What is classroom management?

Effective classroom management is a vital skill for any teacher. We explore what it is, why
it’s needed and provide guidance on how you can sharpen your classroom management
skills from the comfort of home.

As a teacher, you need to juggle an awful lot day-to-day. In order to effectively fulfil your duties
in a confident and assuring manner, being able to manage your classroom is essential. Classroom
management is a critical skill and knowing exactly how it works can help to ensure success,
which is why we have put together this all-you-need-to-know guide.

here, we will discuss what classroom management is, why you need effective classroom
management, different strategies, and some recommendations for popular online courses to boost
your learning.

So, what are you waiting for? Optimise your teaching time, expand your current skill set, and
reach your career goals with FutureLearn.

What is classroom management?

Classroom management encompasses a variety of skills and techniques that teachers can use to
create a high-performing learning environment.

At its core, it aims to ensure classes run smoothly, disruptive behaviour from students is kept to a
minimum, and teaching materials and activities promote learning. The ultimate goal is to ensure
that both the students and the teacher get the most out of the classroom experience.

Good classroom management should aim to:

 Create an organised and functional environment for the teacher and students
 Establish opportunities for academic learning and personal growth
 Reduce bad classroom behaviour and other disruptions
 Be time-efficient and ensure learning time is always prioritised
 Make sure students are focused, motivated, and productive
 Promote an inclusive environment that caters for all ability levels.
It’s important to remember that achieving successful classroom management is an ongoing
process. While the above is the core of what effective classroom management is all about, how
you approach it can depend on several factors, which we will explore later in this article.

Why do you need effective classroom management?

Effective classroom management is incredibly important because without it you will not be able
to create a learning environment that has a positive classroom culture.

Achieving effective classroom management also reduces the likelihood of suffering from work-
related stress and anxiety, and you’ll probably find that it leads to greater work satisfaction. Let’s
face it, we all want to be able to go to work every day with a smile.

Not only will it encourage your students to grow, but you’ll also start to perform better as a
teacher, which will stand you in good stead when it comes to career progression and
development.

Simply put, effective classroom management is essential. Not only will it allow you to do your
job properly, but it will also ensure your students fulfil their full potential.

Different classroom management strategies

Classroom management strategies can look very different depending on several factors, such as:

 Course subject
 Age of students
 Size of the classroom
 Your personality as a teacher
 The behaviour of your students.

However, when researching classroom management strategies, you’ll notice that there are some
techniques you can use that will apply in pretty much all cases. In this section, we are going to
take a look at some of those in more detail.

Create a solid lesson plan

A solid lesson plan forms the foundation of effective classroom management. Making sure
expectations are clear will help to create a safe and productive learning environment for
students.

The lesson plan preparation should ideally be done before the start of term, so you’re able to
enforce the plan and any rules immediately. However, you should be able to adapt your plan
where necessary, as some unforeseen circumstances may mean you need to rethink certain parts
of it.

Build positive relationships with your students

Building relationships with your students is vital. Good classroom management involves getting
to know each individual’s strengths and weaknesses, while also working out their interests and
ambitions.

This will help to build trust, and not only benefits their academic learning but can also positively
influence their personal development as well. At some point, we have all been a student, and
from experience, we know that our favourite lessons often have to do with the teacher and the
working relationship you have with them.

Be clear and develop reliable routines

Most students often like to know what’s expected of them so they can prepare accordingly and
feel comfortable in a classroom environment. Classroom management strategies that make them
feel safe and secure will likely have a positive impact on their motivation and productivity.

It’s therefore the role of the teacher to ensure that your instructions are clear and you have
reliable routines in place to limit disruption

Stay calm and focused

How you behave will have a direct impact on your students, which is why you should always try
to stay calm and focused. This will help to keep your students at ease and show disruptive
members of the class that you can’t be easily rattled.

When classrooms start misbehaving, it’s often because they have spotted a weakness and thrive
on chaotic teaching. While teaching can be a very stressful job, good classroom management
involves having the maturity and calmness to deal with challenging situations effectively.
Be consistent in your teaching style

You should always try to keep your teaching style consistent, so students know what to expect
and are aware of the boundaries you set. If you teach in a completely different way every other
week, this can not only be disruptive for the class but also makes the classroom harder to
manage.

While you should always be adaptable and flexible in your approach, having a clear way of
doing things and handling situations makes life a lot easier for everyone. A blended
learning approach is a tried and tested method.

Know when to have a laugh

The final point on our list of classroom management strategies is to ensure you keep your sense
of humour and have fun. Students can often be challenging, so rather than reacting badly to
certain situations and start pulling your hair out, make sure you retain your sense of humour and
be more approachable.

Telling the odd joke and having a laugh with your students never did anyone any harm, and is a
good way of building relationships with them. Obviously, you don’t want to go too far the other
way and turn your classroom into a stand-up gig, so maintaining a balance is always the best
approach.