How to Design a Classroom Management System

Teachers develop classroom management skills over time.

Poorly developed classroom management can lead to lack of progress or challenging behavior from students. On the other hand, a well-designed classroom management system can improve the quality of your lessons. When students know what is expected of them and bad behavior is nipped in the bud quickly, they will thrive and achieve better grades. Different teachers, students and institutions may require varying techniques, but the same elements always need to be considered when designing a classroom management system.

Things You'll Need

• Stickers
• Certificates
• Praise postcards
• Display paper

Instructions

1. Establish routines for students. Consider how you want them to enter and leave the room, how books and supplies will be distributed and what they will do while you take attendance. When students know what to do, lessons will begin in an orderly manner. Frequently remind students of your expectations.

2. Set out your expectations and rules, preferably at the start of the school year. Encourage students to be responsible by involving them in the process of making rules or getting them to understand why certain rules are necessary. For example, students need to be quiet when someone is speaking or they will not hear what is being said.

3. Set up a tiered system of sanctions to deal with disruptive behavior or rule breaking. Continued bad behaviors should result in a more severe punishment than a first-time offense. Use any school-wide sanctions that are available within your system. Explain the punishments you will use to the students and be consistent in your use of sanctions.

4. 

   Reward students who do well.

   Reward students who do well and stick to the rules. Thank and verbally praise students often. This will help to create a positive learning environment. Use rewards that students value and make them work towards receiving the rewards they value most. Stickers, certificates and praise postcards all work well with young children. You may want to offer small prizes to the best students. Use any reward systems your school already has in place.

5. Plan lessons to motivate and engage your students. This will help to minimize poor behavior. Consider classroom management and the individuals within your class when you plan activities. Think about timings and transitions between activities to minimize disruption.

6. Display your expectations clearly in the classroom, along with the rewards and sanctions students can expect depending on their behavior. Refer to your expectations often. Create an atmosphere of competition with a praise chart, but don't linger on instances of bad behavior.

Tips & Warnings

• Review your classroom management system regularly.

References

• Classroom Management Success: How a Classroom Management Plan Helps You Get to the End Before You Start

Resources

• National Education Association: Discipline
• Adprima: Classroom Management, Management of Student Conduct, Effective Praise Guidelines