Four Tips to Improve Classroom Behavior and Student Focus
Don’t we all need better classroom management and discipline? This is the one area in teaching we can never let our guard down. And reminders are always needed!
Classroom management and discipline is a product of consistency and developing a relationship with the students. And it is possible!
Conducting the lesson in a way that keeps the students focused goes hand in hand in developing classroom management and discipline. The four classroom management tips below have t do with that idea.
Practicing the four steps below is something that experienced teachers do naturally as a part of their instruction. Younger teachers may need to consciously think of these before they become natural.
Tip#1: Watch the intonation of your voice.
This is a very quick techniques to re-focus students attention or deal with minor disruptions. Changing the volume you talk will get students’ attention. Getting suddenly louder or suddenly very soft will re-focus the class if they are getting off track. If a child is misbehaving, focus on your voice being firm.
Example: The obvious example is raising your voice a bit when students are off task. However watching your voice could help designing of the lesson itself. For me, I like to start my beginning music classes with fast passing of the lesson. So my voice is louder but we go through review activities very fast. Right after the review I may cocoa to introduce a new concept. Then my voice suddenly gets very slow but a bit quieter. This gets the message across that everyone needs to be quiet and listen attentively.
Classroom Management and Discipline Challenge: Practice talking with different tempo and different dynamics of your voice in class. Notice how that affects the kids. Experiment on a class you feel comfortable with first. You will then be able to apply this idea to more challenging situations.
Tip #2: Move around the room.
If a child is getting distracted, move go close to them as you are delivering instruction. You may also gently put your hand on the child’s desk or music stand (without touching the child) as you are giving instruction. This will give them the message that they are being watched.
Tip # 3: Change the pacing of the lesson to help students re-focus.
That may mean changing the activity, having students move, or simply having the teacher change their own pace (sit down, move around the room). Many children get louder/misbehaved simply because they get bored and loose their focus. Having them look at different directions, listen to the teacher change their voice, as well as moving will get them to be focused for a longer time.
Example: I had a student-teacher who would do a great job with that. He would move around the room first part of class to keep students on task. In the middle when introducing a new activity (in his case listening for intonation), he would suddenly sits down…because of this change, the kids would get completely quiet and want to hear what he has to say. It is very interesting to watch!
Classroom Management and Discipline Challenge: See if you can design two or three activities per lesson where either you or the students change the pacing of the lesson when they change the activity itself. Don’t overdo it. Two activities per class is plenty. Think about allowing students to work with each other in groups. One example might be starting with the teacher delivering instruction, moving to students working in a group, and playing a fun game at the end. Think about the transitions between the activities-clear directions minimize chaos.
Tip # 4: Instead of focusing your attention on the kids who are misbehaving, focus on the ones doing well!
Focus on the positive in your classroom and create plenty of opportunities to point it out. If a child is talking or loosing focus, find a child next to them who are being quiet and congratulate them for it.
Examples: Often in a class I may find the one kid who is quiet and in good rest position. I would respectfully thank them and prompt the class to that behavior. This re-directs students’ attention very quickly and they want to be “one of the good kids”. It also works in a positive way with students who are misbehaving because they are looking for attention.
I like starting class with “announcements” where each day I congratulate a student for something they have done well the previous class.
If a child is plucking a string instead f being quiet (in music class) turn to another and thank them for sitting quietly.
For more extended examples about the idea that see post Positive Classroom Management and Discipline following the same tip.
For more tips on positive reinforcement and developing lasting changes, see post
Changing Behavior Habits with Students
So, which of the four classroom management and discipline strategies are you using in your teaching?