This blog post is produced by Engage Education, helping you find teaching jobs in London and the UK.
Creating a positive environment for your students – both emotionally and physically – is one of the best classroom management strategies.
In order to create a good relationship with your students, try:
The way that your students interact with each other in your classroom is as important as the way they interact with you. Praise positive interactions, foster good working relationships between students in your classes and never permit any cruelty or disrespect.
The layout of a classroom also has a demonstrable impact on the learning environment. The traditional classroom structure with students seated in rows facing the front can make classroom management difficult.
Studies have shown that arranging desks in a semicircle creates a more integrated and communicative atmosphere in the classroom, leading to a more enjoyable and effective learning experience for students. This, in turn, can reduce misbehaviour.
Make sure that all your students can see and hear you, each other and if necessary, the board. Take steps to eliminate any other distractions such as overly bright or flickering lights or cold draughts that could negatively impact your learning environment.
Body language, though less overt than many other classroom management strategies, is one of the most important aspects of classroom management. It is vital that your non-verbal communication with students reinforces your verbal instructions rather than undermining them.
Positive body language includes:
Movement also plays a significant role in successful classroom management. Try:
The manner in which you issue sanctions is a reflection of your ability to manage a classroom.
When correcting a student’s behaviour:
Many children simply misbehave for attention. You can counteract this by providing them with the attention they crave in positive reinforcements instead of negative ones
In order to put this into practice:
Remember that for every student being disruptive, there are usually many others behaving well. If your focus is always on the misbehaving student, you’re reinforcing that behaviour.
Join the education agency with a support-based approach to recruitment. When you register with Engage, you’ll be immediately matched with your own personal Engage consultant. Your Engage consultant will get to work right away to get to know you, your goals, and your skills, to find the best job for you – whether you’re an administrative worker, a supply teacher, member of support staff, or a school leader!
Guest blog from Fergal Roche: “Fergal Roche is the Chief Executive of...
Guest blog from Fergal Roche: “Fergal Roche is the Chief Executive of The Key, a company that provides trusted leadership…
Attending an interview is daunting enough, but when you’re up for your school’s Head of Department role, or – even…