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Six Elements of a Well-Managed Classroom

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Teacher and 4 students looking at computer screen

While it is certainly true that no two students are alike, the same can be said for teachers! Every classroom has its own set of expectations and routines, which can make for a difficult adjustment for everyone involved going into each new school year. To help kickstart your year, our behavior experts have put together a list of six nearly foolproof tips for starting (and keeping) your classroom on the right track.

  1. Teach behavioral expectations.
    Your students come to you from a variety of other teachers with their own set of expectations. Start the year off right by teaching your new students what you expect from them in your classroom — behaviorally and otherwise. Have those expectations and rules displayed prominently and refer to them when you notice student behavior creeping outside of those boundaries as well as those displaying willful adherence to them. Consistency is key!
  2. Develop procedures and routines.
    Having a set routine helps students know what to expect on a daily basis. Students with executive function deficits will benefit from the structure of a routine, and consistency will help keep your entire class on track. Students learn and retain knowledge (and expectations!) in different ways, so printing and posting the daily schedule in a prominent location will help your visual learners.
  3. Use reinforcement and acknowledgment.
    Catch your students doing something good! If you see a student making a conscious effort to adhere to a classroom rule or helping another student, be sure to acknowledge it. On the flip side, if you witness a rule being purposely broken, reinforcing your expectations “in the moment” helps promote consistency and will improve the classroom climate over time.
  4. Structure the learning environment.
    Kids thrive in structure, whether it’s at home or in the classroom. Having defined areas of the room for various learning activities will help your students not only stay organized physically, but mentally as well. For example, have dedicated areas of your classroom for independent reading, manipulatives, science labs, etc., and encourage your students to keep the learning materials in the prescribed areas.
  5. Improve student-teacher and student-student relationships and interactions.
    Students learn best from educators with whom they feel a connection. When providing feedback to your students, keep the five-to-one ratio in mind and give them five positive observations for every negative. Additionally, take some time to get to know each student, greet them personally when they walk in the classroom, and ask them to share some highlights from their breaks, weekends, etc.
  6. Develop effective correction procedures and strategies.
    Gone are the days of fear-based behavior management, and in its place, teachers and students are both thriving in an environment of mutual respect. Once your classroom expectations have been taught and prominently displayed, follow up with consequences that you can easily adhere to, commensurate with the offense. When you observe a student breaking a rule, remind them of your expectations, point out where they are displayed, and give them an opportunity to course correct. If you observe them making a better choice, be sure to reinforce that good choice! Again, consistency is the key to improved classroom climate!

We know every day in the classroom brings different challenges, so it’s important to remain flexible and adjust your classroom management plan as needed if something isn’t working. To learn more about social-emotional learning, classroom management tips and improving the climate in your school, check out our other resources: