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Effective classroom management broadly refers to the overall success of the lessons you are teaching. For a class to run effectively, the teacher must establish the skills required to provide a clear, controlled and inspiring lesson. This includes managing all stages of each lesson, and dealing with any problem behaviour should it arise. Classroom management is vital in order to sustain meaningful academic learning. A chaotic classroom will not only negatively impact a student’s ability and motivation to learn, but it will also increase teacher stress and the formation of negative student-teacher relationships. In my opinion, effective classroom management starts before a lesson has even begun. The teacher should be organised for a lesson in advance, ensuring all materials are relevant to the topic and the abilities of the students. These organisation skills should be maintained throughout the engage, study and activate stages of the lesson to decrease the opportunity for students to become distracted or disinterested in the lesson. Considering the layout of the classroom and the activities you will be undertaking during the class will enable the teacher to predict and plan for any issues that may arise. These classroom arrangements should take into consideration the age and personalities of the students. When the lesson has started, the attitude and demeanour of the teacher will have a profound effect on the students learning. Having a positive attitude and establishing rapport with the students will ultimately produce a comfortable environment for learning. The teacher must inspire confidence in students and create a friendly environment where students won’t feel scared to answer questions. Using student’s names and learning about their personalities during the ‘Engage’ section of a lesson will be beneficial to maintain the engagement throughout. Classroom management can also refer to the structure of the lesson. It will be essential to maintain an orderly environment throughout the quieter ‘study’ sessions and the noisier ‘activate’ sessions. Managing the amount of teacher talk time and student talk time should decrease the potential for students to become unmotivated. Using clear, concise instructions and providing examples where necessary will also assist in maintaining class order. These instructions should include good eye contact and gestures to ensure students fully understand what is being asked of them. If students are not given clear instructions, there is potential for confusion and frustration to arise. Should problems arise during a lesson, it is important for the teacher to act immediately to de-escalate such situations. It would be important to keep calm and focus on the behaviour, whilst changing the classroom arrangements if necessary. In conclusion, there are many factors involved in maintaining effective classroom management during lessons. Engaging content and materials, positive body language and a well organised plan will help to create the ultimate classroom experience for each individual involved. Effective classroom management lies mainly with the teacher. Having engaging body language, being punctual and showing respect to all learners will lay the foundations for a great lesson. Without effective classroom management, students could become uninterested, confused and even intimidated. This in turn, will obstruct their ability to learn confidently and accurately.
