Classroom management techniques

1-5-2009 – 18:00 CET 12 PM EST

Yesterday’s #edchat was the first of the New Year, New decade! There were new participants and old friends and the discussion was fast and furious marking a fantastic beginning to #Edchat 2010!!

Many ideas about classroom management from big picture to micro-management came up in the discussion but the following themes seemed to strike a chord with everyone:

• The teacher-student relationship is key.
• Mutual respect, empathy and a passion and excitement  for learning create an atmosphere conducive to success.
• Good planning and organisation send out good messages to students
• Boundaries, rules and procedures agreed democratically and not ‘imposed’  create a well-managed environment leading to good learning outcomes
• Room for everyone to contribute and be valued, not a top-down approach
• Variety and change of pace, silence and noise appropriate to the tasks
• A positive atmosphere
• A community of learners which includes students, teachers, parents, admin etc.. which, when they all pull together will foster great learning
• Consistency with a hint of chaos now and again
• What does classroom management look like in the virtual classroom? How will it look in the future?

Here is a selection of some of the comments:

Hadleyjf  What works – our own passion for subject and for sts to learn. They sense fraud

UltimateTeacher   I allow students to help create the rules ahead of time…s o they have ownership in the classroom mgt.

CoachB0066    A well-planned 1st day, structure, consistency and a love for students, content area and learning

cybraryman1    Kids should help formulate rules

 @MissCheska:  @hadleyjf I agree- passion and enthusiasm for the content, and equal passion and enthusiasm for the students

Heureuse  @UltimateTeacher Yes, allowing the students to have input. And listening to them intently.  

UltimateTeacher  Another way …is to model, model, and model what you expect and NOT expect in class…(I love to make this fun..like a skit) #edchat

Tamaslorincz  @hadleyjf Sts – admin- parents – you name it. A convulted mess where sts miss out and become part of an inefficient machinery. #edchat

Aldtucker being aware of what’s going on. tech-wary tchrs worry that they don’t know how kids are being off-task, and they are scared 2 try

Lekpen Passion is essential but have a clear goal–simple & doable in the time you have. Link to prev class discussions.Use stud examples #edchat

Deerwood  is the concept of classroom management somewhat outdated for 21st Century? I mean, ‘classrooms’ ? will we still have those?

Hadleyjf    RT @ShellTerrell: @juleach 1 of the best trainers told tchrs to get rid of high heels & swap for tennis shoes! And be ready to run #edchat

Olafelch The best teachers I’ve experienced have all had presence. They had star appeal (even if I didn’t like some of them) #edchat

Republicofmath  Lees teacher talk, more teacher watching and listening is better classroom management, IMO. Many math teachers talk too much. #edchat

@andycinek:  Classroom management starts with building rapport, mutual respect. Find one thing each student likes, take interest! #edchat

 @juleach:   Good classroom management has to include a teacher that is willing to get up and move!! #edchat

 Thenewtag   Eye contact-established/regular/expected B4 you need it 2 redirect. All eyes on the speaker, whoever it is, all the time.#edchat

Thenewtag  Building a community of learners where everyone owns and everyone is responsible for managing the classroom.#edchat

Todd_conaway  @ShellTerrell agreed. maybe “classroom management” is disservice to learning as learning surrounds the classroom. #edchat

 Colport   I think strong and fair reward systems work. I work with 7/8/9 year olds, and they work together in groups to be best team #edchat #edchat                              

@andycinek   Teching is 90% relationship building 10% content. #edchat

av2learner   It’s tough to give up control, but students become more involved when you do #edchat

@andycinek  that’s why i love it. just like live theatre, never know what will happen

 Todd_conaway  Perhaps we should change name and idea from “Classroom management” to “learning management” it might include more in our thinking #edchat

Tomwhitby   A prob with Clsrm Mgmnt is that new tchrs seek guidance from vets who may be practicing methds of the 50’s and 60’s.I was there then #edchat

Tamaslorincz   If we take it out of the classroom and don’t try to manage it … it might work. Classrs are organic entities that evolve? #edchat

 @TEFL:  If your mind is elsewhere their minds will be too. Forget about multitasking! One important thing at a time. #edchat                              

JennaLanger  @awassenmiller Good point, technology helps with the external management of the class #edchat

Awassenmiller   There is a difference between controlling and maintaining control. 

xmath2007   #edchat Don’t over “rule” them. Let them know that you expect normal, human behavior, and you be a normal human, too.

