Classroom management: Creating and maintaining positive learning environments (PDF, 1.4MB)

Classroom management poster (PDF, 5MB)

Classroom management infographic (PDF, 70kB)

Summary

The literature review defines classroom management and provides a brief overview of classroom management research. It also describes the characteristics of effective classroom management strategies and how schools can best support teachers when implementing them.

Classroom management refers to the strategies teachers use to support and facilitate learning in the classroom. Effective classroom management is important for student achievement because it creates an environment that minimises disruptions, maximises instruction time, and encourages students to engage in learning.

The evidence suggests that classroom management requires both preventative and responsive strategies, with an emphasis on preventative strategies.

Preventative strategies are proactive and encourage students to be on-task, motivated to learn, and prosocial. Effective preventative strategies include:

• creating and maintaining a positive classroom climate
• using structured instruction to engage students in learning
• explicitly teaching students rules and routines
• offering pre-corrections to remind students of expectations
• using active supervision in the classroom.

Responsive strategies include corrective responses to inappropriate behaviours. They support students to re-engage in learning. Effective corrective practices:

• identify why the student is disengaged or being disruptive
• ensure the student understands the corrective response
• are consistent and expected
• are given calmly
• are proportionate to the level of behaviour displayed.

What works best in schools to improve student outcomes? This paper will look at the following seven themes from the growing bank of evidence.

1. Setting high expectations (5:32)
2. Using explicit teaching practices (15:30)
3. Providing effective feedback (23:33)
4. Using data to inform future practice (30:01)
5. Establishing and maintaining effective classroom management (38:00)
6. Supporting student wellbeing (43:35)
7. Engaging in effective professional collaboration (53:28)

Read by Samuel Cox, CESE.

Download the transcript (PDF, 204kB). 

Go to the full paper.

This course focuses on the participant connecting educational theory and research with their context.

Mode of delivery: online 
Accredited hours: 2
myPL course code: RG04031
Themes: high expectations, explicit teaching, effective feedback, use of data to inform practice, classroom management, wellbeing, collaboration

Learn more about what the course involves.

Learn more about the What works best publication. The What works best reflection guide is another useful resource for completing this professional learning. 

Enrol on myPL. 

Reading is a foundational, yet complex cognitive skill upon which other skills are built.

Research on the teaching of reading in the early years of school has consistently identified five key components of effective reading programs: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. This audio paper summarises the research regarding why these five elements are important, as well as how they should be taught in the classroom.

Read by Sally Kohlmayer, CESE.

Read our report on Effective Reading Instruction in the Early Years of School.

Eddie Woo chats to CESE about maths, teaching and what works best.

Recently, CESE's Alex Oo had the opportunity to sit down with Eddie Woo, Head Teacher Mathematics from Cherrybrook Technology High School. Alex and Eddie discussed a range of topics, including:

• why Eddie teaches maths
• the importance of maths
• how Eddie works with students who think they aren't good at maths
• the value of using questions in the classroom
• the methods Eddie uses to ensure every student is learning.

In addition to the podcast above, you can read the transcript (DOCX, 32kB) or watch the interview on Youtube. 

Read more about our research on What works best.