Hands up if you want effective classroom management? Do you want it yesterday? Of course, you do.
You may have even worked yourself to the bone trying to implement classroom management.
In this post, I’ll share 4 rookie mistakes to avoid when it comes to creating a positive classroom environment.
It’s a pretty chunky guide, so grab yourself your favorite pen and journal and let’s dig in.
What is Effective Classroom Management?
Before you work on getting the thing you most desire in the world, barring a date with Ryan Reynolds on a private island, you need to understand what effective classroom management actually is.
Effective classroom management is keeping your classroom running smoothly and your students engaged in learning, like a well-oiled machine.
In other words, it’s about creating a structured and positive learning environment where students can thrive and reach their full potential.
And for all of the experts out there, that means implementing evidence-based strategies and techniques that promote desired student behavior and academic success.
For your classroom that means:
- Improved student engagement and participation
- Enhanced academic achievement and learning outcomes
- Increased teacher satisfaction and reduced stress
With that out of the way, let’s look at the top mistakes I see teachers make, and what you can do instead.
The Number One Rookie Mistake: Overlooking Relationship Building
My client Jennifer wanted nothing more than a productive, focused classroom. When she came to me, she had tried kicking off the school year with rigid routines and a drill-sergeant approach to control students’ behavior.
Did you spot it? Can you see where Jennifer went wrong in trying to build effective classroom management?
That’s right, it was overlooking the importance of relationships in her classroom management approach.
Thankfully, with my Educator’s Guide to Culturally Responsive Teaching, she ended up with a more focused and positive classroom where she truly enjoyed her students.
Overlooking the importance of relationships in effective classroom management can be easily made because:
- It’s often overshadowed by the pressure to focus on academic outcomes.
- It can seem like a time-consuming process with little immediate payoff.
- Some teachers may not have received training or guidance on how to build strong relationships with students.
Have you been forgetting the foundation of relationships for so long that you don’t even know how to prioritize them without feeling overwhelmed?
Before you feel like you will never succeed, it’s not your fault!
Remember:
Building strong relationships with your students is a journey, not a destination. It takes time and consistent effort, but the rewards are immeasurable.
What to do instead:
- Start by getting to know your students as individuals. Take an interest in their interests, hobbies, and backgrounds.
- Show empathy and understanding toward your students’ emotions and challenges.
- Incorporate opportunities for collaboration and teamwork in your lessons to build a sense of community in the classroom.
- Provide specific and genuine praise to acknowledge students’ efforts and achievements.
- Invest time in building positive relationships with parents and caregivers to create a supportive network for students in and out of the classroom.
Mistake #2: Ignoring Early Warning Signs
None of us is naive enough to think overlooking relationships is the only mistake people make with effective classroom management. If that was it, there’d be a whole lot more focused, happy classrooms!
The next biggest mistake I see people make is not recognizing and addressing early warning signs of negative behavior.
Ignoring those early warning signs can allow issues to escalate, making them more difficult to address later on.
Often teachers may ignore these signs because they believe the behavior will resolve itself or they are hesitant to confront the issue head-on.
It’s important to avoid ignoring early warning signs so that you can address behavior issues early and prevent disruptions in the classroom. Getting to the root cause of behaviors helps you resolve them more quickly, supporting the student in getting their needs met in appropriate ways.
What to do instead:
- Be observant of subtle changes in students’ behavior that may indicate underlying issues.
- Address behavioral concerns promptly and directly with the student, focusing on understanding the root cause rather than just reacting to the behavior.
- Implement proactive strategies to support positive behavior, such as establishing clear expectations and routines, providing incentives for positive behavior, and offering additional support or interventions as needed.
- Collaborate with colleagues, parents, and support staff to develop a consistent approach to addressing behavior concerns and providing appropriate support for students.
Related Post: 10 Ways to Stop Challenging Behavior Before It Starts
Mistake 3: Reacting Emotionally
This one is easy to make, and I’ve actually done it more than once.
The mistake is reacting emotionally to undesired behavior rather than responding calmly and consistently.
Teachers often make this mistake because they may feel personally attacked or frustrated by the behavior, leading them to react impulsively out of anger or irritation.
It’s important to recognize that this reaction is often fueled by our own emotions rather than a rational response to the situation. Effective classroom management strategies help everyone to respond rather than react.
