5 Ways to Reinvent your Classroom Management Strategy

To reinvent a classroom management strategy takes intentional planning and execution. This ensures we do not repeat our current struggles. Reinventing a strategy that creates an environment where students can thrive while learning takes multiple iterations to ensure it produces the desired results. Teachers and leaders can follow a 5 step process to successfully reinvent their classroom management strategy .

Rate

Get honest and realistic about the effectiveness of your current classroom management strategy. Rate your strategy on a scale of 0 -10 (0 is ineffective and 10 is highly effective). Use the following rating system below to evaluate the effectiveness of your strategy:

• 0-2 = misbehaviors and misunderstandings occur consistently throughout a lesson which limits student time-on-task and diminishes length and depth of learning opportunities
• 3-5 = misbehaviors and misunderstandings occur often during a lesson limiting student time-on-task
• 6-8 = misbehaviors and misunderstandings sometimes occur but the teacher is able to get the class back on track for learning
• 9-10 = misbehaviors and misunderstandings are prevented through intentional planning & the teacher manages the class through relationships, routines and roping students in with engaging content

Reflect

Now that you have your rating, reflect on the root cause for the classroom management strategy not being as effective as it could be.

• Walk through the lesson (or the day), making note of every instance that got the class off track.
• Look for trends, like a certain time of day or subject matter that encouraged students to be off task.
• Are there more misunderstandings or misbehaviors occurring?

Prioritize

Your reflection provided a list of potential hot spots in the classroom management strategy that need to be  reinvented. Prioritizing which area to hone in on first is based on which one if repaired will bring about the most positive change.

• Review the list of moments from your reflection where classroom management went awry
• Write numbers next to the biggest offending instances, labeling them beginning with the number 1
• Highlight your top 3 areas needing revision

Plan

Using the three areas you prioritized, develop a plan of attack. Be sure it includes a detailed description for before, during and after a lesson so that the plan is thorough in prevention.

• What procedures need to be in place?
• How will students practice and be held accountable for the new expectations?
• How will your lesson design process change to ensure your classroom management strategy is the most effective it can be?

Feedback

Allow time for the new classroom management strategy to take affect. There may be push back from students who do not want to comply with the new expectations. Or it might take time for students to build the new habit.

• Make note of positive changes you see no matter how small.
• Periodically, ask for student feedback on how they feel as a learner as it relates to the management of the class. This could be an informal question and answer activity or through an anonymous survey.
• If you have an instructional coach or teacher leader, have them observe the change in how you manage the class. Apply any feedback they provide to continue to improve.

Additional Reading:

If you are wanting more information on effective classroom management, browse the previous blog posts listed below:

• 3 Ways to Improve your Classroom Management Practices
• Crack the Classroom Management Code
• Classroom Management: Moving Beyond Compliance
• How to Plan and Prepare a Classroom Management System

By following the suggestions shared in this blog post, you will be able to reinvent your classroom management strategy so that its best for students.

If you’d like to continue to reinvent your instructional effectiveness, read my latest book “Always A Lesson: Teacher Essentials for Classroom and Career Success.” You’ll be provided a roadmap, called “The Teacher Success Pathway,” so that you can improve in lesson design, classroom management, student engagement and student ownership.

GO BE GREAT!