Managing student behaviour, especially excited or divisive students, can be a daunting task, but it is definitely rewarding. After all, student behaviour plays a big role in the overall learning experience. When students are disruptive, It is important for the teacher to act quickly and correctly. Without effective behaviour management strategies, the classroom setting wouldn't be the same at all.

1. Behaviour Management Strategies For The Classroom
Managing student behaviour, especially excited or divisive students, can be a daunting task, but
it is definitely rewarding. After all, student behaviour plays a big role in the overall learning
experience. When students are disruptive, It is important for the teacher to act quickly and
correctly. Without effective behaviour management strategies, the classroom setting wouldn't be
the same at all.
Creating a Learning Environment
Even before any situation arises, a teacher must closely control the classroom setting, taking
proactive steps to maintain order and structure to manage classroom behavior. Create
structured lessons to provide precise and direct lessons that build self confidence and
knowledge, thus improving problem solving and higher thinking skills. Furniture and schedules
can also be rearranged to meet social, emotional and instructional needs of the students.
When dealing with groups, arrange group building activities so that students can integrate
effectively in academic and recreational areas, and select a group leader to assist the teacher in
reinforcing model behaviour. Empathy is a must for teachers, especially for students going
through a difficult time. Consideration is required when dealing with the physiological and
psychological needs of students and providing them with adequate attention.
Classroom Management Tips
 Building strong teacher-student relationships is a very effective approach to managing a
classroom. When students know the teacher on a more personal level, the teaching
experience is more productive and students make more of an effort to behave
themselves.
 Maintain regular contact with a student’s parents, not only for issues but to reinforce
positive events.
 Identify accomplishments and pick students or teams that work well to share how they
were able to accomplish it, encouraging interest in peers.
 Maintain authority throughout the year to avoid lapses in discipline.
 Explain the meaning of your rules to the students and make expectations clear and
sensible.
 Develop lesson plans based on your teaching style that keep up with the curriculum
standards to accommodate for different students.
 In a strong teacher-student relationship, the teacher can simply ask students to stop a
particular behaviour in a straight forward request.
Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
Some students suffer from behavioural exceptionalities, or disorders that may prevent students
from learning. There are many occasions in which teachers might face the challenge of teaching
such students who have behavioural, emotional or mood related disorders. These Emotional
and Behavioral Disorders (EBD) include Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Teachers are more likely to notice Emotional and Behavioral Disorders and the trouble students
have in controlling their behaviour. EBD students are often not able to control their impulses or
handle social interactions. They might suffer from anxiety or compulsive behaviour which could
lead to disruptions in classroom activities and affect their academic results.

2. Working with EBD Students
Experience has taught us that when teaching special students, there are several ways to
manage moods and keep the class positive and focused. Teachers can employ the following
techniques which are especially effective at moderating EBD student behaviour.
A regular schedule proves effective at providing structure, security and predictability to students
who may not experience it in other areas of their lives. Proximity is a great way to reassure
students in distress. The teacher can comfort them by moving closer or making non-threatening
physical contact.
If a student displays restlessness, change the activity, tempo or find another way to engage the
student and prevent any inappropriate behaviour from taking place, expressing genuine
affection and appreciation when a student manages to regain self-control. For example, if
students become overstimulated, switch to an activity that requires less interaction. Further,
keep distracting items out of sight from the start to avoid escalations or property damage.
It is most effective to ignore attention-seeking behaviour and ensure it does not interfere with
the functioning of a group in favour of more aggressive behaviour, including the rest of the class
to further the impact. In lighter situations, undesirable behaviour can be stopped with effective,
positive and timely use of humour.
Becoming a More Effective BehaviorManager
In order to become a better behavior manager, it is helpful to look at the characteristics of
successful teachers and the tools they implement. To begin, understand your strengths and
weaknesses and continuously work on your own emotional and social growth. Communicate
rules, objectives and expectations clearly with your students and be consistent and predictable
so that students know what to expect. Over everything, be empathetic and support students in
their individual goals.
Teachers who have good classroom management skills, keep materials well organised and
speak in a pleasant tone of voice. They are aware of different elements in a group and
anticipate and react to problems quickly.
Keeping your students curious takes practice but the more you do it, the better you get and
more energized you feel. Teachers are not just educators. They are performers and marketers
so let yourself encourage passion in students to make each year more memorable than the last.
How do you maintain harmony in the classroom? Share your experiences in the
comments below.
Rachna Dargan is an English Teacher at Lycée Français de Toronto. You can contact her on
rachnadargan@gmail.com