Feedtheteacher  students tend to respond better to teachers with a good sense of humour, so a key tool for great classes: a smile 🙂 #edchat

Hoprea   We all need a certain dose of authority and limits, especially when we’re young. Doing it fairly and wisely is key. #edchat

 Elanaleoni   Mixing up your teaching styles is a good way to keep students involved 

Dughall #edchat Be positive. If you must have rules/guidelines for learners,  make them DOs, not DON’Ts.

Colport  Ok-question. With a new class, do you start off tough and mellow. Or start nicely then toughen up? Or depend on students? #edchat

To follow the complete discussion see here

For the stats on #edchat participation see here

Some great links were shared. Here they are!

Kids should help formulate rules. cybraryman.com/classroom.html.

Article on #edchat topic by Shelley Vernon in case you want to discuss it: http://edition.tefl.net/articles/teacher-technique/respect/

@hadleyjf Brain research shows that variety every 10 minutes helps per book Brain Rules http://www.brainrules.net/attention#edchat

@TEFL There’s research on multitasking being bad in Brain Rules attention chapter too. http://www.brainrules.net/attention (Pretty good book.) #edchat

Q: What’s the Best Classroom Mgmnt Advice You’ve Gotten? Some answers by @Larryferlazzo & @alicemercer here: http://bit.ly/2NeUzM

@ShellTerrell Interesting. I know @tweenteacher used twitter to manage her c/r remotely. http://twitter.com/hagdogusc#edchat

RT @baded: RT @msjweir: New blog post: Success in engaging a reluctant student. http://msjweir.wordpress.com/2010/01/05/121/<– You rock. #edchat

Here’s one of my fav articles on c/r mgmnt: http://bit.ly/4qdCZw

Great collection of web 2.0 by @swedishteacher #Edtech #Edchat #elearning http://www.tech-classroom.com/2010/01/best-site-for-web-20.html

Gr8 chapter on class mgmt! RT @journalproject: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Teaching-Black-Girls/Evans-Winters-Venus-E-Evans-Winters-Venus-E/e/9780820471037@ileducprof #edchat

@aldtucker @derrallg Engagement could seem loud and chaotic. #edchat James Herndon “The Way it Spozed To Be” great read..

RT @billyfens: http://twitpic.com/wsg1t#edchat

@ShellTerrell easy way to monitor & control computer screens from afar http://bit.ly/I9HHv & #opensource #edchat

great site for math HW tutoring, IWB’s w/ web confrensing #Edtech #edchat #elearning http://www.tech-classroom.com/2010/01/edoboard-awsome-tool-for-homework-help.html

Teaching science? Here are videos on the symbols of physics and astronomy. Cool! http://blog.taragana.com/science/2010/01/05/a-cosmic-family-portrait-13-billion-years-in-the-making-hubble-sees-universe-as-a-toddler-2638/#edchat

A vision for strengthening education http://bit.ly/8bQVbe

Another great #edchat Thank you for voting it as #1 Tweet series! I hope you are wearing your badges on your blogs http://bit.ly/6BB7oD

#Edchat Ppl may continue the discussion in the Edchat Group on the Educator’s PLN http://edupln.ning.com/. Pls Join today

This article may help w/ changing class environmt for mgmt issues http://prestwickhouse.blogspot.com/2009/12/step-outside-of-classroom.html#edchat

RT @rliberni: RT @readtoday: Thanks #edchat folks you always inspire me. I leave you with this video. It says it all http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6oHV3nI-Gw

Interesting article on tech in the classroom, “New Jersey education in 2010,” that may of interest to educators http://bit.ly/8X1GX2

Cool site! > RT @morsemusings Kid-rated fun: http://www.nga.gov/kids/kids.htm#teachetuesday #edchat

If you’ve not read, I offer my humble view on the Art of Teaching. http://blogontheuniverse.org/drjeff-on-stuff/the-art-of-teaching/#edchat

Check this video out — #Edchat: Join the Movement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuIxpz6UklE

and an extra 

How to make things fall apart – a behaviour model for creating incompetence

http://marisaconstantinides.edublogs.org/2009/08/12/how-to-make-things-fall-apart-a-behaviour-model-for-creating-incompetence/

Phew!! So many resource links!!

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What do you think makes for good classroom management? Leave a comment!