How to Calm a Chaotic Classroom

For a teacher, calming down an unruly classroom can be daunting.

There are many factors that can lead to a chaotic atmosphere in the classroom, but no matter what the cause, the one thing for certain is that these distractions inhibit the class' ability to learn. When students become overly excited, it can be difficult to regain the necessary control over the classroom to continue with the lesson plan. In order to regain control and keep students in line, there are some options you can employ.

Instructions

1. Take a deep breath. It is impossible to project a calm attitude onto your students if you are feeling angry, flustered or scared. To keep things from getting out of control or saying anything to escalate the situation, take a deep breath before speaking.

2. Practice calm body language. Sometimes a close-lipped, patient smirk will demonstrate your disapproval of the state of the classroom. Try slipping your hands in your pockets and looking out across the room, scanning the students carefully. This will show them that you are being patient, but you are aware of the chaos and want it to stop.

3. Enforce policy. This could involve punishments such as detention or the loss of a privilege. For example, you might have a "three strike" policy for students. If a student acts up, you can write his name down. If he acts up again, you could circle the name. A third time would result in detention or suspension. While the class is misbehaving, let them know you are taking notes and that punishments will be enforced. Staying consistent with your policy is the best way to enforce behavior expectations in students.

4. Lower your voice. If the class has become unruly and loud, it may be tempting to scream as loud as you can over them. While this will sometimes get their attention, more often it will only heighten the chaotic atmosphere. Students will need to quiet down to hear you, which can help calm down the environment.

5. Keep the class progressing at a natural pace. Plan your lessons well in advance and budget your time wisely to prevent excess time in between lessons, which can lead to unruly behavior.

References

• Discipline By Design...The Honor Level System: Four Steps for Better Classroom Discipline
• Ron Partin: Hot Tips on Classroom Management
• Teaching Expertise: 10 Ways to Promote a Calm Classroom