If you’re a teacher who wants to use the best classroom management style for your class, you, my friend, are in the right place.
Before I discovered my classroom management style, I struggled with maintaining a positive and focused learning environment.
The constant disruptions and lack of a clear structure made teaching challenging.
I vividly remember the frustration of trying to engage students while dealing with behavior issues. It felt like a constant battle to maintain control, and the learning experience for everyone suffered as a result.
When I realized how many other people were also struggling with their classroom management style, I knew I had to find a way to help myself – and them.
Now, instead of getting frustrated, we enjoy a well-managed classroom where students are actively engaged in learning.
If you want to elevate your teaching experience and create an environment where you and your students thrive, this process can help you, too.
Here are 11 reasons why you need a classroom management style.
Reason #1: You’ll Get More Done
It’s easy to get distracted by everything happening in the classroom, isn’t it? But it doesn’t have to derail you, not with a well-defined classroom management style.
When you know how to efficiently organize and structure your lessons, you’ll get more of the important things done.
Prioritizing your tasks allows you more free time to focus on meaningful instruction and student engagement. With a clear classroom management style, you can streamline your teaching process.
This ensures that instructional time is used effectively and efficiently.
For example:
Imagine having a class where every transition is smooth, and students are actively engaged in your lesson from start to finish. By implementing structure in your classroom management style, you create an environment that minimizes disruptions.
This allows you to cover more material and deepen the learning experience.
The result? You’ll find yourself accomplishing more during each class session, providing a richer educational experience for your students.
Reason #2: You’ll Gain Clarity
If you want to get somewhere, you need to know where you’re going! Once you have clarity regarding your classroom management style, you can figure out a plan, lose the frustration, and start gaining momentum in creating an effective learning environment.
Back in the early days of my teaching career, I struggled with unclear expectations and inconsistent rules in my classroom. It led to confusion among my students and my own frustration.
That’s when I realized the importance of knowing the right classroom management style for me.
There are three main classroom management styles:
Authoritarian
This style is characterized by strict rules and high expectations, Teachers using this style often expect compliance without much room for student input.
Most of the models I had growing up used this classroom management style, so naturally it is what I first tried out. Aaaannnddd… that was a failure. I spent too much time trying to enforce rules and dole out punishments, so I wasted a lot of instructional time.
Permissive
Permission classroom management is more relaxed, with fewer rules and a greater emphasis on student freedom. While this can promote creativity, it may lead to challenges in maintaining order.
I need structure to thrive, and so do most students. So this approach wasn’t a great fit for me. However, if you have naturally motivated and high performing students, this can be a great approach to build their leadership in the classroom!
Authoritative
Authoritative classroom management strikes a balance between firmness and warmth. It involves clear expectations and rules, but also encourages open communication and student input.
This was the sweet spot for me. It blended reasonable structure and high expectations with empathy, relationships, and building student ownership of their learning.
Choosing the right style depends on various factors. These include your teaching philosophy, the needs of your students, and your educational context.
When you are clear on what you need across these factors, you can select the right classroom management style for you and your students.
Reason #3: You’ll Establish Credibility
The best way to establish credibility is to be seen as a highly effective teacher. My guidance on finding your classroom management style will enable you to do it with authenticity and get results.
Learning this technique will help you earn the trust and respect of students, administration, and parents.
Picture yourself being acknowledged for your ability to create a positive and productive learning environment. Your classroom management style is clear, contributes to a fulfilling teaching experience, and supports your learners.
My favorite influencer, Claire English, @TheUnteachables, is a great example of this.
She has successfully implemented effective classroom management techniques, earning widespread recognition for her impactful teaching. Explore her Instagram to witness how she’s authentically established credibility as a teacher and with other educators.
If you’re unsure where to start, the first step is to reflect on your current practices in classroom management. Next, identify what elements of various classroom management styles fit with your goals.
That will set you on the path to building credibility through a well-defined and authentic classroom management style.
Reason #4: You’ll Maximize Your School Community
With the challenges of fostering a positive school community, it can be confusing to navigate the dynamics effectively.
Your classroom management style gives you a roadmap for creating and maintaining a positive learning environment while facilitating positive interactions with parents, administrators, and fellow educators.
When you nail down your classroom management style, you’ll build stronger connections with your students’ families, gain the support of administrators, and collaborate effectively with your colleagues.
With Families:
Clear and consistent communication about your classroom management approach helps families understand how their child’s learning environment is structured.
When families know what to expect in terms of rules and your approach to handling behavioral issues, they are more likely to feel confident in your ability as a teacher.
For example, regular updates on classroom activities, behavior expectations, and student progress provides families with valuable insights and a sense of partnership in their child’s education.
With administrators:
Administrators appreciate teachers who demonstrate effective classroom management. A well-managed classroom reflects positively on your professionalism and organizational skills.
It showcases your ability to create a conducive learning environment that aligns with the school’s goals.
For instance, if your classroom management style promotes a positive and inclusive atmosphere, it contributes to the overall climate and reputation of the school.
