Classroom Management 7: Questions?

Good leaders know when to direct, manage, control, govern, and command. And they also know when to listen. Teachers are quintessential leaders. They can inspire, motivate, support, and encourage. And they are confident that they know what’s best for their students. It is important to remember that sometimes listening is an effective classroom management technique that enables you to peacefully enforce discipline.

Why Substitute Questions for Commands?
1. It makes the students feel like you are interested in their learning rather than ruling them.
2. It reduces the feeling students sometimes have that they are always getting yelled at.
3. Students don’t feel accused when they may have a legitimate excuse.
4. Using questions creates a bi-way element of respect: teacher-student and student-teacher.
5. It maintains a calm, peaceful and safe classroom setting.
6. You won’t be as exhausted, frustrated and angry at the end of the day.

Tips for Using Questions in the Classroom:

Instead of 
“Joe, will you please stop talking and get to work?”
Try
“Joe, do you have a question?”

Instead of
“All of you need to get seated and start working.”
Try
“Who can show me what we should be doing right now?"

Instead of
“Sally, get to work”
Try
“Sally, what are you working on?”

Instead of 
 "I need everyone to get in line and get quiet.”
Try
“Who can tell me how I like my students to line up?”

Instead of
“Joe, get back in your seat.”
Try
“Joe, can I help you with something?”

Instead of
“If you don’t turn in your homework you will get a zero.”
Try
“How can I help you remember to turn in your homework? Can I remind you to write it down? Would you like me to email your parents to help you remember?”

Classroom Management 6: The Power of the Look

Teachers’ dirty looks are notorious. Kids sing songs about them as they toss their notebooks into the air and race away from school property in droves. Teachers’ looks are dirty. And effective.

The key is to use direct eye contact, and maintain a stoic, expressionless composure.

Sally handed me a forged document. I knew it was forged immediately. I crouched down next to her desk, looked her directly in the eyes, and in a low, calm tone asked if this really was her mom’s signature. “No,” she fessed up shamefacedly.

Not only can a look from across the room be a quietly effective way to keep Johnny from distracting Joe and trying to make him laugh while everyone is peacefully working, but it can also be an effective way to manage a classroom and subtly gain respect.

Tips for using "The Look" to manage a class

• Look a student dead in the eye while speaking to him about something serious, or while he or she is misbehaving. Sometimes, you don’t even need to say anything at all. That look may be just enough.

• When a class is not paying attention or there is a bit of ruckus afoot, stop, stand in front of the room, and make eye contact with students. Gaze over the crowd and say nothing. They usually stop or hush each other. Works like magic.

• When a student says something that could potentially create an argument or disrupt class or is just downright silly, look him or her in the eyes. Be expressionless. The behavior always stops, and sometimes they may even apologize.

• When a student says, “what?” or “I wasn’t doing anything” when he or she meets your gaze, simply reply with a question such as, “Do you have a question about something?” or “What are you working on?” Or reply with a statement such as “I didn’t say you were doing anything. Are you feeling guilty about something?”