Classroom Management Part 1: Getting Off to a Good Start
TEFL Professional Seminar, January 2011
Presented by Marla Yoshida
No class is perfect. What are three student behaviors in your classroom that you would like to change?
Why is good classroom management important?
You must be able to manage your class before you can teach your class. We can help prevent behavior
problems through good classroom management. Remember this:
You are the teacher.
You are the leader in your classroom.
Establishing Classroom Rules
Every classroom needs rules, and every classroom has rules, whether they’re written down or not.
What are some of the rules in your classroom?
Guidelines for making rules
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Keep the number of rules small. Students will forget or get frustrated if there are too many.
(4-7 is a good number.)
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Set reasonable and appropriate consequences for breaking the rules.
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Choose only rules that you are willing to enforce every time.
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Choose rules that fit the age and behavior patterns of your students.
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State rules in positive terms, not negative. (“Listen when the teacher is speaking” works better
than “Don’t talk when the teacher is speaking.”)
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Consider having the class help decide on some of the rules. This gives them a feeling of
ownership and participation.
•
Teach the rules to your students. If possible, post them on the classroom wall.
Here are some rules that other teachers have written for their classrooms. What do you think?
Sample Class Rules #1
1. Be on time, in your seat, and ready to work when the bell rings.
2. Bring all your materials (including your homework) with you every day.
3. Raise your hand when you want to speak.
4. Stay in your seat except when your teacher gives other directions.
5. Be kind.
6. Ask for help if you need it.
7. Use appropriate classroom language.
Sample Class Rules #2
1. Come to class on time every day.
2. Listen carefully when the teacher or another student is talking.
3. Be respectful to your teacher and to one another.
4. Speak English as much as you can.
5. Speak so that people can hear you, but don’t shout.
6. Keep a positive attitude.
7. Keep our classroom clean.
What rules would you add?
You have to make your rules stick.
•
Reality is the law. The standards in any classroom are defined by whatever the students can get
away with. Rules that students don’t really have to follow are just hot air. (From Tools for
Teaching by Fred Jones)
How do you make the rules stick? You have to “mean business.”
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Start the class in a strong and positive way. Let the students know that this is your classroom
now and it’s time to study and use English. Use bellwork, flash cards, or another active routine
to get the students working right away.
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Get the students’ attention before you speak. Keep their attention by using meaningful,
engaging material and activities.
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Listen to what’s going on in the room, good or bad. Know what’s happening all over the room.
Make it your business to deal with problems or potential problems before they can grow.
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Apply consequences calmly and consistently. Don’t punish or shout in anger.
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Don’t reward students who have not done what you asked.
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“When in doubt, say nothing.” Sometimes it’s best not to respond to everything a student says.
Don’t get pulled into conversations or confrontations that pull the class off-topic.
Calm is strength. Upset is weakness.
-Fred Jones, Tools for Teaching
Use a positive approach.
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Recognize and reward students when they’re being good. Positive expectations and sincere
praise can do wonders.
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Don’t scold, nag, or shout. It doesn’t help. It just makes you hoarse.
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Express your instructions in a simple, positive, respectful way.
Compare these expressions:
Please listen. / All eyes on me. / Don’t talk to your friends. / Be quiet. / Shut up!
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Set your expectations high. Your students can accomplish more than you might think!
Let’s talk about it…
Let’s think about some common situations that can happen in the classroom. Talk with your group and
consider the questions in the boxes.
Situation #1: It takes a long time to get everyone to settle down so we can start class every day.
The students wander around and chatter and it takes them forever to sit down. They don’t listen,
and they won’t be quiet!
1. What is the
problem?
2. What is the
cause of the
problem?
3. What could the
teacher do
about it?
Situation #2: Watch the video “Eddie Behaving Badly.” What’s the problem here?
1. What is the
problem?
2. What is the
cause of the
problem?
3. What could the
teacher do
about it?
In summary:
• Better classroom management leads to better teaching and better
learning.
• You can get off to a good start by planning carefully, teaching rules
and procedures, and making them stick.
Classroom management resources
Books
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Tools for Teaching (2nd edition) by Fred Jones, Ph.D., Fredric
H. Jones & Associates, Inc. 2007. ISBN# 978-0-9650263-2-1.
(http://www.fredjones.com )
A practical book of advice for organizing your classroom,
motivating students, and making sure they get their work done.
•
The First Days of School by Harry K. Wong and Rosemary T.
Wong. Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc. 2004. ISBN# 9780976423317.
Ideas on how to begin the year well, teach routines, use
discipline effectively, and be a truly professional teacher. This
book is aimed primarily at elementary school teachers.
Internet Sources
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Teachers TV: An excellent source of videos about classroom management, motivation,
teaching methods, and many other teaching topics. Many of them show a classroom with some
problems, then a teacher trainer works with the teacher to improve the class.
http://www.teachers.tv/
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Education World: Includes articles about classroom management and effective discipline by
Fred Jones. These articles are a good place to start if you want to learn more about how to
prevent behavior problems and make your classes run smoothly.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/jones/jones.shtml
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Middle Web: A website for junior high school teachers with links to helpful websites about
classroom management and preventing behavior problems before they start. (The ideas are
also helpful for teachers at other levels.) You can also sign up to receive their email newsletter.
http://www.middleweb.com/1stDResources.html#anchor14666257
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Teach ESL: On this website I’ve collected useful information and links for teachers. Click on
“Classroom Management” for links to the sites listed above and others.
http://teachesl.pbworks.com