With colleagues:
Collaboration among educators is critical for a thriving school community. When your classroom management style is well-defined, it becomes easier for colleagues to understand your approach and work together.,
For instance, if your style involves consistent routines, other teachers can seamlessly integrate with your class during joint activities.
A supportive and collaborative relationship with colleagues enhances the overall effectiveness of the school.
And that translates to a more harmonious and supportive environment. It can also provide you with more opportunities for professional growth and success in your teaching career.
Then, regardless of what changes, you can make an impact.
Reason #5: You’ll Gain Confidence
Do you suffer from impostor syndrome in your teaching? You’re not alone – everyone on the planet does at times, so don’t feel bad about it. Instead, take action!
The fastest way to overcome this is to let go of the belief that you must be a perfect teacher.
Instead, focus on gaining a deeper understanding of your classroom management approach.
When you invest time in mastering the nuances of effective classroom management, you’ll feel more confident about your ability to create a positive and structured learning environment.
This newfound confidence positively impacts your teaching style and empowers you to handle various situations with assurance.
Start by reflecting on your current classroom management strategies. Identify areas where you can refine and strengthen your approach. Note what you already do well so you can continue these strengths.
When you gain a deeper understanding of your classroom management style, you’ll feel more confident about your expertise, and that you have the tools and strategies necessary to navigate challenges and maintain control in the classroom.
Here’s what I mean:
Lack of confidence is often rooted in a lack of knowledge and uncertainty about how to handle different situations. A defined classroom management style helps you identify the most effective strategies and tools for your students and context.
When you come across a situation you are unsure how to handle, seek out advice, training, or tools that align with your philosophy and style. Try out the new practices and reflect on how they worked.
As you practice implementation and see what the results are, you begin to see what strategies are effective.
This in turn boosts your confidence, creating a positive cycle of continuous improvement in your teaching practice.
Reason #6: You’ll Make More Impact
We’re in the teaching profession to make a difference in students’ lives, but we all need, and deserve, to see tangible outcomes and witness the positive development of our students. Even the most influential educators need a supportive and structured classroom environment if they want to continue fostering focused and effective learning experiences.
So, when you implement your classroom management style as your teaching approach, you’ll learn to create an organized learning space that significantly contributes to your students’ academic and personal development.
This goes beyond just teaching content. It’s about creating an environment where students thrive emotionally, socially, and academically.
Using a well-defined classroom management style allows you to tailor your teaching methods to individual needs, ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed.
Imagine having a classroom where students are not only absorbing the subject matter, but also developing essential life skills.
Responsibility. Collaboration. Resilience.
A clear management style creates an atmosphere where students feel supported and motivated, making a lasting impact on their overall growth and future success.
Get ready to have more impact in your classroom management!
Learn more about the Classroom Management Toolkit now
Reason #7: You’ll Save Time
Time is a limited resource that we all wish we had more of. We can’t, but what we can do is “find” more.
When you apply your effective classroom management style, you’ll find your time “savings bank” is full again, allowing you to spend more time on instruction and less time dealing with behavior issues!
This newfound efficiency opens up opportunities to invest your time in the things you’ve been wanting to do, whether it’s enriching your teaching methods, engaging in professional development, or simply taking a well-deserved break.
For example:
I decided to adopt a proactive approach to classroom management by implementing clear expectations and routines.
Our class worked to develop our classroom rules and consequences collaboratively. I spent time early on teaching them the routines to be successful. I retaught when I saw they needed more support.
The transformation was remarkable! My classroom became more structured and supportive, resulting in significantly fewer disruptions and behavior issues.
The time I saved from managing disruptions allowed me to redirect my efforts towards planning more engaging lessons, providing personalized support to my students, and even enjoying a more balanced work-life schedule.
This change not only enhanced my professional life, but also contributed to a more enjoyable experience for my students.
They responded well to the structured environment, and I found that I could invest more time in addressing their individual needs.
So, if you embed a proactive approach in your classroom management style, you can expect not only a more organized teaching environment, but also the freedom to dedicate your time to what truly matters in education.
Reason #8: You’ll Promote Respect and Cooperation
When you implement a consistent classroom management style, you’ll reinforce expectations and encourage respectful behavior.
This is like a well-conducted orchestra. As the conductor, you leverage your management approach like the musical score, providing clear expectations and guidance so each instrument can play its part harmoniously.
Do you really need to tune all the instruments yourself, or can you delegate that to your musicians (students)? Your time is valuable. If doing all the work for the classroom isn’t the best use of your time, then use your classroom management style to promote cooperation instead.
Just as a conductor sets the tempo, manages entrances and exits, and ensures everyone follows the same sheet music, your classroom management approach establishes a structured and predictable environment.
This consistency reinforces expectations, much like the conductor signaling the musicians when to start, stop, and adjust their volume.
The result is a beautiful symphony of learning, where students respect the established rhythm and expectations. The cooperation among instruments (students) leads to a collaborative and harmonious atmosphere. It’s painless and fun.
For example:
One of my clients introduced a project-based learning activity where students had the opportunity to choose topics of personal interest within the curriculum.
