Classroom Management Basics

Pamela Netinho

English Language Fellow

Centro Colombo Americano

Bogota, Colombia

CLASSROOM

MANAGEMENT

BASICS

EFFECTIVE TEACHERS

MANAGE THEIR CLASSROOMS.

INEFFECTIVE TEACHERS DISCIPLINE THEIR CLASSROOMS.

The First Days of School: How to Be an Effective Teacher

by Harry Wong and Rosemary Wong

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE

EFFECTIVE TEACHER:

1. Making intelligent decisions about effective

instructional strategies to implement in

lesson design.

2. Determining the sequence and pacing of

the curriculum to promote student learning.

3. Implementing effective classroom

management techniques.

“A well managed class

does not just appear

out of nowhere. It

takes a good deal of

effort to create—and

the person who is most

responsible for

creating it is the

teacher.”

Dr. Robert Marzano

• Getting Ready Before the School Year Begins

• Establishing Rules and Consequences

• Implementing Procedures and Routines

• Building a Community of Learners

• Classroom Management Styles

FEET…

A CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT TOOL

THAT YOU NEED!

ZONES OF PROXIMITY

TOOLS FOR TEACHING BY FRED JONES

ZONES OF PROXIMITY CHANGE AS THE

TEACHER MOVES AROUND THE

ROOM…SO, KEEP MOVING!

ZONES OF PROXIMITY

MOBILITY

THE INTERIOR LOOP

TOOLS FOR TEACHING BY FRED JONES

THE DOUBLE E

SEATING IN GROUPS

MUST BE TAUGHT AT THE BEGINNING

OF THE SCHOOL YEAR:

• RULES: Rules describe how students are to BEHAVE or ACT in the classroom.

• PROCEDURES: Procedures describe how things are DONE in the classroom.

• ROUTINES: Routines are what the students do automatically. Procedures with practice becomes routines.

Wong, Harry and Rosemary. The First Days of School: How to be an Effective Teacher.

Focus in the primary grades:

Politeness and helpfulness when dealing with others

Respecting the property of others

Interrupting the teacher or others

Hitting or shoving others

RULES = BEHAVIOR

RESPECT

I SEE…

• People are being

nice.

• People are helping

each other.

• People are happy.

I HEAR…

• People are

encouraging others.

• People are quiet when

working.

• People are listening.

RULES = BEHAVIOR

Focus in the secondary classroom:

• Bringing materials to class

• Being in the assigned seat at the start of class

• Respecting and being polite to others

• Respecting other people’s property

• Talking or not talking at specific times

• Leaving the assigned seat

EXAMPLE OF CLASS RULES:

Be Punctual

Be Prepared

Be Polite

Be Proactive

Be Persistent

Be Punctual Come to class on time.

Be Prepared Bring a pencil and notebook and

do your homework.

Be Polite Be kind to people and treat them

how you want to be treated.

Be Proactive Don’t guess at what you’re

supposed to do. Find out what to

do and do it!

Be Persistent Be your best and do your best

every day!

CLASSROOM RULES:

1. Listen and follow directions.

2. Come to class on time prepared with

your materials.

3. Respect others. Be kind with your

words and actions.

4. Respect school and personal property.

5. Use appropriate language in your

speech and writing.

FINDING:

“Rules and procedures should not

simply be imposed on students.

Rather, the proper design of rules and

procedures involves explanation and

input.”Classroom Management That Works

by Robert Marzano

RULES & CONSEQUENCES:

TEACH STUDENTS:

• Every action results in a consequence. (Positive or Negative)

• Consequences are not punishments.

• Consequences are the result of a person’s chosen action.

