12
THE KEY TO EFFECTIVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT CLASSRO CLOM MANAGEMENT
STARTING ON A POSITIVE NOTE
+
At the start of the school year, the teachers in the study made time for establishing relationships. “The goal is to ensure all students feel a sense of belonging that is characterized by trust, connection, and understanding,” Cook and his colleagues explain. For students with learning or behavioral problems, cultivating positive relationships provided “protective effects” that helped them stay focused on learning.
To establish positive relationships, teachers can:
* Welcome students into the classroom. Activities such as positive greetings at the door and icebreaker questions help create a warm classroom culture.
* Use positive communication techniques. Open-ended questions, reflective listening, validation statements, expressions of enthusiasm or interest, and compliments help students—especially shy or introverted ones—ease into classroom discussions.
* “Bank time” with students. Schedule one-on-one meetings with students to get to know them better. The goal is to “make deposits into the relationship” to help ease conflict in the future if you have to give constructive feedback or address disruptive behavior.
* Encourage student-led activities. Students feel more invested in their learning if given opportunity to share their interests. Teachers can step aside, be supportive, and listen.