Classroom Managment

MAKE PROACTIVE MODIFICATIONS TO YOUR CLASSROOM

By: Bettenhausen, Sherrie, Intervention in School & Clinic,
Jan98, Vol. 33, Issue 3

1. Establish a climate of safety and predictability. Set a tone for positive relationships with students. Model cheerful, supportive, enthusiastic actions. Maintain a high ratio of positive attention to negative attention with students. Have realistic expectations for student learning.
2. Provide a structured learning environment. Establish a routine and stick to the schedule. Alternate high- and low- interest activities to maintain student focus. Remember to take regular breaks.
3. Organize your classroom space. Place desk and work areas facing the chalkboard and away from windows. Be sure students can easily see presentations and displays of rules and assignments. Place students with cognitive or behavior challenges closer to you.
4. Set clear expectations and follow through consistently. Make sure students know and understand the established rules. Catch your students being good. Encourage students to support each other in following the rules.
5. Provide a wide range of learning activities. Use a multisensory presentation style. Vary grouping arrangements and types of materials. Allow students to demonstrate knowledge in different response modes.
6. Keep students with special needs away from distractions. The student's work space should be as far from the door, pencil sharpener, and windows as possible. Seat the child with learning difficulties next to good workers.
7. Adjust assignments as needed. Shorten or break up tasks into smaller, manageable parts. Allow extra time for students to complete tasks. Whenever possible, let students use their best response mode for tests and assignments.
8. Give one direction at a time. Be concise and brief. Have students paraphrase the direction to ensure understanding. Use a positive tone and reinforce student follow-through.
9. Use proximity to manage behavior. Move about the room in an unpredictable pattern. Look around the room as you move. Notice when a student is doing well and praise either publicly or privately.
10. Give a warning for negative consequences. Catch problem behavior before it escalates. Be brief but firm. Give feedback privately.
11. Provide incentives or rewards. Use privilege or activity rewards and vary the selections frequently. Draw up a contingency contract or use cognitive behavior management to help students monitor and evaluate their own behavior.
12. Help students improve organizational skills. Use assignment notebooks. Color-code notebooks, folders, and activities. Do periodic desk checks to help students organize their work space.
13. Experiment with cross-age or peer tutoring. Target skills or content with peer tutoring pairs to promote academic independence. Use tutoring to foster social skills, positive relationships, and self-esteem.
14. Use volunteers or paraprofessionals in the classroom to maximize learning. Allow students the opportunity to work with a variety of adults. Enable students to receive extra instruction or personalized attention by maximizing the classroom environment.
15. Involve parents. Communicate a collaborative spirit between school and home. Make parental requests and expectations clear. Create a daily school-home progress report to enhance interactions.
16. Manage your time and your schedule. Reduce down time in your classroom and improve the efficiency of organizational activities. Be prepared and seek a balance between teacher-led instruction and seatwork. Make sure independent work assignments are relevant and at the student's ability level.
17. Assemble surefire work folders. Provide folders with meaningful tasks that children can do without assistance. Students can work on these tasks while waiting for assistance or after completing assignments.
18. Establish procedures for specific activities. Teach and model the procedures for basic classroom functions such as collecting assignments, handing in work, and sharpening pencils. Make sure students understand the protocol for participating in class and leaving the room.
19. Keep your room uncluttered and well organized. Avoid seating students near high traffic areas. Have extra supplies such as pencils and paper on hand. Make your desk and classroom an example of an organized and efficient work space.
20. Use interactive teaching styles and techniques. Alter the tone and speed of your instruction. Redirect students who are drifting. Involve students by asking frequent questions at varying levels. Repeat yourself when necessary. Write important points in vibrant colors on the board.