Rethinking Classroom Management

Classroom management is the term used by educators to describe methods used to prevent misbehavior and respond to it if it arises. In other words, it is the techniques educators use to maintain control in the learning environment. It implies that good teachers can prevent disruptive behavior or have a response to every instance of it. It is possibly the most difficult aspect of teaching. Teachers who struggle with it are often forced to face these issues alone for fear of being judged as a failure, weak, incompetent, and/or mean.

Discipline problems challenge most new teachers and even some veteran educators. However, it is a myth that classroom management means that there are no misbehaviors. Misbehavior is a given in just about any classroom. At some point in your educational career you will have defiant, impulsive, chatty, and/or unmotivated learners. Having a plan for how you want your classroom to run and what you will do when misbehavior occurs is the gold standard to any well run classroom. However, if you combine this thoughtful planning with explicit teaching of what your expectations and routines are you will achieve the platinum level of classroom management or better yet classroom engagement.