classroom management

1. Zafar Saleem Khattak
National University of Modern Languages Islamabad.
E-mail: saleemkhattak28@yahoo.com
Factors Affecting Classroom Management
Abstract
Classroom management is the process of creating such environment in the class conducive to
effective teaching and learning. It includes the management of all activities taking place outside
and inside the class. As this process takes place, it is possible that teacher may face some problems
while teaching to students. Students have different interest, needs and level of perceptions.
Successful classroom management is highly related to effective instructions. Classroom
management is affected by different factors. The effectiveness of classroom environment depends
upon how teachers cope with these factors and provide their students with a positive and friendly
classroom environment.
The study shows how different factors affect classroom management. Physical facilities, like
student’s furniture, black board, water arrangements and so many others, create management
problems for teachers. Students misbehavior in the class is a significant threat to classroom
management. Students making noise in the class or physically attacking other students create
classroom management problems for teachers. It disrupts the smooth flow of teaching. It becomes
difficult for teachers to cope with such situation. Teacher way of dealing is also a major factor in
classroom management. The study reflects how different internal and external factors affect
effective classroom management.
Introduction to Educational Management

2. Educational management means the study of those practices involved in the operation of
educational organization. Each society has certain goals to be achieved. Education is the means to
achieve these goals. Education is the continuous process involves different activities at the same
time. All these activities need proper arrangements and order for objectives realization.
Educational management is the orderly planning and managements of these activities. Planning
and organization is much needed factors for the timely and successful completion of a project.
Education also needs proper planning and organization. We use different resources in educational
process to accomplish our goals in excellent way. Human resources, financial resources and
material resources require proper arrangements. If these are not managed properly and in a
systematic way, then all our resources will be just lost. It will not give us any fruitful result.
Educational management has great significance. It facilitates and provides an efficient learning
environment to the students. Without management in education, there would be a chaotic and
disorders. In such situation our stipulated goals can hardly be achieved. Educational management
is the pursuit of efficiency in education. Educational management emphasizes on the proper
utilization of available resources.
Classroom Management
Classroom management may be defined as the process to create an environment conducive to
effective learning. It includes management of all such activities that are taking place in and outside
the classroom. Classroom management is one of the important and basic quality and skill of a good
and effective school teacher. That teacher, who poses this skill, is able to create and furnish
effective learning environment in the class (Brude, 2004). Effective classroom management
provides an opportunity to the teacher to deliver his duties excellently and effectively. It also helps

3. student in their learning process. Student feels safe and devote wholeheartedly to study in such
cordial atmosphere. From student perspective, effective classroom management provides various
opportunities to the student. Student becomes social while learning interesting contents. It also
helps teacher. He can instruct student excellently and maintain class discipline easily (Lang &
Herbert, 1995). Effective managed classroom motivate students and utilize their time in
constructing activities. It provides a continuous feedback and keeps disruptive behavior of the
student to the minimum (Doyle, 2001).
In poorly managed classroom, students are in disorder and disrespectful. In such chaotic situation
effective teaching and learning is mere a dream. Students do not follow or obey class rules in
poorly managed class. The basic task of the teacher is to keep order and maintain proper order and
discipline in the class (Doyle, 2000). Effective classroom management ensure lesson runs
smoothly without disruptive behavior of the students
Classroom management is not an easy job. It requires great skill and expertise on teacher behalf.
Many teachers face different problems in managing his class. That is why many people, in foreign
not in Pakistan, hesitate to join teaching profession. Classroom management is closely linked to
motivation, respect and discipline (Stage & Quiroz). It is the organization of all those things and
materials that teacher use in his teaching activities. It may be time management, space management
and material management. This creates cooperation among student and establishes a productive
working environment.
Classroom management focuses on three areas of management. It is content management, conduct
management and covenant management. Content management refers to the development and
refinement of all those skills that cut across subjects and activities (Froyen & Iverson, 1999). Doyel

4. says in this regard that “the core of instructional management is gaining and maintaining student
cooperation in learning activities”. In poorly managed class teacher is confronted with disciplinary
problems that adversely affects teaching learning activities. It has been found that teacher lacking
this skill fails in designing an effective lesson plan. Such ineffective lesson plans create tardiness
and monotonous. It rarely motivates students to evaluate their learning process.
Conduct management means integrating and managing behaviors in positive and desired manner.
By managing and modifying student’s disruptive behavior, teacher can manage classroom in better
and more effective way. Conduct management is essential to the creation of a foundation for
orderly, effective and task oriented teaching and learning activities (Iverson & Froyen, 1999).
Covenant management is organizing and coordinating the classroom as a social system. Teacher
role and students expectations shape the classroom environment conducive to effective leaning.
Community culture has a direct effect or influence on school culture. Community has some
specific and general goals. School is the means to achieve these goals. There should be strong
connection between school and community in order to use the diversity of behaviors in efficient
way.
Teacher effectiveness and student achievements are the scale for good and quality school. Strong
interpersonal relation exists between teacher and student in this school. This strong bond of relation
is essential for effective classroom management. A perfect planned classroom provides cohesive,
positive and respectful teaching and learning atmosphere.
Kaplan (2002) says in this connection “in classroom, the students have the right learn safely and
with dignity just as the teacher has the right to teach effectively and with dignity”. Classroom
management, as a technique, requires expertise and skill on teacher behalf and it should be used

