Official Edubilla Blog

In the traditional classroom, students were assigned seats and placed in neat little rows. Students were taught to be quiet, and to only speak when spoken to. Interaction between students was discouraged, and the teacher was the sole source of teaching. That worked back when the factory model was king, but no longer.

Flash forward to modern day, where today’s classrooms are filled with diverse learners and varying needs that we now recognize. Employers are reporting that college graduates entering the workforce lack necessary and vital skills, so how do we encourage teamwork, verbal communication skills, and integration of technology into students’ lives and learning? Well, by creating a classroom management strategy that supports high levels of engagement, improves retention of learned content, and encourages collaboration and problem-solving.

Seating and physical classroom set-up is something that has gotten addressed by other writers and bloggers, but there are several other ways you can ensure your students stay engaged in their learning throughout the school day. Here are four, to start.

Classroom Management Strategies for 2016

Step 1: Establish Rules and Procedures Around New Classroom Set-ups

Freedom for students is a wonderful thing—if they know how to handle it. With new seating arrangements or groupwork spaces, students need to understand the purpose of their new classroom set-up.

Step 2: Create Learning Contracts

In addition to establishing rules and procedures, we created a learning contract. Learning contracts are tangible documents that can be referred back to that hold students responsible for their behavior in the classroom.The purpose(s) of flexible seating, the importance of focused classroom discussion, and proper use of technology in the classroom. Students sign these contracts and keep them in their “leadership notebooks” so they can be reviewed throughout the school year.

Step 3: Show Students How to Have Discussions

Students love to talk to each other, but they sometimes struggle when it comes to discussions about their learning, such as getting distracted from the point of conversation. 

Step 4: Convey the Purpose—to Students AND Parents

Students are inquisitive, but too often, educators forget to explain why we ask students to do things a certain way. And don’t forget the parents! Send information home about the benefits of the 21st century classroom, to explain to parents the reasoning for changing up the same old classroom structures.Go to it, educators! The 21st century classroom is an exciting place full of innovation and creativity—and should not be feared as a possible classroom management nightmare.