Classroom Management: Rule #2

   Procedures are the second most important rule you can establish in your classroom. Most discipline problems arise when teachers do not have procedures in place. Every classroom should have very few rules but many procedures and routines.

Classroom Procedures

Passing back or collecting papers: Do you hand out papers so that the students in the front of the class pass the papers backwards?  The problem with this technique is that students cannot see to whom they are passing the papers.  They might throw the papers onto the person’s desk, or even worse, throw it at the person.  How about passing in papers, does the student hit the person in front of them with their papers?  This leaves plenty of chances for students to disrupt your class.  Passing papers sideways is usually the best routine.  This way a student can easily see if the student next to them is ready for the papers. 

Do you pass back papers randomly by whose name is on top of the stack? Passing back or collecting papers can waste a lot of time in class. Students can become discipline problems when their task is to sit and wait quietly for several minutes. This would not be challenging the students academically.  Have students put a row number on every piece of paper.  That way you just walk up and down the row, handing the paper to the first person in the row. Your TA can also sort student papers by rows ahead of time to speed up the delivery process.

Warm-up: Do you start the period by telling the students to be quiet? Is this routine a great way to start your class?  Students need to be ready to work when the bell rings.  Having a warm-up on the board lets students start the class with out your intervention.  This gives you plenty of time to take role using your seating chart.  You accomplish two tasks right at the beginning of the period, getting students on task and taking role.

Going to the bathroom: Do students take advantage of using the bathroom during class?  Many students try to take a break from class and wander around campus using the teacher’s bathroom pass.  You can help prevent students from using the bathroom in your class by counting the number of times each student uses a bathroom pass.  Tell students at the beginning of the year that they are allowed four bathroom passes per semester and each bathroom pass is worth 10 extra credit points.  Bathroom passes are academic because students do much of their learning in class.  If a student really needs to go to the bathroom, you MUST let them regardless of how many passes they have used.

What do you do about a student who comes in tardy?  Write their name on the board and they have to stay after class to talk to you.  They will complain about this and they will complain that they will be late to their next class.  However, you need to stop this behavior by demonstrating that this behavior is not acceptable in your class.  Remember, other students are watching how you reinforce your classroom procedures and will show respect to you.

* Disclaimer: Before implementing any ideas from this website, please first consult your principal and make sure they are in compliance with state laws, district and school procedures.