As teachers know, a classroom can quickly get off-track without effective behavior management. A well-managed classroom sets the stage for impactful teaching and learning.
Creating an environment with consistent responses to behavior choices supports each student’s understanding of expectations. Structured rules and regulations ensure that students and families understand classroom norms and know what to expect when those norms are not met. By consistently implementing behavior management best practices, teachers can encourage a sense of agency in students, find a balance in the classroom, and promote positive school culture.
Creating Consistent Behavior Expectations for Students
Consistency is critical to creating space for effective learning environments. Students can participate in learning more effectively when they have a clear understanding of classroom procedures and their importance. If students are clear on the expectations and receive consistent responses to their behavior, they can better control their actions.
Classroom expectations are essential to academic achievement—consistent learning environments allow students to thrive with time and space to focus on the educational material.
To help facilitate consistent behavior management in your classrooms, here are three important elements to consider:
- The role of the teacher
- The learning environment
- Behavior reinforcements
The Teacher
The teacher is the lead facilitator of the classroom norms and expectations. They are responsible for implementing classroom structure and providing guidance for holding students accountable for their behavior choices.
Impactful teachers deliver clear and direct instructions and answer students’ questions about expectations. In doing so, they can reinforce positive behaviors through modeling and incentives. Modeling also gives students clear examples to reference when determining what is appropriate. Incentives encourage repeated positive behavior.
The Learning Environment
The learning environment provides a consistent space that facilitates instruction. Students and staff can contribute to making the classroom space one that promotes consistent behavior management. Visuals around the classroom can serve as a simple reminder for students to make better behavior decisions. For example, displaying examples of the language they can use, or scenarios of different classroom interactions can remind students of positive behavior.
An organized classroom is a great place to model consistency and predictability. Many teachers find it helpful to establish routines during the start and end of class. For example, teachers can open the day with a class mantra, followed by the rules, expectations, and a warm greeting. Teachers can close the day with positive shout-outs from the day’s work, including praise for students who demonstrated excellent behavior. This practice is a great way to acknowledge the hard work during the day.
Reinforcements
Most schools have adopted principles or values aligned with their school culture that set standards for behavior expectations. Consistent schoolwide and classroom expectations serve as positive reinforcements.
Reinforcements can also be less tangible and involve verbal—shout-outs, positive comments—and nonverbal—smiles, thumbs up, or written—responses to the behavior.
Behavior Management for Classrooms
As teachers lead everyday learning in classrooms, it’s important that they use best practices to leverage the learning environment and utilize targeted reinforcements to maintain a positive culture. Their guidance and consistent practice with meeting classroom expectations is a critical part of behavior management. When teachers take the time to instruct and model the expectations thoroughly, students can and will follow.
School Discipline: 10 Ways to Move from Punitive to Positive
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