Classroom Management Techniques for Elementary School
- Incorporate effective classroom management techniques to help your students succeed.little einstein 21 image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com
An effective elementary classroom must place a priority in creating a positive, orderly environment in which each child learns to the best of his ability. Since each classroom features all kinds of personalities and temperaments, all elementary teachers should plan their classroom management techniques to accomplish their year-end goals. Effective classroom management techniques should include consistent rules and lesson routines to help your elementary students succeed. - On the very first day of school, help your students create a list of classroom rules that everybody can agree upon. Share with your class your vision for them this year and the goals you will strive hard to reach by the end of the year. Encourage them to envision themselves learning and growing this year and enlist their help in coming up with the rules needed to ensure that everyone can learn well. Strive to limit the class rules to four or five basic ones. If you see later that your class needs extra classroom management in a certain area, reserve the right to expand the list. Keep your rules list visible and use it as a reminder when your class becomes unmanageable. Along with the rules list, create a consequences list so everyone is clear what will happen if they do not obey. Explain to your students that to keep order in the classroom, everyone must contribute by consistently following the rules.
- Another effective classroom management technique is to prepare your best for every day in every class. When you walk into your elementary classroom, your students need your attention and will lose interest in class if you are busy preparing your lesson. Prepare all materials the day before so you can devote all your time to teaching and interacting with your elementary students. Always have extension activities ready in case you have extra time at the end of class. If certain students finish early and like to cause disturbances, keep a folder of activities handy to prevent bored students from becoming distractions to your other students. When teaching, maintain eye contact frequently with all your students, checking to see if they understand your lesson. Take questions immediately if you feel certain students are getting behind. In the elementary classroom, keep transition times to a minimum to keep your classroom under control. Consistent daily routines should help your elementary students learn how to conduct themselves during and between lessons.
- Elementary school students do better with a clear classroom arrangement that benefits every student. Students should know where all their school supplies belong and learn to keep their desks and aisles clean and neat. Arrange all desks so that you can maintain eye contact with all your students. They should also have a clear view of any visual aids like screens or boards and not have to strain to view them clearly. Arrange your students' desks so that everyone feels included in any class discussions. Keep any learning centers to the back of the classroom as to not disturb the rest of the class when working. Maintaining a consistent classroom arrangement will enable your students to form good listening and participation habits which will reduce classroom interruptions.
