Creating an ideal environment for learning is one of the roles of a classroom manager. And since I am a teacher, I am the classroom manager and I take charge of nurturing a learning space where students make the best of their learning experiences. So, I ponder on this question, “How can I be a better classroom manager?”
Firstly, here’s my point as an educator. Better classroom management is my goal. It’s my obligation to create a safe and productive learning environment to produce successful and competitive students.
Being a good educator entails more than just teaching knowledge; it also entails skillfully managing the classroom to create a conducive learning environment. A well-managed classroom encourages student participation, eliminates disturbances, and promotes academic achievement.
For this to be achieved, students need to be deeply engaged in learning which is also a result of better classroom management.
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What Is Classroom Management?
To create the best venture as a better classroom manager, let’s define first what classroom management is.
Classroom management, in simple terms, is the overall practice and strategy that teachers employ to keep order in the classroom and to make sure students are engaged and well-behaved.
It is the main ingredient to creating a quality learning environment where students are organized and motivated to achieve their learning goals. Likewise, it is a way to keep children on task and focused.
In brief, the implementation of effective classroom management creates a productive learning environment for students and helps teachers better plan learning activities and establish good relationships in the classroom.
Indeed, successful classroom management helps teachers and students to thrive and succeed.
How Can I Be a Better Classroom Manager?
And since classroom management is one of my ultimate roles as a teacher, I manage to spread actionable pieces of advice to keep us going as educators and to ensure that each student in the classroom greatly enhances their ability and works at their own pace.
Getting your hands on the best tips to become a better classroom manager can make a big difference. Trust me, it’s one of the basic ingredients you should know to nurture a successful learning environment. Here are some awesome tips that came into play here today.
What Should We Be Doing?
At some point, I admit, there was a point in my teaching life when I struggled with classroom management. I know that you do too. Almost every teacher does. It is a fact that students challenge us in the classroom.
So, how should we teachers create a welcoming environment while maintaining a student-centered classroom?
Here are some classroom management pointers to assist us in setting up a nurturing learning space.
1. Establish clear rules and routines
To make my role as classroom manager actionable instead of overwhelming, I establish clear and consistent rules. And I ensure that my students get used to routines effectively.
Begin with simple routines like what students should do before the lesson begins. Will they have preliminaries or morning exercises? What should they do when they like to go to the comfort room? Should they get up any moment and ask permission?
What about the clean-up procedures after class and other daily routines? What are the rules that students should obey and follow?
But here’s the truth – Consistency is key. And it makes perfect sense. It fosters independence in the classroom which is a great factor to achieve better.
Numerous routines make up our day in the classroom. Literally, our entire day is made up of routines that are scaffolded through reasonable rules. Simply put, routines and consistent rules enable us to move through the classroom without interruption.
If routines and rules aren’t consistently established and implemented, we will spend too much time repeating things and redirecting our students. It can be stressful and can cause burnout.
Going forward, students should be aware of how we handle every situation in the classroom. Thus, we need to establish consistent rules and clear classroom routines from the first day of classes.
2. Acknowledge varied learning styles and individual differences
Name one teacher who uses only one learning activity for all students. He or she may find it difficult to achieve effective student learning. This needs important attention because each student in the classroom ought to be respected for diversity.
If we do a great job as a teacher, we should acknowledge individual differences to make modifications to our instructions. With the varied activities in the classroom, we take on the purpose of engaging our students in the learning process.
Knowing individual differences is one of the great things we can do for the complete development of the child. Each of our students has high educational potential, only that they learn at a different pace. Hence, individual differences must be considered by recognizing their varied learning styles.
Individual differences call for differentiated instruction. These differences have educational significance in relation to diversity in education.
Therefore, we should plan daily and design varied activities that are meant to develop the capacities of each student. This way, we can provide positive outcomes for all students despite the fact that they are all different and learn in unique ways.
“We aren’t all the same; we don’t all have the same kinds of minds. In other words, we’re not all distinct points on a single bell curve. Education works most effectively if these differences are taken into account rather than denied or ignored.”
– Howard Gardner –
3. Always show a positive attitude
A classroom is a place where children gather together to learn new things, and it can get a little crazy at times. As teachers, we must maintain a positive attitude and tenacity.
Your mindset and attitude toward your students will help you manage the classroom more effectively. They will respect you if you appreciate them.
That is as easy as it sounds, and it works.
A positive attitude is key in teaching and learning. Even though challenges are stacked against us, we can have the confidence to help our students succeed with our positive attitude toward teaching.
Christine Marsh, a teacher at Chaparral High School, says, “Students can and do feel a teacher’s moods and attitudes.
4. Establish a safe and fair environment
Safety should begin in the classroom. As a classroom manager, you should plan ways to build a safe learning environment so students are confident in their stay and become productive.
