Teacher Awareness of Effective Management Strategies

Article Citation: Roman, D. (2007). Teaching Strategies Used to Maintain Classroom Order. Marygrove College, Masters Dissertation.

Site Link: ERIC Document
http://eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/3a/e6/4a.pdf

A Brief Summary
This action research report examines the question: How does identifying and understanding teaching strategies influence how teachers maintain classroom management? Beginning with a literature review, Roman discusses the five most commonly known discipline or management strategies which included coercive, task-oriented, laissez-faire, authoritative, and intrinsic. The major focus of the research project was to find out what works according to practicing teachers. Toward this end, the researchers provided 15 teachers from local high schools (all with at least 150 students per day) with a questionnaire regarding the use of specific teaching strategies used to control classroom behavior. The results of the survey indicated that (overwhelmingly) the practicing teachers agreed that more than one behavior management technique is required in order to maintain a smooth-functioning classroom. All respondents disagreed with coercive and laissez-faire as an effective strategy for classroom management and the majority of teachers surveyed admitted that traditional authoritative strategies are most effective.

Reaction
Most teachers would agree that the ultimate role of the teacher is to provide the necessary support to ensure that students become life-long learners. In today’s increasingly culturally diverse and pluralistic classrooms, teachers need to realize that each of their students comes from a unique family with unique values, socioeconomic statuses and child-rearing philosophies. Thus, as the study rightly concludes, an appropriate learning environment can only be maintained by effective classroom management strategies. I agree with Roman that teachers should understand the strategies they use to maintain classroom order. More so, I believe strongly that teachers should actively reflect and critically examine their approaches to classroom management. Because classrooms are dynamic environments filled with kids who have real and varied personalities, interests and agendas, there is no prescription or step-by-step process for establishing and maintaining classroom order. As the teachers surveyed in this study indicated, different techniques work on different days, but the key is understanding why certain management styles are important and/or effective. This research study reminded me that understanding and improving management styles is a worthy goal, which benefits not only the learners but teachers as well. Thanks to this research contribution, in my own effort to produce practical classroom management tips and ideas on this blog, I will consciously strive to explain the reasoning behind the tips, link to research where I can and discuss strategies with teachers in the field to provide a set of strategies that teachers can not only use to improve their classroom functioning, but truly understand in an effort to improve their pedagogy.