5. meet both teacher and student needs (Foutz, 2005). Teaching Tips (2005), defines classroom
management as it is the series of procedure and routine that is taken to keep day to day business
of the classroom running smoothly and effectively.
How teacher manages classroom effectively and how he controls the disruptive behavior of the
student? Good and effective classroom management depends upon certain rules, procedures, and
very careful planning and instruction. Active involvement of a teacher is very important to
maintain student’s cooperation in the class. It is the duty of teacher to make aware student about
classroom rules and regulation (Emmer et al, 1997).
Classroom management begins with teacher. Teacher should be well versed in classroom
management techniques so that student meets their learning and behavior (Foutz, 2005; Mayeski,
2005) says in this connection “creating a safe and orderly arranged environment in classroom is a
survival skill for teacher. It ensures and optimizes the learning environment for students. Teacher
role is of a leader and is of vital importance.
Effective classroom management helps students to become social while reading interesting
contents. It involves preventive discipline and interesting instruction (Lang & Herbert, 1995).
Effectively managed classroom motivate students to take keen interest in teaching learning
process. It provides feedback to students and keeps the disruptive behavior of students under
control (Doyle, 2001). Effective learning is not possible without effective classroom management.
It provides an atmosphere, both to teacher and students, to flourish their personality and to achieve
exalted goals. The basic task of the teacher is to maintain order and discipline in the classroom
(Doyle, 2001: Crandell et al, 1995). Classroom management is not a separate process divorced
from the daily learning activities. It involves careful monitoring of the total environment, including

6. instruction and student learning. Classroom management provides an atmosphere where effective
teaching and learning take place.
Physical structure of the classroom, internal environment of the classroom, teacher and student
behavior and so many others factors contribute classroom disruption. In a good classroom, seating
arrangements of students is the cheapest form of the classroom management (Fred Jones). Many
experienced and expert teachers recommended assigned seating for students to facilitate discipline
and instruction.
When a student misbehaves, teacher tries to find the reason behind this inappropriate behavior.
Teacher begins his inquiry with a consideration of practical factors. If a student misbehaves in the
class, it is not viewed as an indicator of a bad child. In fact it is the reaction to frustration associated
with being in a situation in which his basic needs are not met. When basic needs of an individual
are met, the individual become motivated by self actualization (Maslow, 1981).
Maslow has suggested a hierarchy of basic needs, in the order of its importance. Unless these needs
are met, the individual is not concerned with the next level of importance. There are various
reasons behind student inappropriate behaviors in the class. It is important to realize that a
misbehaving child is a discourage person. He tries to accept his accept his place in the society,
adopting wrong ways of action. He considers that his way of action will recognize his position in
the society which he desire (Dreikurs & Coslel, 1997).
There are four goals are associated with student misbehavior in the class. These are attention
getting, power, revenge and display of inadequacy. Student expresses these goals in varied
situations. He misbehaves in the class to seek proof of his status in the society. He resorts to
disruptive behavior when he is deprived of the opportunities to express his status through social

7. contribution. If a student fails in getting adult attention, then he will seek power. Students become
deeply discourage when his power is thwarted by teacher power. In such formidable situation
student seek revenge (Dreikurs, 1972).
Student is not bad and he simply misbehaves to catch other’s attention for meeting his basic needs.
The way he adopts is not in his interest and it only creates discipline in the classroom. These
behaviors create a sense of control and an escape from work which he find difficult to perform
(Toper & Wiliams, 1994). These behaviors provides student with much needed attention.
Both student and teacher behavior plays significant role in classroom management problems.
Behaviorist theorists in 1930’s through present day have described frameworks for maintaining
decent behavior. These theories have greatly contributed to classroom management process.
Student’s attitudes or achievements are some time used as outcome of the student disruptive
behavior (Emmer & Stough, 2001).
If a student is rewarded for good behavior or deprived, ignores or punished for wrong behavior, it
creates awareness in student how to behave in classroom. He repeats rewarded behavior and avoids
wrong behavior in future (Skinner, 1994).
Strategies of Classroom management
Classroom management strategies are those acts or procedures that teacher use and follow in his
classroom management activities in order to create order and discipline in the class. It is the
determination or formulation of certain policies, applied in the classroom, to achieve study goals

