How to Monitor Classroom Behavior
Most teachers battle negative student behavior at some point. Though this behavior can be trying, you can implement classroom management strategies that monitor student behavior. These strategies are versatile and will work with your class, no matter what grade level. Use consistency in your monitoring as well, so students know their behavior won't go unnoticed and that there are consequences.
Instructions
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Monitoring Students' Behavior
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Place students of different ability levels in manageable heterogeneous groups of four. Spencer Kagan, author of "Cooperative Learning," suggests placing students in these groups to foster learning and make classroom management easier. When you assign a project, allow students to work together in their cooperative learning groups as much as you can. When students are working in their groups, they'll be less likely to act out, as they aren't required to sit still and finish a project. Try to have a mix of boys and girls, as well as ability levels.
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Move around the classroom while teaching. Children are less likely to display negative behaviors if the teacher is in close proximity. Avoid sitting at your desk or standing in the front of the room while you're lecturing. Print out notes and stand near the students. Invest in a remote control that advances electronic presentations so you don't have to be near the front of the room. When students are working independently, move around them frequently.
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Document student behavior for accountability purposes. You can do this in several ways. Teacher Vision has several templates for monitoring behavior. One example is to give each student a weekly points chart. Certain classroom behaviors warrant points, while others cause students to lose points. For instance, coming into the classroom and sitting down without disrupting the classroom can earn a student points. While this works well for younger students, high school and middle school teachers who have a lot of students can create a simple check mark system. That way, they can give a student a check and write a quick note if there is a behavior issue. During parent-teacher conferences, you'll be able to give concrete examples to parents, which make your concerns appear more valid.
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Tips & Warnings
Have bell work on the overhead projector ready and waiting for students before the bell rings. That way, students will come in the classroom and immediately get to work. While they're working, you can easily take attendance. Avoid taking attendance by calling every student's name individually, as this wastes class time and gives students unstructured time for acting out. If you don't know all of your students' names, place them in a teacher-designed seating chart, and go by your seating chart while you take attendance.
References
- Photo Credit drawing at home image by Renata Osinska from Fotolia.com
