“Leave your baggage at the door.” –Diane Jackson
Achieving a classroom with a climate which promotes independence, learning and social development in all students begins with classroom management. Creating and maintaining a well managed classroom is not a simple goal, but a layered mosaic of goals and strategies. However, managing a classroom well is the only way for students to feel comfortable, confident and safe—which are all pre-requisites for learning. Classroom management is also central to students feeling motivated and inspired to learn.
Managing a classroom does not mean controlling all aspects of a classroom. In fact, there are many causes for undesirable behaviours in a classroom that cannot be controlled by the teacher. Students attitudes are affected by the world outside of school, and as much as educators could wish that school was the number one priority for all students, this simply is not the case. Students are affected by their home situation, extra-curricular activities, conflicts beyond the walls of the school, and many things that cannot be controlled by the classroom teacher. It is the teachers role to make the classroom a safe and comfortable place which can feel like home, and minimize negative situations. School should be a positive place, and this all depends on how a classroom is managed.