Classroom Management Indicators
Classroom management is the process of managing and controlling the classroom environment. To ensure that teachers are able to get through to students in an effective and productive manner, without distractions or disruptive behavior, they use specific techniques. Classroom management indicators are used to measure the success that teachers have in managing their classroom and activities.
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Interest
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One of the most successful classroom management indicators is ensuring that children are kept busy, even when the teacher is preoccupied or caught up in other tasks or activities. For example, from time to time, teachers may need to consult with other teachers or administrators about classroom matters, or they may have to assist individual students with a problem or issue. When this occurs, the class is left to its own devices; if not managed properly, this may cause problems for the teacher or other students. Providing the class with coursework or assignments during this period is an indicator of class management success. The class that is kept occupied even when the teacher's full attention is not available is an indicator that the teacher has managed the classroom successfully.
Preparation
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Another classroom management indicator is the teacher's ability to be prepared. At times a prepared lesson plan doesn't work out. When this occurs, the teacher's ability to provide students with backup lessons and activities is an indicator of classroom management quality, because it reinforces to students the idea that the classroom is a learning environment. If students are left without a clear focus with the task and instructions prepared by the teacher, it can leave them distracted and uninterested.
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Lessons
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The instruction and material provided by the teacher during the lesson plan can also be an indicator of classroom management quality. Students must be stimulated and engaged when following the lesson plan; this will prevent them from acting up and displaying unfavorable behavior. The lesson plan must also be challenging enough to ensure that students don't get bored and look for distractions.
Rules and Guidelines
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Another indicator of classroom management quality is the class' ability to follow rules and guidelines imposed by the school and teacher. It is the teacher's job to remind students of the rules to which they must adhere. Enforcing these rules means punishing or reprimanding students who break them. For example, a student who disrupts the class should be advised that the behavior is rude and disrespectful and against the rules of the classroom. It also helps to reinforce positive behaviors by rewarding the class or student, such as with a movie or free time.
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References
- Photo Credit class room image by Brett Bouwer from Fotolia.com
