How to Control a Middle School Classroom

Teaching middle school comes with many challenges and middle school teachers deal with the hormonally fueled dramatics of preteen and teenage students on a daily basis. Middle school students will constantly test a teacher's boundaries, so it is essential that a teacher learn how to keep control of her middle school classroom.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Set the rules on day one. You need to be clear about what rules are expected in your class from the minute the students first walk into it. Work together to come up with some additional rules on top of those you have in place.
2. Post the rules in several places throughout the classroom. Middle school students need to not only hear the rules but also see them. Make sure to review these rules with your class on a regular basis.
3. Follow through with consequences when a rule is broken. Students will learn that they can get away with negative behaviors or actions if they see that you don't respond with a consequence when a rule is broken. If you follow through, your students will know that you mean business when it comes to the rules in your classroom and they will be less likely to break them.
4. Reward positive behavior. When students are behaving themselves, let them know. This teaches them that good behavior is rewarded, which in turn keeps them motivated to continue behaving.
5. Prepare your lessons daily and engage the students. Busy students are less apt to misbehave. If students are bored or uninterested, they will have more time to act up. Make your lessons as interactive and interesting as possible and always be prepared.
6. Turn the lights off and sit quietly in front of the students when they become too loud. Tell them in a quiet voice that you will wait until the noise level drops to begin class and the time they spend being noisy will be time added on at the end of class or after school in detention.