01a+Principles+in+the+Classroom

__**Principles of Classroom Management: 6 Important Principles**__

Effective classroom management is at the heart of good teaching. Teachers need to focus more on managing the classroom rather than on disciplinary problems. Clear understanding of how things are done, will lead to effective communication within the classroom. There are several principles to effectively managing a classroom and these are discussed below.


 * PRINCIPLE 1: Build Community**

Building caring relationships with students is the cornerstone of good classroom management. These relationships will help to create communities of learners where each child is valued. In this climate, students will take risks and collaborate more in their own learning. There are several activities a teacher can engage in to build community. these include: //__Greeting your students at the door:__// This simple gesture creates that moment when you and the student make eye contact, speak directly to each other (“good morning”/"good afternoon"/ "how was your weekend?"), and have a connection. This may be the only one-on-one you have that day with the student, but it has great value. When you model a respectful way to greet another human being, you are implicitly telling each student that this is how we will communicate with each other.!

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//__Get to know one another:__// Teachers and students begin learning each others names the first day of school and should be able to address one another by name within two weeks. Use engaging, age-appropriate activities for learning names and for getting acquainted. As students learn more and more about one another, connections will begin to happen. This inevitably leads to more empathy and understanding and, ultimately, caring relationships with a lot less classroom conflict.! Student photos will help you connect names and faces. Definitely take the time and energy to continue growing community and relationships in the classroom. The payoff is worth the effort.! media type="youtube" key="8x5NlIeySp4" height="315" width="560" align="center"


 * PRINCIPLE 2: Design a Safe, Well-Managed and Friendly Classroom Environment**

The classroom environment needs to be positive where students can take risks as they take charge of their own learning. There must be clear guidelines outlining how students can receive and give support. The instructional and physical arrangements must also lead to success in the classroom.


 * PRINCIPLE 3: Include Students in Creating Rules, Norms, Routines & Consequences**

Students' involvement in establishing rules and routines with the desired consequences, are more likely to result in active participation. The responsibility is for the teacher to consistently reinforce acceptable behaviors in the classroom with positive correction. A key to this is to "Catch the student being good", where the focus is on encouraging and rewarding rather than punishment.


 * PRINCIPLE 4: Create a Variety of Communication Channels**

All students need to know how certain things are communicated. Procedures must be clearly displayed, modeled and demonstrated. Acceptable ways of communicating must be reinforced until mastery is developed or until the procedures become habitual. When mistakes are made, provide time for recovery with support and encouragement that will lead to the acceptable behavior.


 * PRINCIPLE 5: Be Prepared**

At the heart of good teaching is good planning. Teachers must anticipate the unexpected and focus on managing learning in the classroom. Plan all of the major event in advance and have a back up plan just in case. Execute appropriate activities that will engage the students and constantly monitor their behavior on tasks. Good knowledge of content and pedagogy will lead to effective execution and maximum students' learning.

The more you are aware of the students' variance, the better you will be able to teach to meet their needs. Educators, therefore must identify and analyze student’s individual learning “style” and consequently cater to that individual’s relative learning style. Ultimately, this optimizes student performance and learning. The focus must be on "teaching and reaching".
 * PRINCIPLE 6: Know your Students**

Students tend to model their teacher's behavior. Attempting to achieve or maintain control by speaking in a loud and aggressive manner creates an atmosphere of chaos and a disruptive classroom environment.
 * PRINCIPLE 7: Maintain a Calm, Quiet Disposition**

"Withitness" relates to the teacher's awareness of what is occurring in the classroom at all times. Teachers should always place themselves in the position of seeing all aspects of the classroom at once and avoid situations that will cut them off from the rest of the class, for example, dealing with a single student at length.
 * PRINCIPLE 8: Develop "Withitness"**

Students are appreciative of teachers who "keep it real". Be willing to admit when errors are made and to apologize when and where necessary. Adopting a defensive attitude may cause students to lose respect for the teacher and fails to teach them the lifelong virtues of honesty and humility.
 * PRINCIPLE 9: Be Honest, Open and Transparent**

Do not permit or accept one standard of behavior on one day and another on a different day without good reason. The teacher should also guard against playing favourites as students are sensitive and are often affected by this. Students respect you more when you are consistent and fair. Teachers should not develop classroom rules they are unwilling to enforce. Consequences or punishment should be related to the misbehaviour and they should be aware of the connection between clas and grades.
 * PRINCIPLE 10: Be Consistent**

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