ED 243 Magazine Project

From then to now
Unlocking
3 Steps on how to be an effective classroom manager
By Alex Kerns
The classroom can be a scary place if you are not
prepared. Here are some words to the wise as you
begin teach each school year.
1. Set up your classroom before your students even
arrive. Classrooms need to be organized in such a
way that it facilitates learning.
a. Start with arranging your desks in
order for your students to clearly see
you when you instruct them. Know that
there may be some students who need
to be closer to you or the white board
for various reasons.
b. Make sure your classroom is clutter
free. Students need to have a well
organized classroom where they can
easily be directed and not distracted
with objects that you may have around.
c. Make a seating chart. If you don’t know
your students then try to arrange your
classroom in such a ways by previous
teacher’s knowledge. If there is a
student that has a paraprofessional
make room for them. If you know two of
your students may be a distraction to
each other move them to opposite sides
of the classroom.
2. Try to have minimum class rules. Less rules
means better behavior in your classroom.
that is conducive to their behavior in a
respectful way.
3. Do not be afraid to ask for back up. If a student
needs to have a behavior corrected and it consists
more than 4 to 6 weeks with that same behavior
than it may be time to call in for back up.
a. Ask fellow teachers if they have any
solutions on what they have done with
students with similar behaviors.
b. Call the parents. If the student is not
improving their behavior, then maybe
it is time to call his or her parents to ask
for help and guidance. This may be the
ticket to help a behavior stop if it is
practiced both in the classroom and in
home.
Don’t be afraid as a teacher to have good
classrrom management. Set up your plan at
the beginning and follow through with that
plan. You can do this! You can have
successful classroom management if you
start at the beginning.
Sources:
Setting Limits in the Classroom by by Lisa Stanzione;
Robert J. Mackenzie, First Days of School by Harry J.
Wong, and pinterest.com
a. Instruct your class on the rules you
come up with at the beginning of the
school year, and remind them
throughout the year if needs be as well.
b. Make your rules broad so that various
things can fit under one school rule. If
your rule is be respectful then raising
your hand or not talking while others
are talking can fit under that rule.
c. Set up consequences that would be
fitting if that rule is broken. If a student
does not do his or her work during
class time then have them stay in
during the student’s recess time.
d. Do not to be too permissive or too
forceful when carrying out these rules.
It is your job as a teacher to correct a
behavior if needed, and do it in a way