The need for effective classroom management

The need for effective classroom management

By Roger Mikkelsen

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Establishing the rules at the beginning of the school year is necessary for effective classroom management. Classroom Rules need to be clear and simple to understand with clear consequences and agreed upon by students. “Some teachers establish a few briefly worded rules for general classroom behavior” (Marzano 2005). In my class we had three rules, respect the teacher, respect others, respect yourself.

Classroom Rules need to be reviewed periodically to refresh students memories. Monthly, weekly, or daily if need be. I like the idea of using posters and contracts, but only if used regularly as reminders. Too often, these items are ignored as wall paper.

Classroom rules need to be referred to when students break them and consequences need to be delivered in a consistent and unbiased manner. For example, if a student talks to another classmate while the teacher is lecturing, the student must be held accountable to their behavior and serve the detention or agreed upon consequence.

Establishing rules at the beginning of the school year is necessary for effective classroom management. Agreeing on rules and consequences is the first step. Reminding students of the rules is the second step. Being consistent in delivering consequences for breaking the rules is the third step. Getting students to follow class rules is not always as easy as you would like it to be and requires constant vigilance.

Citations

Marzano, Robert. (2005). A handbook for classroom management that works. Alexandria, VA: Association for supervision and curriculum development.