ClassMan2011

Based on a literature review of publications on classroom management, 20 effective strategies were identified. These strategies were evaluated based on evidence based practices. A few strategies that seemed particularly helpful were 1. Maximize structure and predictability 2. Use a variety of ways to acknowledge appropriate behaviour 3. Use a variety of ways to acknowledge inappropriate behaviour

This web page describes a classroom technique that utilizes a silent way for students to get their teacher's attention; signaling that they need help while still being able to work until the teacher can assist them. I think that "FlagBee" would work well at the elementary level, but seems a little "silly" for high school maybe. A variation of this would just be to write their name on the board when a student needs assistance.

This article offers insights how to deal with a disruptive student or students in a elementary classroom.

In part 3 of this free online resource the need for empowerment for students is featured. Offering authentic praise and encouragment is a proven way to encourage students to work hard and repeat appropriate behaviours. Tips on offering authentic and appropriate praise are offered in this section.

Part 4 of this free online resourse dealves deeper into the need for students to feel empowered and using praise and encouragement to help meet this need and in turn prevent classroom management issues. It offers specific strategies to improve praise including how to structure it and when it is appropriate.

Sir Ken Robinson asks the good questions that aren't be asked in education. Our education model has become so systematic with little good reasoning behind it. We've created a box for thinking, can we get out of it? Even if you don't watch the whole 11:40 minutes, you'll still get something out of this clip. The good news is: some of these changes that are needed can be done in the classroom. It can start with us.

The article by Gary Maclean discusses the importance of management in the classroom. He defines management as "designed to bring students to their ultimate objective". Gary briefly outlines five elements of classroom management: organization, simplify, cleaning, standardize and sustain. Most of the article was fairly self explanatory, but the one element I found interesting and very useful that I had not thought of before was cleaning. A busy classroom gets messy, therefore cleaning should be a daily activity. This is not an occasional activity and should be done at the end of the school day. In conclusion, Gary presents us with a great article on classroom management and includes five important elements.

When you feel like you are loosing them, get them standing and doing a Brain Break. They take only a minute or two, need no real preparation or fancy supplies and they can contribute huge dividends to your classroom management by allowing students to re-engage after a mental shift. They can be done with students of any age, usually make you laugh and challenge your brain often by crossing your mid-line thus engaging both hemispheres. They have even been suggested for use during exams and standardized tests. They are backed up by some action research I found on http://abllab.com/ which even shows some cool brain scans illustrating the difference in mental activity when someone was active right before or not! Definite food for thought to do more than your DPA to keep them engage, learning and not creating mischief!

A collection of professional development resources to assist teachers with everyday issues that arise. Some of the resources include creating a discipline plan, classroom management tips and starting the school year off in a positive manner.

You cannot ignore bad behaviour or it will just get worse. Here are some basic rules to dealing with bad behaviour: 1-bad behavior, not bad person 2-act but do not react 3-analyze, then respond 4-be consistent and fair The article continues to discuss other issues like inattention, side conversations, heckling, threatening and fighting. In the extreme case of students fighting one another, you should never put yourself between the fighters unless you are certain you can end it with little harm to anyone. The article is from changingminds.org and contains many other great articles.

The article begins by defining the characteristics of students with Asperger's, which is on the autism spectrum. Students with Asperger's specifically struggle with transitioning between activities because they struggle when their daily routine is disrupted. One strategy is to use picture charts for each part of the day. Another strategy for older students is to use verbal cues that a transition is occuring. Ultimitely, teachers who provide emotinal support will help these students transition smoothly.

Classroom management is a big part of fruitful group work. How groups are made and students' understanding of group work are two big factors in how much students get out of group activities. This website lists the many ways that groups can be made. Those new to me were knowledge/subject grouping, skill/strategy grouping and student choice grouping.

In my last practicum, I was in a grade 5 classroom and students got a good amount of time during class for independent quiet reading. I always questioned how productive that was since it seemed to me that many kids were not really reading. This resource gives good ideas as to how to manage that time so that it is productive and how to make kids accountable for the time that is given to them for this activity.

This website has different categories for stages in a teaching career. There are links for beginning teachers, substitute teachers, mentor teachers and students. They have teaching tips, articles, and blogs and you can also join an email discussion list. I like that you can connect to different aspects of education from one location.

A lot of my looking around has resulted in seeing the book, "Reluctant Disciplinarian: Advice on Classroom Management from a Softy Who Became (Eventually) A Successful Teacher" by Gary Rubinstein. I have not had a chance to read the book, but this is a good review that highlights some key points. There don't seem to be any grounbreaking information, but I feel like it is nice to get classroom management advice from people that are currently teaching and going through what we will soon be. I really like the part on developing a teacher persona, as I think you need to have an identity that students understand and can know to expect.

This small collection of short videos gives examples of simple, yet effective classroom management techniques. Although they are shown in mostly younger grades, I think most of them can be used in the upper grades or modified to be suitable. I really like the sign language one!

The following video includes very helpful suggestions on classroom management. These suggestions include: creating structure in the classroom, what to do if interrupted during a lesson, and the importance of promoting student independence and responsibility.

For those who did not sign up for the ELL elective, this video is a little introduction to some effective ways of teaching ESL students. The video identifies some struggles students have through testimonials from actual ESL students and then shows some strategies to use in the classroom. It shows clips from classrooms using these strategies. The following games are previewed in the video: grammar races, "What is it?", mock newscasts, misordered sentences, "What am I?", simulating real world conversations, and sing-a-longs (with hand gestures). The video is only 7 minutes long and worth the watch.

This article talks about what they are doing in California to help new teachers with classroom management. Schools will pay for a supply teacher for the day while the new teacher observes a veteran teacher in the classroom. The best piece of advice that the article gives is a quote from a student. Take a quick read to find out what she says....

This video is the other part of the story (part two of the video posted under engaging students of today) on using technology to engage our students when we teach. As teachers we need to be life long learners and implementing technology is part of that. Using technology in the classroom will engage our students and hopefully result in fewer classroom disruptions that require management strategies!