Because she had consistent classroom management practices in place, and she had supported the students in skills necessary to take on more autonomy, this approach allowed the students to take ownership of their learning.
By providing her students with the freedom to choose and direct their learning, they demonstrated increased respect for the material and each others’ perspectives.
Cooperation naturally emerged as they formed study groups, shared resources, and collectively problem-solved challenges related to their chosen topics.
Students appreciated the trust placed in them, and it positively influenced their attitude toward learning.
Related Post: The Power of Student-Led Learning in the K-12 Classroom
Reason #9: You’ll Help More Students
That’s the goal, right? But you don’t want to constantly struggle with managing disruptions. And ugh, who wants to? Here’s a better way.
Your classroom management style helps you create an optimal learning environment, allowing you to reach and support a greater number of students effectively.
It’s not about constantly dealing with behavioral issues. Instead, it’s about implementing strategies that ethically and seamlessly enhance the learning experience for everyone.
It all leads to helping more students.
Here’s how it works:
- Establish clear expectations. Teach students the expectations for behavior in your classroom right from the start. Clearly communicate the rules and routines, creating a structured environment that minimizes disruptions.
- Foster a positive classroom culture. Encourage a positive and inclusive atmosphere where students feel valued and respected. By building a sense of community, you create an environment that supports the learning needs of all students.
- Individualize support. Recognize and address the diverse needs of your students. Tailor your teaching approach to accommodate different learning styles, providing personalized support to help each student succeed.
- Use proactive problem-solving. Equip students with problem-solving skills and encourage them to resolve conflicts collaboratively. By promoting a proactive approach to challenges, you create a classroom culture that values cooperation and support.
- Reinforce consistently. Consistently reinforce positive behavior and academic achievements. Celebrate successes, both big and small, to build a sense of accomplishment and motivation among your students.
Reason #10: You’ll Attract the Right Colleagues
Maybe you’re at that stage in your teaching career where you’re feeling a bit disillusioned about the support or community among your colleagues. We’ve all been there! It’s likely some of them aren’t in alignment with your values.
Knowing your classroom management style will help you improve your own teaching mindset and learn how to find those colleagues who appreciate and align with your commitment to effective classroom management.
This means you’ll be able to collaborate on lesson planning, share resources, and implement innovative teaching strategies with like-minded educators.
Here are some of the benefits:
- Implementing a clear and consistent classroom management style helps your colleagues understand your teaching approach. This consistency promotes collaboration and a shared understanding of expectations across the school.
- Colleagues are drawn to positive and well-managed classrooms. By cultivating an environment that focuses on effective classroom management, you naturally attract like-minded teachers who value a supportive and collaborative teaching community.
- When colleagues see the positive results of your classroom management techniques, they’ll be more included to seek your insights and collaborate on best practices. This creates a culture of continuous improvement and shared expertise.
- Teachers with similar classroom management styles naturally find each other. By emphasizing the importance of consistent approaches, you contribute to a unified teaching community where teachers support each other in maintaining an effective learning culture.
You’ll be able to establish a supportive network of colleagues without conflicting teaching styles or inconsistent classroom management approaches.
And you’ll never have to deal with disruptive dynamics in collaborative settings again.
Instead, you’ll be surrounded by colleagues who share your dedication to effective classroom management, leading to a more harmonious working environment.
Reason #11: You’ll Work with Less Effort, More Grace
You can make your work easier and more enjoyable when you embrace a clear classroom management style. That’s because a well-defined approach minimizes stress and effort. And it promotes a graceful teaching style that supports positive and productive learning.
Once I stopped relying on inconsistent methods and started implementing a structured classroom management style, my “work’ became less like work and far more enjoyable.
The shift allowed me to focus on the joy of teaching rather than constantly battling behavioral challenges.
And I got better results!
I experienced a significant reduction in disruptions, with about 30% fewer classroom incidents in the first semester of implementing an authoritative classroom management approach.
Even better, my students demonstrated improved engagement. They were more focused, able to work independently and in small groups, and took ownership of the classroom and their learning.
Since we had more time to engage in productive learning, I was expending less effort and enjoying lower stress. I not only enhanced my teaching experience, but my classroom had better results in terms of student behavior and overall class dynamics.
Learn More About the Classroom Management Toolkit
There you have it, 11 reasons you need a classroom management style. When we invest in ourselves with the best techniques, positive and powerful results are inevitable.
If you’re ready to transform your classroom experience and achieve a more positive and effective learning environment, check out the Classroom Management Toolkit. It includes:
- A comprehensive 40-page guide on setting up essential routines
- A handy set of actionable strategies for handling disruptive behavior
- Restorative practices for fostering accountability
- Conflict resolution techniques
- Progressive discipline guidelines
- Flexible seating ideas
- Customizable behavior support templates
- Powerful teacher time management tools
This toolkit is designed to equip you with the proven strategies, tips, and best practices necessary to navigate various classroom scenarios, maintain student engagement, and ultimately create the most effective learning experience for your students.
Click the image below to learn more about the Classroom Management Toolkit.
