Establishing a safe and productive learning environment is a key element in providing quality education. The aims of classroom management are to maintain order, to develop positive learning environment and to establish rules and routines. These aims work together to create a secure and predictable classroom experience for all students.

1. REDUCE DISTRACTIONS
        Limit the destruction within the classroom to allow the children to focus on the task at hand. Seat students with attention difficulties in the middle of the classroom, surrounded by the students who are able to focus on the work. The focused students will act as a buffer between the easily distracted students and the high-traffic areas. Create a transition wheel to help the students know what phase of task they are in- red means stop and listen, green means work and yellow means be ready to change tasks.

2. DEVELOP CLASSROOM RULES
        Work with the students to develop a list of rules for behaviour within the classroom. Ask them, as a group, what things they should not do in the classroom and create a list of these. Discuss how to create rules so that these behaviours do not occur. Focus on a few major rules rather than many minor ones.

3. ENCOURAGE APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR  
         Reward the class for general appropriate behaviour by placing a marble in a jar whenever they listen, pay attention and follow direction. When the jar is full, the class can select a favourite activity to do. Make stickers with praise such as “good listener,” “great focus” and “well done” an hand these out to students when you notice appropriate behaviour. The students can decorate their workbooks with the stickers.

4. BE PREPARED
        Walk into the class and be ready to teach immediately. Organize your lesson plan in order to have your materials ready for each lesson. Write the agenda for the class or day on the board so that the students know what to expect. Know what you are going to be done at each part of the day. Build time for discussions and questions into your lesson plans to ensure that you will be able to cover all the material that you need to.

By: Maricel M. Cantara- Teacher I Limay National High School