on the classroom wall. Include the children in developing the rules as this will give them ownership and they will be more likely to accept their terms and conditions and therefore comply.
Tips: Rules
• When designing your classroom rules, they should be:
– clear
– comprehensive
– enforceable.
• Write the rules in a positive way and avoid using ‘don‘ts‘. For example, ‘I will walk sensibly around the school‘ rather than ‘Don‘t run around the school‘.
• Children require understandable directions. Hence, the rules need to be specific and explainable, e.g. telling children to ‘Be good‘ or ‘Don‘t do that‘ is too vague.
• Display the class rules and go over them with the children on a regular basis.
• Check children‘s understanding of the rules.
• Explain the rationale behind the rules.
• Be consistent in enforcing the outcomes for breaches of the rules when an incident occurs.
Routines
Routines help to minimise behavioural challenges in the classroom and are key to a well-managed and organised classroom. Children enjoy routines that are easy to understand and easy to accomplish, yet flexible enough to alter if circumstances change. Research shows that most behavioural problems result from a lack of consistent classroom routines.
Tips: Routine
• Display the class routines and go over them with the children on a regular basis.
• Check children‘s understanding of the routines.
• Explain the rationale behind the routine.
• Model the routine or procedure for the children.
• Be consistent. Take time re-enforcing the routines because when they are established at the beginning of the year, the entire rest of the year will be more enjoyable and productive for both teacher and children.
Praise
Praise is an effective way to encourage children to engage in the desired behaviour as it focuses on a child‘s effort rather than on what is actually accomplished. When educators give genuine praise that is specific, spontaneous, and well-deserved, it encourages continuous learning and decreases competition among children.
Peer praise
Encouraging children to praise each other not only creates a positive, fun classroom environment but also motivates individuals to make positive choices. Children need to be taught how to praise their peers by clapping or cheering when they see a fellow child doing something positive.
Tips: Effective praise
• Make sure you define the appropriate behaviour when giving praise.
• Praise should be given immediately following the desired behaviour.
• Vary the ways in which you praise.
• Relate praise to effort.
• Encourage perseverance and independence.
• Do not give praise continuously and without reason.
• Be sincere when praising.
• Never give praise and follow it with immediate criticism.
Rewards
Rewards (or reinforcers), when they follow behaviour, make that behaviour more likely to occur again. They form the basis of human behaviour and motivation, and can be used effectively to encourage children to acquire skills and develop appropriate behaviour. To be effective rewards need to be something to which the children aspire to and want. Younger children will desire different rewards than older children.