The Secrets to Successful Classroom Management Finally Revealed

Many people associate classroom management with only behavior issues of students; however, it also refers to many other areas of the classroom, such as organization, communication, and environment. The organization of the classroom is more than the arrangement of the desks and bookcases. It is the procedures used by students to help maintain the flow of the room. A simple suggestion for submitting homework, tests, or class work is using a colorful box or bin on a desk or table for completed work. It will help the students and the teacher keep all the work in one place. Since students work at different speeds, they finish their tests or class work at different times. They can drop off their work, and return to their seat to quietly work on a worksheet or read a book. A teacher can also use different colored bins or boxes for permission slips, school notes, or any other information submitted by the student in the morning. For instance, the red bin is used for permission slips for a field trip, the green bin is for book orders, and the blue bin is for all other notes. You can label the bins or write the instructions on the board for the bins. If the students are not able to read, an example of the paper can be posted with the color next to it so the child knows in which bin to put it. The procedure saves the teacher time and keeps all the related papers together.

Communication is important whether it is with the students or their parents. Good communication helps the parents know what is expected of them and their children. Sending home a weekly assignment list in the beginning the week helps the parents to plan their schedules accordingly, and know what books or materials the student needs to complete the assignments. A weekly test folder is another way to communicate with parents. Each Friday, the student will receive a folder with all the recent graded papers. The parent(s) must sign each test, and return the folder with the papers on the next school day. The folder has the student's name on the front, and it is kept at school until Friday. Putting all the folders in alphabetical order, and writing a number in numerical order at the top of the folder allows the teacher to look quickly through the set of folders to see if any folder is missing. This procedure keeps the parents updated on student progress, and maintains the flow of papers returned to the students.

Research has shown that a colorful, informative, and relaxing environment is ideal for the education of a young child. Displaying a variety of posters, decorating for the current holiday or season, and displaying student work is visually appealing to children. They become excited about learning when they are surrounded by inspiring pictures and color. Children are also inspired to learn when exposed to music. It does not need to be classical. The music can be Latino, jazz, or some other different type, depending on the time of day. Playing upbeat music as the children enter the class can help them to be enthusiastic about learning something new, whereas a softer song could be played while the children are performing quieter activities, such as reading, drawing, or working on a worksheet. Even the temperature can affect the learning environment. Children work best when the temperature is in the low seventies. A stuffy or overly hot room is uncomfortable for the students. If it is impossible to moderate the temperature, open windows or use a fan. Creating an environment that is comfortable and colorful makes learning fun. By using simple techniques to manage the classroom, teachers can help students achieve success.