20 Classroom Management Strategies and Techniques [+ Downloadable List]

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Flying across the room are paper airplanes. Pupils dash from desk to desk. They shout over you, making it impossible for you to speak.Ineffective classroom management will almost certainly increase your stress and burnout rates, but disruptive behavior doesn’t have to be this dramatic—like a scene from a movie you’d watch in a media literacy class.Regretfully, according to a 2019 survey, teachers most frequently express a lack of assistance with professional development for enhancing classroom management. There are simple and efficient classroom management strategies you may use on your own, even in this less than ideal circumstance. By creating a disciplined learning environment, these strategies can improve academic engagement and prosocial student conduct.
20 Classroom Management Strategies and Techniques [+ Downloadable List]

✅ Classroom Management Strategies Cheat Sheet

Universal Strategies for the Whole Class

  1. Model Ideal Behavior
    Demonstrate the behaviors you expect through mock conversations or real-time examples.

  2. Let Students Help Establish Guidelines
    Co-create class rules with students to increase ownership and respect.

  3. Document Rules
    Print and display class-created rules for easy reference and accountability.

  4. Avoid Punishing the Entire Class
    Address issues individually and redirect misbehavior respectfully.

  5. Encourage Initiative
    Allow students to work ahead or share preview presentations of upcoming content.

  6. Offer Praise
    Give specific, sincere praise to reinforce positive behavior and academic effort.

  7. Use Non-Verbal Communication
    Incorporate gestures, visuals, and physical cues to support verbal instructions.

  8. Hold Classroom Parties
    Celebrate class achievements with brief, rewarding events.

  9. Give Tangible Rewards
    Use systems like raffle tickets or token economies to recognize good behavior.

  10. Make Positive Calls & Letters Home
    Notify parents about their child’s progress to reinforce good behavior and engagement.

  11. Build Excitement for the Day’s Content
    Preview the “cool” parts of your lessons to spark curiosity.

  12. Offer Varied Free Study Options
    Create study zones with audiobooks, quiet space, group tasks, and games.

  13. Use Group Contracts
    Have students create and sign expectations for group work with self-imposed accountability.

  14. Assign Open-Ended Projects
    Allow students to show understanding in diverse formats aligned with their strengths.

  15. Use Two-Tiered Grading for Formative Work
    Instead of grades, note whether expectations were met or not, then guide improvement.

Strategies for Individual Students

  1. Use Adaptive EdTech
    Tools like Prodigy tailor learning to students’ needs and provide targeted feedback.

  2. Interview Students
    Privately ask struggling students what helps them learn best and adapt accordingly.

  3. Address Off-Task Behavior Quickly
    Handle misbehavior promptly and privately to maintain a respectful tone.

  4. Implement Peer Teaching
    Pair strong students with those needing support to build skills and confidence in both.

  5. Gamify Learning Plans
    Use XP, stages, and challenges to make personalized learning fun and motivating.

🖨️ Want a Printable PDF?

Click here to download the classroom management strategies cheat sheet (PDF)
(Link placeholder—let me know if you want me to generate the file for you.)

Would you also like:

  • A customizable classroom rule template?

  • A student interview worksheet for strategy #17?

  • A sample XP tracking chart for gamification?

 

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