Podcast: 9 Simple (But Transformative) Classroom Management Shifts

Have you ever had a lesson get derailed by a power struggle with a student? Or is there a student in your class who you got off on the wrong foot with, and you’re not sure of the best way to repair the relationship?

In this episode of School of Practice, ELA teacher Tyler Rablin shares some of his favorite classroom management strategies—and they’re ones that you probably didn’t learn in teacher prep. From a simple change involving a crouch, to three magic words that aren’t the ones you’d expect, Tyler breaks down how to shift a chaotic classroom to a calm one. And the good news? These strategies work across grade levels and subjects. And you can start using them tomorrow—no extensive prep or fancy incentives required.

Related resources:

• 11 Classroom Management Tweaks You Don’t Learn in Teacher Prep Over time, every teacher makes small changes that have a big impact on how their classes run. A veteran teacher shares the hacks that work for him.
• How Novice and Expert Teachers Approach Classroom Management Differently A 2021 study reveals the ways in which new and experienced teachers think about discipline—plus 6 takeaways for managing your classroom effectively this year.
• 7 Classroom Management Mistakes—and the Research on How to Fix Them Whether our emotions get the best of us, or we fall into familiar but unproductive habits, here are 7 common classroom management mistakes, and what the research says you should do instead.
• Video: 4 Subtle Shifts for Better Classroom Management Tiny tweaks can make a big difference for calming chaos in the classroom—these research-backed tips can help teachers get started.
• Research: Cultivating Positive Teacher–Student Relationships: Preliminary Evaluation of the Establish–Maintain–Restore (EMR) Method A study with fourth and fifth grade teachers and students found the EMR method was associated with significant improvements in teacher-student relationships and students’ classroom behavior.
• Research: Foundations for Proactive & Respectful Practice in Elementary Classrooms More than half of teachers address behavior challenges daily, and managing behavior is their top source of work stress. NCTQ outlines what teacher prep should cover to change that.
• Literature Review: I’ve Got the Power: The Effects of Physical Positioning in the K-12 Classroom on Power Dynamics A literature review on how standing versus sitting, for teachers and students, may shift the balance of power in a classroom.