8. and objectives. Classroom management refers to all those procedures, strategies and instructional
techniques that a teacher uses to manage student behavior and learning activities.
Teacher uses different strategies for classroom management. Some important and significant
strategies are as follow.
Organization
Organization means to integrate or utilize different activities or components in a proper manner
for some desired objectives. Organization has great significance in classroom management. It is
not an easy job. It needs great skills and hard work on teacher behalf. It is the toughest task for
teacher in the class. Teacher has to organize different activities at one and at the same time in
classroom. Teacher has to organize study materials, furniture and student behavior in classroom.
The elements affect classroom management to greater extent. Teacher organizes these materials in
such a way to create order and materialize student learning activities and reduce the distraction
and disruption to the minimum.
Communication
Communication is the process of sending and receiving messages and information.
Communication makes knowledge available to other. Humans share knowledge, skills and attitude
through communication (Robert & Jana, 2003). Communication plays important role in classroom
management. Communication is essential between home environment of student and classroom
activities. Many times, what occurs at home with a student affects classroom environment. In such
drastic situation parents of the student may be consulted to overcome classroom management
problems. For effective classroom management communication is must among class teacher,

9. school administrator, parents and student. Without proper communication teacher loses insight
into the problems and sever the situation critically. Students share knowledge with each other
through communication.
Monitoring
Monitoring means checking and observing different activities at one time. Monitoring is a
continuous process. It plays significant role in classroom management. Classroom provides
leaning atmosphere to students. Some student use tricks during study. They look busy but do
nothing. Without proper monitoring such student disturb and spoiled the calm and conducive
learning environment of the classroom. Such students do not involve in learning activities or do
not understand their lesson. Teachers monitor the learning activities of these students and improve
classroom management process.
Effective Learning environment
Without proper learning environment classroom cannot be managed effectively. Disorder and
chaos prevail in disorderly managed class. Written rules and procedures provide an effective
leaning environment to students. Teacher task is to explain these rules in clear terms and implement
it strictly. Modern research shows that student learn easily and effectively in groups or in
cooperative study. Establishment of cooperative groups is good for classroom management. This
can create a learning atmosphere in class. Teacher should use simple language in lesson and give
example from student day to day life.
Motivational Environment

10. Motivational environment may also help classroom management. Teacher can use this strategy
effectively by providing motivational environment to students. A challenging lesson can motivate
students. Students accept this challenge and start hard work to overcome it. One important thing
should be remember that the lesson should not be too difficult or lengthy. Do not rely on single
teaching method or style. Students like innovation ant variety in teaching learning activities. This
helps in effective classroom management. Use of visual aids and diagram create enthusiasm and
interest in students.
Keep Everyone Engage
This strategy is very useful and effective for primary schools classroom management. Students
have no time to disrupt or disturb the tranquility of the class. Teacher ma use different techniques
or strategies to engage students. Teacher may ask question and wait for some seconds, then point
to a student to answer the question. Wait in time encourage more thoughtful responses from
students side. Echo technique may be used. Echo technique is the repetition of an answer by
different students. Teacher should reward student when he gives correct answer. This motivates
other students for constructive activities.
Rules and Principles for Effective Classroom Management
Effective classroom management is an easy job. It requires great skills and hard work on teacher
behalf. If classroom is managed according to some rules or principles, then it would o better and
achieve its goals excellently. Establishment and formulation of rules is very important for
classroom management. Teacher adopts certain rules for classroom in the beginning. These rules
prevent problems and create effective learning environment. Following are some rules that a
teacher adopts and follows in the class for proper management.

11. 1: Instruction to the student should be given immediately. Delay in instructions creates learning
problems in the class. Teacher should interrupt to the minimum.
2: Teacher use different materials to make his lesson more attractive and interesting. These
materials should have arranged all materials in proper ay before starting the class.
3: Monitoring of students and their activities is also an important principle for classroom
management. Teacher should monitor carefully all classroom activities. If students are let free in
the class they create chaos and noise. Teacher should not seat on a chair but move on around in
the class.
4: Always have realistic goals that can be achieved. It is very essential and important for classroom
management. The unrealistic goals results in failure and in ultimate frustration.
5: Students learn more effectively in democratic environment. For this purpose teacher should use
his sense of humor in order to release student’s tension.
6: Group punishment has adverse effect on classroom management. Group punishment should be
avoided to the maximum. This alienates students from teacher and develops resentment in students
towards teacher.
7: Never use school work as a punishment. If school work is used for this purpose it will lose its
utility and significance.
8: Use medium pitch voice in the class. High pitch voice may also disturb adjacent classes. Very
low pitch voice create listening problems for students. They do not understand lesson or teaching.
9: Do not argue with students. Only discuss with them in a clear way.

