PART 1: WHAT IS INVOLVED IN CLASSROOM

MANAGEMENT?

1.0. CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT – A DEFINITION

“Classroom management refers to those activities of teachers that create a positive
classroom climate, within which effective teaching and learning can occur” (Martin &
Sugarman 1993 p.9).

Although classroom management seems to have become synonymous with “dealing”

with discipline issues, as you can see from the quote above, there is far more involved
in being an effective manager of your classroom. First and foremost, it has to do with
what you, as the teacher, do in your classroom to ensure that your students feel that
their classroom is a safe, welcoming and organised environment in which they can learn.

Exploiting and managing efficiently whatever resources you have available is part of
effective classroom management. Classroom resources refer to the tools available which
can facilitate teaching and learning in your class. Depending on where you are working,
these resources may vary greatly. Some language institutes and schools are very well set
up and provide their teachers with whiteboards and board markers (or even interactive
whiteboards), audio equipment, video equipment, photocopying, stationery, libraries,
computer labs and internet etc. Others may have some of the above, but not all, or you
may find yourself working with very limited resources indeed. In general, you should be
able to count on at the very least a classroom with sufficient seating for all your students,
a board (chalkboard or whiteboard) and a desk for the teacher.

You will need to adapt some of your management techniques and strategies depending
on whether you are teaching young learners or adults but there are some standards that
should be adhered to, no matter what age group you are teaching or what environment
you are working in. In the sections below, you will gain an understanding of what is
involved in effective classroom management.