Classroom Management

Classroom Management

Learning how to manage a classroom or a group of students will enhance your experience as a tutor. Those that are prepared to handle certain behaviors have an easier time working past them and feel more effective in their role. This page will provide suggestions for how to deal with behavior challenges, like students who are distracted, talkative, or disruptive. You will also find resources that you can access and find out more information depending on the age group you are working with.

Behavior Challenge: Distracted Students

Students often get distracted in the classroom. There is a lot going on throughout the school day, which means there are a lot of things they can do, look at, or think about other than their work. Although getting distracted is a natural behavior, it is your responsibility to get them "back on track." Here's how:

1. Pick a code word or signal to let the students know that they are "off-track" and that you would like them to get back "on-track." 

2. Take a look at the student's space that they are working on. If it is messy, encourage the student to put things away into his/her desk. This should eliminate unwanted distractions, like falling objects.

A cluttered desk = a cluttered mind!

3. Try and find a quiet spot in the room to work, especially if you are working with a student one-on-one.

Behavior Challenge: Disruptive or Challenging Students

Students are described as disruptive because they hinder or halt their learning or the learning of others. Disruptive behavior can be excessive talking or noise, screaming or yelling at the teacher, or harming themselves and/or others with classroom materials. In a more mild form, disruptive behavior can be a refusal to do work or follow directions (defiant students). Here are some suggestions for when dealing with these types of behavior. 

Dr. Stuart Ablon discusses what we don't know and need to know about challenging behavior. "Kids can do well if they can. Not, kids do well if they want to."

1. Set clear expectations that have clear consequences

Students need to know what they are allowed and not allowed to do in the classroom. This will help them make sense of their surroundings, provide them with guidance for acceptable behavior, and help them feel secure. By setting limits and expectations, you as a tutor can establish control and ensure that all consequences are clear and fair. Before starting a tutoring session, tell your students the behavior you expect to see during the session and what will happen if that behavior is not shown. 

This can be something as simple as, "I expect you to follow directions and try your best. If you are not following directions or I notice you are not trying, I will ask you to return to your seat." 

Expectations can also be specific and depend on the student(s) you are working with, such as "I expect you to focus on this problem for 5 minutes - I'll be there to help you if you need me. Focusing looks like listening to my directions and suggestions and working through the problem the best you can."

Setting clear expectations allows you to:

1. Redirect your students when they are misbehaving

2. Praise your students when they are demonstrating acceptable behaviors throughout the session

Setting consequences for when those expectations are not being met allows you to:

1. Dismiss a student, so that students who are acting appropriately get the most out of the session

2. Establish fairness in the classroom

2. The Broken Record Method 

The broken record method is a firm, clear way to set expectations or redirect inappropriate behavior. It tends to work well when students don't want to listen, are non-compliant, or who want to argue with your choice. It follows this pattern:

1. State the direction: What do you want the student to do at that time?

2. Explain the direction: Why do you want the student to be following that direction?

3. Provide a consequence: What will happen if the student does not follow that direction?

If the student does not follow the direction after 3-4 repetitions, you need to enact the consequence.

Behavior Challenge: Talkative Students

Talkative students are often put in the disruptive category because they can make it difficult for other students to pay attention and learn. Talkative students can also be described as those who blurt out or who interrupt other students in the class. Interruptions can either be to correct students when they are wrong or to make sure that they are being heard (attention seekers).  

Read these helpful tips to support you when dealing with students who "blurt out" a lot.