In addition, a safe and supportive classroom can help children discover their potential because they trust in your expertise as their teacher.
Equally important, a supportive environment helps build a culture of inclusion where all students are treated equally and with utmost fairness.
As the classroom manager, you should monitor students’ actions and see if bullying is happening. This is an example of managing a classroom where everyone can interact safely and with respect. Keep an eye on bullying and make everyone safe.
5. Set high expectations
When you set high expectations in the classroom, students will be aware that you trust in their capabilities. Make it known from the start that you expect them to be participative and active.
Teach them about a growth mindset and allow them to discover independent learning. Inculcate in their minds that they have to focus on effort and not on excellence.
Managing a class with different personalities can be very challenging. However, if you believe in the capacity of each child, you can see the difference. Each child is capable of greatness.
Similarly, set achievable tasks yet make them challenging. It hones their perseverance and you should give encouragement by telling them to try again just in case they fail at first.
Additionally, when you set high expectations, your students should also see it in you. Your high expectations should be supported with good examples. Be a role model.
6. Make learning fun
Engaging students to learn at their best requires fun learning. Give students fun experiences and they’ll love to be in your class even more.
Integrate play in your lessons. This is how I manage my class oftentimes. I allow my students to have fun while learning. They will never get bored and they participate in different activities.
In particular, one way of pushing children to do better in school is by giving them opportunities for enjoyment and fun.
When kids have fun in school, learning becomes exciting for them and it would be easier for you to reach out and manage the class.
Lessons will become memorable when the process of learning is fun. Thus, with this concept, the school will be very interesting for the students and they look up to you as a great classroom manager because you give them time to have fun.
Be creative and incorporate games. Games are a fantastic method to increase student participation in your lesson plan right away. From review sessions to memorization exercises, they make studying more enjoyable.
7. Integrate technology effectively
For both students and teachers, smartphones, computers, and tablets are already an integral part of daily life.
It makes sense that efforts are being made to study how to employ technology in the classroom to give students of all ages relevant learning opportunities.
Moreover, technology makes information instantly accessible, which is why having it in the classroom is so important.
Technology integration also opens doors for individualized instruction to fulfill each student’s specific needs as an individual learner within a wider classroom environment.
With the effective integration of technology, you can manage the class by making lessons even more interesting.
For auditory and visual learners, using technology during the whole-class discussion can increase student participation.
Simple technological integrations like PowerPoints, games, online homework assignments, or online platforms can make a significant difference in how well students do in the classroom.
8. Interact with students
The interaction between teachers and students has produced a productive learning environment that benefits students’ development and learning.
This is my experience. And talking with them makes me laugh and forget my problems.
Likewise, when we interact with our students, they also feel at home and they feel happy.
For a number of reasons, our connection with our students is regarded as being crucial. The positive interactions we establish in the classroom as part of our classroom management are cited as a factor in increased involvement, attention, and attendance in the classroom.
Additionally, it significantly enhances a student’s academic progress, engagement, and sense of self-worth.
For example, during recess time or breaks, or even during discussions, when we interact with our students they can freely share their thoughts, agreements, and disagreements.
It creates a collaborative learning environment and could lead to the creation of previously unrecognized knowledge.
9. Provide timely and constructive feedback
The purpose of effective feedback is to assess a learner’s comprehension and skill development so that the next steps in reaching the learning objectives or goals can be planned.
Giving timely and constructive feedback is an important part of classroom management. As teachers, we should let our students know about their performance.
What went wrong? What went right? Where do they make mistakes? What could have been done to improve it? Notably, the effectiveness of learning is strongly influenced by feedback.
Significantly, the progressive process of continuous learning and assessment relies heavily on feedback. Giving feedback on a regular basis can significantly increase learning achievement.
10. Be a committed teacher
Our commitment and dedication to student learning are highly shown in our expertise as classroom managers. I know that you’re with me on this.
Our commitment to the teaching profession is highly evident in how we manage our class.
Our dedication to the success of our students defines our commitment as teachers. It’s a critical component of effective teaching.
As dedicated educators, we should be concerned about our students’ growth. Among the 10 tips mentioned here, being committed is of greater weight. This is about fostering students’ interest in learning and a desire to study.
Our commitment to making a difference in the lives of our students makes us more enthusiastic about our work, not only as a classroom manager but also as a dispenser of knowledge to the young.
As teachers and classroom managers, our commitment and dedication are motivating elements that influence our performance.
On a final note…
Classroom management can be hard, but it does not have to be so. As classroom managers, we should work hard to manage a classroom full of hopes and dreams.
As better classroom managers, we can create a safe and productive learning environment through careful planning, consistent and clear rules, and all the tips shared above.
