Did you know that the average teacher works for about 54 hours a week? However, only 46% of this time is spent on teaching.
Teachers end up spending a significant amount of time on activities such as planning, providing feedback to students, and administrative work. Yet, teacher resources mostly tend to focus on helping teachers teach more effectively.
However, students need an environment that is conducive to learning. Just as managers strategize the operations of businesses, educators need to effectively manage their classrooms. They need to nurture a safe, constructive learning environment that motivates students to learn.
Cloud-based platforms like KITABOO come with effective classroom management features that teachers can leverage to nurture team projects and track the progress of students.
This blog recommends 11 simple yet innovative teacher resources that contribute significantly to effective classroom management.
Table of Contents
I. 11 Teacher Resources for Effective Classroom Management
- Design the Classroom Rules
- Practice the Call-and-Response Technique
- Nudge Learners to Use Hand Signs
- Follow a Voice Level Chart
- Reward Positive Behaviors
- Have Breaks at Regular Intervals
- Curate a Class Schedule
- Build an Eye-Catching Word Wall
- Assign Job Roles in Class
- Celebrate with Classroom Cheers
- Build an Inclusive Culture
II. The Takeaway
11 Teacher Resources for Effective Classroom Management
Here’s a snapshot of time-tested teacher resources to help educators nurture optimal learning environments and accelerate student progress.
1. Design the Classroom Rules
Expectation setting is an important aspect of any structured learning environment. Students must know what the rules of engagement are so they can function within a framework.
Creating a set of classroom rules, explaining them to students at the start of the semester, and displaying them prominently sets a foundation. Examples of classroom rules include:
- Raise your hand when you want to speak
- No chalk fights
- Practice active listening while your teacher or classmate is speaking
- Do not run in the classroom
2. Practice the Call-and-Response Technique
Students tend to get distracted in the classroom. Call-and-response is an effective strategy to grab the attention of students.
For instance, say a teacher is going to host a quiz. To generate excitement and capture the attention of students, teachers can energetically ask the students if they’re ready. They can use terms like, ‘It’s quiz time!’.
Such a call-to-action triggers an enthusiastic group response from students for multiple activities.
3. Nudge Learners to Use Hand Signs
Students have many questions during class. Sometimes, they hesitate to ask. Other times, they may disrupt the flow of the class by asking too many questions.
Directing students to use hand signs can help streamline classroom engagement. For instance, students can raise their hands when they have a question or want to make a point.
Other hand signals, such as a thumbs-up sign, indicate that they have understood the concept being discussed. Allot specific hand signs for different prompts, and students will be able to engage efficiently.
4. Follow a Voice Level Chart
Classrooms, typically, tend to get noisy when there is no instruction in progress. While it is unrealistic to expect students to be quiet all the time, voice charts can be an effective way to set the tone for students.
Voice charts serve as visual cues that communicate acceptable decibel levels for specific activities such as tests, group assignments, or homework. Popular voice-level cues include ‘silence, it’s okay to whisper, or only talk to your project buddy.’
A visual representation, such as an eye-catching cue card, can nudge students toward self-regulation.
5. Reward Positive Behaviors
Many learners display positive behaviors in multiple ways.However, students tend to be celebrated for achievements rather than behavior.
Introducing rewards for positive behaviors can have a positive effect on the classroom conduct of learners. For instance, delivering a project on time, being courteous to fellow students, helping a student understand a subject, and being a good project partner are instances of good behavior.
Offering rewards, like choosing a project theme or being selected to lead an activity, are examples of rewards that encourage constructive classroom behavior.
6. Have Breaks at Regular Intervals
Many teachers forget to give breaks in the rush to cover the syllabus, making it challenging for learners to stay focused and absorb knowledge.
However, research indicates that taking short, constructive breaks of between five to sixty minutes can help children relax and destress. Teachers can instruct children to walk around, stretch their legs, or sing a group song during breaks.
7. Curate a Class Schedule
Curating a well-designed, organized, and comprehensive schedule can help teachers plan better for a mix of activities. These can include instruction, quizzes, breaks, projects, and general conversations not related to the subject matter.
If students are aware of the schedule, they can also build skills such as time management. This also gives them a chance to be mentally prepared for the activity and approach it with the right mindset.
Build an Eye-Catching Word Wall
Word walls are effective tools that help build constructive engagement. Important words from any subject can be displayed in bright colors and clubbed in relevant clusters.
For instance, students can learn the capitals of various states faster when they are accessible on a word wall. These visual cues nudge students toward self-learning while making the learning process more engaging.
9. Assign Job Roles in Class
Learners often feel more engaged and accountable when they are part of a larger mission. This is where assigning responsibilities to students is an effective tool in classroom management.
Job roles can include organizing learning materials, doing up a project wall, being a line leader, and managing a project. The key is to assign roles to every learner and give effective feedback and acknowledgment of their contribution.
10. Celebrate with Classroom Cheers
This is another popular strategy that encourages students to celebrate milestones together by cheering for themselves and others.
For instance, if a team emerges as a winner, teachers can invite the entire class to cheer for them. On special days like Christmas, classes can voice out a greeting together.
A collective call spreads cheer and energizes the room.
11. Build an Inclusive Culture
Many learners tend to feel left out in a traditional classroom, where only the best are celebrated. When learners feel left out, they may withdraw into a shell or indulge in negative, attention-seeking behaviors that disrupt the classroom.
One of the most important teachers’ resources is to ensure that every child is engaged. This approach builds a constructive, inclusive culture.
The Takeaway
Classroom management is all about nurturing healthy behaviors in students, which in turn contributes to a nurturing learning environment. Educators can leverage these 11 teacher resources alongside digital publishing platforms like KITABOO.
A platform like KITABOO enables the seamless creation, publishing, and distribution of content to the classroom. With that under control, educators can focus their efforts on effective classroom management.
Connect with us to begin a conversation.
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