DETERMINE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES

Level Student Infraction Teacher Intervention

Severe • Threatening teacher or another

student

• Fighting with another student

• Destruction of school property

• Refer to administrator

• Refer to counselor

• Write behavior contract

• Arrange formal

teacher/parent/admin

conference

Moderate • Repeated defiance toward

instructions

• Throwing objects

• Cussing

• Verbal altercation with teacher

• Repeated altercation with

another student

• Contact parent

• Assign a penalty

• Withhold a privilege

• Teacher/student conference

• Arrange formal

parent/teacher/student

conference

Minor • Off task behavior

• Talking or talking out

• Throwing paper

• Sleeping or non-attentive

• Arguing

• Proximity

• Nonverbal cues

• Gesture

• Re-direct student to task

• Change seat

• Informal teacher/student “talk”

PROCEDURES AND ROUTINES ARE

THE KEY TO A WELL-MANAGED

CLASSROOM

Effective classroom teachers spend

more of their time in the first few

weeks of the school year teaching

classroom rules, procedures and

routines as opposed to academic

content. The First Days of School by Harry and

Rosemary Wong.

PROCEDURES = HOW THINGS GET DONE

• Starting class = DO NOW

• Posting class or day’s schedule

• Use of bathroom/drinks

• Signal to get students’ attention

• When student needs pencil and/or paper

• How do students’ ask for help

• Working in groups (short voice vs. long voice)

• Passing in papers or notebooks

• Class dismissal

• And more….

3- STEP APPROACH TO TEACH

PROCEDURES

①EXPLAIN: State, explain, model, and

demonstrate the procedure.

②REHEARSE: Rehearse and practice the

procedure under your supervision.

③REINFORCE: Reteach, rehearse, practice,

and reinforce the classroom procedure until

it becomes a routine.

The First Days of School: How to Be an Effective Teacher

by Harry and Rosemary Wong.

PROCEDURES, WITH

PRACTICE, BECOME

ROUTINES

• Routines provide structure

for students.

• Students know what to

expect in your class.

BUILD A COMMUNITY OF

LEARNERS

BUILD COMMUNITY WITHIN THE

CLASSROOM.

BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH

YOUR STUDENTS.

“WHAT ARE SOME WAYS

THAT TEACHERS SHOW YOU

RESPECT?”

Participants were 980 middle school

students in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Approximately 63% of students at the

school received free or reduced priced

lunch.

RESULTS: HOW TEACHERS SHOW

RESPECT TO THEIR STUDENTS…

12. Talk sincerely—no sarcasm or “eye

rolling.”

11. Return evaluated work promptly.

10. Be available during non-classroom times.

9. Use student’s name when talking to him or

her.

8. Let parents/ guardians know student did a

good job sometimes.

7. Prepare exciting lessons.

RESPECT CONTINUED…

6. Display student work around the

classroom and/or school.

5. Have a sense of humor.

4. Listen without interrupting.

3. Respect personal space--don’t touch,

grab, eyeball, crowd, etc.

2. Use a calm tone of voice, even when

upset. No yelling.

#1 WAY A TEACHER SHOWS

RESPECT TO STUDENTS

1. Talk privately to a student when

a problem occurs.

Classroom Management

Styles

Assertive or Authoritative

Permissive

Detached or Indifferent

Authoritarian

CONSISTENCY!

Students appreciate consistency.

Once students have internalized

classroom rules, procedures, and

routines, the day will run much more

smoothly. Harry Wong.

HELPFUL WEBSITES

• Procedures and Routines Checklist by Harry

Wong (“google” to find this document)

• Smart Classroom Management

http://www.smartclassroommanagement.com

• Education World

http://www.educationworld.com

SOURCES

Jones, Fredric H., and Patrick Jones. Tools for Teaching:

Discipline, Instruction, Motivation. Santa Cruz, CA: F.H.

Jones & Associates, 2000.Print.

Marzano, Robert J., and Jana S. Marzano. Classroom

Management That Works: Research-Based Strategies

for Every Teacher. Alexandria, VA: Association for

Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2003. Print.

Rutherford, Paula. Why Didn’t I Learn This in College?

Alexandria, VA: Just Ask Publications, 2002. Print.

Wong, Harry and Rosemary. The First Days of School: How to Be

an Effective Teacher (4th ed.) 2009. Print.