How to Maintain Strong Classroom Management

In the absence of classroom management, education can’t happen. While many teachers loathe the process of teaching and reteaching standards of behavior, doing so is vital, particularly when students are young and inexperienced in the world of education. By creating a clear and effective system of classroom control, you can create an environment conducive to learning and allow yourself the opportunity to focus not on problematic student behaviors but instead upon student learning.
Classroom Rules
You’ll need to first make your rules for them clear. Write them down and post it on the wall. On your first day, you can write them on the board. Make sure they understand and have the students repeat with you. Once they are clear on what the rules are; you’ll need to enforce them consistently. Make sure you are also clear on your own rules.
Positive reinforcement
Focus on positive behavior not the negative. E.g. Redirect the students attention. If you’re giving attention or praise to students when they do something positive, your likely to shift a few troublesome students over because they will crave attention. Now the opposite scenario is also true. If your attention in the classroom is focused on a few troublesome students and if it consistently remains there, sometimes a few of your “good” students may become troublesome just to attract your attention.
Peer pressure
Once you have made clear your expectations and rules for the classroom. Your students will help you enforce them. For example: if someone speaks… say Korean and you didn’t hear it the other kids will often rat them out. If someone has misbehaved repeatedly you can subtract points or privileges from the team. Then the team or group will be doing the work on the student for you.
Proximity
Students who talk a lot, are misbehaving, or are not paying attention can usually be controlled using proximity. Remain relaxed and get closer to them, continuing on with your lesson by standing near them. Another way of doing this is to keep an empty chair “next to the teacher” if a student misbehaves then they get to sit next to the teacher. Be slow to offend and quick to forgive.
Respect
Demand respect in your classes. Do not let the kids call each other names. It’s possible you will have some students that you may not like or may just get on your nerves. Regardless of your feelings for them it’s important to treat them with respect. They will be more inclined to do as you say as long as you treat them with respect.

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