Crafting a classroom management plan for optimal behavior & learning

Creating a positive and productive learning environment for students goes a long way toward academic success. But how can teachers establish that kind of classroom?

One way is through effective classroom management. Teachers and schools can use classroom management to create and maintain appropriate student behavior in classroom settings. If done well, it can help students thrive.

An important element of classroom management is having a classroom management plan. We talked to Dr. Catherine Lewis, assistant professor at Lynn University, about what goes into creating a plan and what makes it useful for both teachers and students.

What is a classroom management plan?

According to an article in the Journal of Education and Training Studies, “Successful classrooms are the result of a set of shared roles and responsibilities belonging to teachers and students.” A classroom management plan helps facilitate that.

The classroom management plan is a teacher-created document that describes rules, procedures and routines students must follow in order to keep students engaged, organized and task-oriented. It is meant to be followed by both teachers and students.

“With a classroom management plan, you are also trying to decrease any possible behavior problems in class,” says Lewis. “The plan allows the students to know both the expected behavior and the consequences of not meeting that expectation.”

This is all the more important because according to an article in the International Journal of Elementary Education, “The phenomenon of disruptive behavior in children has increased significantly both in the school environment and at home.”

The key here, however, is not to make the plan just about what will happen if the students do something wrong. According to an article in the International Journal of Social Sciences & Educational Studies, “Modern classroom management … is built on creating classroom settings that promote student interaction and learning rather than dominating students.”

>> Read More: Choosing between early childhood education and elementary education degrees

The classroom management plan should also spell out the expectations for different class activities, such as small group time as well as details pertaining to one’s speaking voice volume and when it is appropriate to move around the classroom. If the children understand when they’re allowed to speak up or interact with their fellow students, they will feel more comfortable doing so.

Strategies for creating an effective classroom management plan

The details of a classroom management plan will differ from district to district and school to school, but there are some basic steps teachers can take to ensure its effectiveness, according to Lewis.

• Know your school’s policies on expectations, rules and consequences.
  • “It’s absolutely important that you know your school’s policies and expectations. Whether you agree with them or not, at the end of the day, you are the school’s representative in your classroom,” says Lewis.
• Give students a say in the rules, expectations and consequences.
  • “Just like adults, kids will buy into the rules more if they feel like they have a say,” Lewis says. “Rather than saying, ‘This is the way it is,’ give students a say in the expectations while guiding them in the direction you want them to go.”
• Ensure the consequences are appropriate to the expectation that was not met.
  • “Whenever you make a choice, there are consequences,” says Lewis. “But those consequences should not outweigh the expected behavior.”
• Break down the plan into relevant areas—e.g., teacher instruction time, whole group time, small group time, etc.
  • “If you spell out the expectations for each area, it helps avoid any confusion as to how the students should behave or what they should do as they transition to different tasks and activities throughout the day,” says Lewis.
• Write the rules and expectations down, and post them in the classroom.
  • “When you’re teaching a lesson, you have to be able to refer back to the steps for solving the problem,” Lewis says. “It’s the same with the classroom management plan. You can’t just assume the students will know it because they read it once. You have to explain it, remind them and reinforce it throughout the school year.”
• Share the plan with all relevant parties—students, parents and administrators.
  • “Additionally, if the student has a therapist or counselor, they should get the plan as well,” says Lewis. “This way everyone knows the expectations and consequences, making it very difficult for the student to pit anyone against each other.”
• Model the behavior you wish to see.
  • “Classroom management should not be a ‘do as I say, not as I do’ situation,” Lewis says. “You need to lead your students [by example].”

While it doesn’t necessarily have to be part of the classroom management plan, another way to encourage positive classroom behavior is to give your students praise and rewards for good behavior. Not all consequences have to be negative.

“I believe in sending home surprise good reports and making positive phone calls to parents,” says Lewis. “You never know what’s going on at the student’s home, and sharing good news could have a positive impact.”

Lewis shared a story about her time as a 10th-grade English teacher. She called a student’s parent whose first question was, “What did she do now?”

“I said, ‘I’m just calling to let you know that your child had a phenomenal day. I was so proud of her,’” Lewis recalls. “The parent told me that was the first positive call she’d ever received about her child. How did she get to 10th grade with no positive calls home? You have to find something.”

Lewis emphasizes that it is also important to let the student know you’ve made that call or sent home that letter.

“If it’s just between you and the parents, it will not affect the student’s behavior,” says Lewis.

Earn an Online Degree in Early Childhood or Elementary Education with Lynn University

Taking the time to craft an effective classroom management plan can help make school a positive experience for both teachers and students.

“You have to remember that these are children, and you don’t know what’s going on with them outside of school,” Lewis says. “Your classroom management plan may be the only structure they have each day. This is your chance to help them be successful and feel good about themselves.”

Earning an online bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or an online bachelor’s degree in elementary education could give you the skills you need to make an impact on the lives of students. Reach out for more information to learn how to get started.