Avoiding reacting emotionally is crucial, because reacting can exacerbate classroom management situations and erode teacher-student relationships.
When students perceive that their teacher is reacting emotionally, it can escalate conflicts and undermine the teacher’s authority and credibility.
What to do instead:
- Practice mindfulness and self-awareness to recognize and manage your own emotions in challenging situations.
- Take a moment to pause and collect your thoughts before responding to challenging behavior, allowing yourself to respond calmly and rationally.
- Use positive language and non-verbal cues to redirect behavior and reinforce expectations, rather than reacting impulsively with punitive measures.
- Build a supportive classroom culture that emphasizes empathy and understanding, allowing students to feel safe and supported in addressing their own emotions and behavior.
Mistake 4: Not Seeking Support
Teaching can be an isolated profession. You may think you have to go it alone when trying to implement effective classroom management.
This mistake is failing to seek support from colleagues, mentors, or administrators when facing challenges with classroom management.
Teachers often make this mistake because they may feel embarrassed or afraid to admit they’re struggling. Or they may believe they should be able to handle everything on their own.
There’s no shame in asking for support – remember that adage, “It takes a village”?
Recognize that seeking support is not a sign of weakness. Rather, it is a proactive step towards growth and improvement.
Avoiding seeking support can prolong issues and limit opportunities for growth in classroom management for you and your students.
By seeking support from others, you can gain valuable insights, strategies, and perspectives to help you address challenges more effectively.
What to do instead:
- Reach out to colleagues, mentors, or administrators for advice, guidance, and support when facing challenges with classroom management.
- Participate in professional development opportunities, workshops, or training sessions focused on effective classroom management strategies.
- Join online communities or forums where teachers can connect with peers, share experiences, and exchange ideas for improving classroom management.
- Collaborate with colleagues to develop and implement strategies for addressing common classroom challenges, such as behavior management techniques or instructional strategies.
- Implement Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) or Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) frameworks in your classroom, using data and collaboration with colleagues to drive decision-making around classroom management.
Bonus! How to Achieve Effective Classroom Management with Ease
When I first started in education, I felt like I would never get a handle on effective classroom management. Look at me now; I am supporting other educators in creating positive and productive classrooms that empower students and strengthen relationships.
When I first started in the classroom, I remember feeling overwhelmed by the chaos of managing a room full of energetic students.
It seemed like no matter what I did, I couldn’t quite get things under control. But through trial and error, I learned valuable lessons that have shaped my approach to classroom management today.
Here are the top ways I got to the point of mastering effective classroom management:
- Tip 1: Always prioritize building relationships with your students. I’m not saying you should lower your academic standards, but establishing trust and rapport with your students is essential to creating a positive and supportive learning environment.
- Tip 2: Add consistency to your approach. Chances are, if you’re inconsistent with your rules and expectations, students will struggle to understand what’s expected of them. Implementing consistent routines and consequences helps maintain order and predictability in the classroom.
- Tip 3: Remember to address issues early and proactively. You never know if minor challenging behavior will escalate into larger disruptions if left unchecked. By addressing issues promptly and directly, you can prevent them from snowballing into bigger problems down the road.
- Tip 4: Implement evidence-based strategies such as MTSS or PBIS. These frameworks provide structured systems for addressing behavioral and academic needs, offering tiered interventions and supports tailored to individual student needs.
- Tip 5: Seek support from colleagues when facing challenges with classroom management. Don’t hesitate to reach out for advice, guidance, and collaboration. Remember, you’re not alone in this journey, and leveraging the expertise of others can help you quickly implement effective classroom management strategies.
About Empowered Educators
In conclusion, effective classroom management hinges on cultivating positive relationships with students, addressing early warning signs of challenging behavior, and responding to challenges with a calm and consistent approach.
Like you, I have made many mistakes on my journey to creating positive and productive classroom environments.
There were many moments when I wanted to quit and move into another profession entirely.
That’s why I started Empowered Educators – to support teachers in overcoming stress and burnout so they feel confident, supported, and inspired to remain in the teaching profession.
Want more tips and strategies for effective classroom management? You can purchase my Classroom Management Toolkit below.
Get my Classroom Management Toolkit now!
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