12. 10: One important principle is to treat all students fairly and equally. Do not show favoritism to
any student. Ask questions randomly and wait for answer.
11: Teacher is the role model for students. Students want to follow him. When teacher does some
mistake in the class he should confess and admit it. If he is adamant, it creates apprehension and
misunderstanding in students mind.
12: Always punish student in polite manner. First remind him his mistake and then give
punishment. Do not show any ruddiness. Never punish in anger because it create mistrust.
13: Arrange seating plan in the class in such manner that you can see and approach each student
easily. U shaped seating arrangement or parallel rows are suitable.
14: Sometime few students are extremely disruptive. They disturb and spoil the conducive learning
environment of the class. In such situation, focus the other student’s attention on their task. Talk
privately with disruptive students.
15: If a student misbehaves with teacher or some other students, it should not be accepted or
tolerated. This creates management problems in the class.
16: Cooperation, interaction and consideration results in effective classroom management and
learning environment.
17: When disruption or some other problem occur in the class, handle it on that day and punish the
wrong doer. This makes punishment more effective and it has positive and enduring effects on
classroom management.

13. 18: Use question and answer session at the end of each lesson in order to check whether students
have picked up the lesson or not. This creates interest in students and they give full attention to
their learning activities.
Teacher Role in Effective Classroom Management
Teacher is the administrator of the classroom. His role in classroom management is of immense
importance. Different activities are going on in the classroom simultaneously. These activities
need monitoring and planning. A good administrator monitors all the activities of classroom in
effective manner.
Charming and dignified personality of the teacher creates respect and honor for teacher in the
students. Students are attracted towards such teacher. Behaviors and attitudes of good teacher is
based on cooperation and understanding. It creates a friendship environment in the class.
Teacher attitudes are another important factor regarding classroom management. Teacher who
teaches with enthusiasm and interest motivate students. Students take keen interest in their study
and are easily managed. Rude behaviors or attitude of the teacher results in development of
resentment and disrespect. It creates discipline problems in the class. So teacher should deal
student with positive attitude. He should not undermine student potentials and abilities and provide
students with stimulating experiences. Teacher is the model role for students. He should treat all
students equally and should not favor any student. Favoritism on teacher behalf threats the calm
and conducive atmosphere for learning. It is teacher responsibility to provide equal opportunities
to all students.

14. Another issue that causes discipline problems in the class is the poor planning on teacher behalf.
Effective learning climate exist in properly planed and managed classroom. If lesson or teaching
activities are poorly planned, it results in poor learning atmosphere. In such environment students
gain no knowledge. Inadequate preparation of lesson plan by the teacher indicates has not been
properly addressed. This oversight on teacher behalf creates discipline problems in the classroom.
(Orlich, 1999). Successful teacher make effective decision based on sound principles. These are
the integrating part of classroom management.
Conclusion:
Classroom management has got immense importance after 1950s. Theory of “mental discipline”
dominated this era. Crime, discipline was on the rise in schools. Classroom control responsibility
was shifted to classroom teacher. (Orlich.1994).
Classroom management techniques have dramatically changed after 1980s and it appears that these
changes will continue in future. Effective classroom management is a task and needs major work
on teacher behalf. Teacher who fails in effective classroom management does not achieve desired
goals. Effective classroom is necessary to modify the disruptive behaviors of the students.
Classroom is like a laboratory for students. Here students pass through different learning
experiences and activities. These experiences may prove helpful in his further knowledge. If these
activities are not properly arranged or controlled, then our efforts to impart education and
knowledge to student may fail. Lose management of the classroom results in discipline and
behavior problems for students. This disturbs learning process of the class.
Proper classroom management helps teacher in several ways. Teacher performs and carries over
different activities in class. He teaches student, he monitor students activities, he pans his lesson.
All these functions can be executed excellently in proper and well managed class. Student can
easily introduce new ideas in the class. Students receive instructions and act upon it without any
interruption or delay. Resources are well managed and they are utilized in proper way. In a nutshell

15. effective classroom management facilitates effective learning and control disruptive behavior
students in excellent way.
References:
1: Ahmad. Mumtaz (2010). Application of classroom management strategies in public and
private schools in Pakistan.
2: Yarbrough. Kathryn: Classroom Management paper.
3: Arlind. Aura alva: Educational Management.
4: Karan teachers working group: Classroom Management.
5: J. Smith: School Discipline and classroom Management.
6: Kelly. Melisa: Tips for Classroom Management.
7: Peace corps foundation: Managing Classroom to maximize student learning