The Ingredients to Successful Classroom Management

There is a serious science behind mastering classroom management and student behavior. I often over looked all of the small steps that an educator put into each class period to ensure students were given the very best learning environment. If the last several weeks have taught me anything there is so much more to managing a classroom than just focusing on strategies to managing misbehavior, it's important to be well prepared before mishavior has a chance to occur. The list of useful classroom management strategies is nearly endless, as there is always a way to ensure that a class is running efficiently. Here are a few management strategies I find to be truly beneficial and some that I have been able to utilize thus far in my journey to becoming an educator.

Knowing a student as a person: the famous quote by Theodore Roosevelt describes this one best, "No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care." Building relationships with students is extremely important to their learning environment because students want to know that you are a real person with real experiences rather than simply someone who teaches from a text book. 

Setting Expectations: Day one with a new class should be setting the foundation for the course ahead. Expectations should be made clear and posted in the classroom, leaving little room for gray area. This expectations are not only important to be recognized by each students but also as an educator understanding what expectations your students have for you. With clear expectations there will be more time the rest of course to be purposeful with educational material. However, it's also okay to review those expectations if needed.

Interest: Interest directly related to content is a secret weapon towards avoiding misbehavior. This one is pretty simple if the content is taught in an interesting manor and the students interests are taken into consideration there is little room for students to misbehave. Students will be less likely to be distracted if they are consumed by something of interest. 

The list could honestly go on forever. Through my teaching experiences thus far I have learned to figure out what strategies work for you as an educator and continue to repeat to ensure students know what to expect in your classroom. I found this list of classroom management strategies to be beneficial as it combines simple everyday strategies that can create a huge impact on your classroom.

 Newcomb, L.H., McCracken, J.D., Warmbrod, J.R., & Whittington, M.S. (1993). Methods of teaching agriculture. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.