The Key Elements to Effective Classroom Management

Controlling the class is one of the most important skills of English teachers, which helps the teachers and learners have a perfect lesson.

This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Hue D. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.

Classroom management is a term teachers use to describe the process of ensuring that classroom lessons run smoothly without disruptive behavior from students compromising the delivery of instruction. The term also implies the prevention of disruptive behavior preemptively, as well as effectively responding to it after it happens. To manage the class, we have good preparation, appropriate classroom design, and flexible teaching activities.

Firstly, careful preparation is very essential to make the success of the class.

The teachers should plan the lessons before teaching. A lesson plan must show date and time, class level, teaching aids, learner objectives, personal aims, the outline of teaching ideas and activities in class. They should expect and find out solutions to some problems that may appear during the class.

Also Read: How much does a TEFL course cost?

Secondly, effective classroom management also depends on classroom design.

The teachers make sure the classroom is always clean and light. They should check whether the equipment works, lay material out aids so that they can easily find them. Also, they’d better arrange the seating as desired, be ready to chat with the students as they come into class.

The teachers have a plan for organizing the position of the students and themselves, which depends on space available, type of chairs or tables, age of the students’ nationality, and students’ personality. There are some ways for grouping students: whole-class grouping, students working on their own, pair-work, group-work.

Preparing teaching tools relating to topics can help students pay attention to the lesson. One example is using pictures and Flash-cards about animals on the wall for animals' lessons.

Also Read: How Lesson Planning Helps at The Beginning of Your Teaching Career?

Finally, always being on time is an important factor of a good teacher because the students think that the teacher is a model in class.

To start the class, we need to introduce ourselves with a friendly smile. A warm-up is the most important part to help establish a good relationship, bring energy to the class, and get students to begin thinking and focusing on the (English) lesson, which makes classroom management easier. Since the lesson plan is well-prepared, we only need to follow that. With practicing activities, we should explain clearly and carefully the tasks, model and give examples, show vocabularies if needed, provide necessary suggestions for students to understand what they have to complete. This avoids disruption and noise when the students do not know the tasks. These notes contribute to effective classroom management. After finishing the exercises, we will correct the tasks and give comments to students, then give homework.

Here are some necessary rules to set up in class to have a good atmosphere and consistent lesson. In this case, some students make noise or don’t pay attention to your teaching, you can stop, be silent, and look at them. Other rules in English class are to raise your hands for permission to speak, do not eat and drink in the class, listen carefully when others are speaking…ect.

Effective classroom management starts with relationship building. When students feel a greater sense of belonging, they’re more likely to be academically engaged and demonstrate positive behavior.

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In conclusion, classroom management is the use of procedures and teaching techniques that promote a safe and efficient learning environment. In my opinion, each teacher has the best way to manage their classrooms.

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