Developing an effective classroom management plan at the high school level requires an entirely different mindset than one might apply for younger students.
As seasoned educators of high school students know, teenagers are experiencing rapid changes at both the physical and mental level. Their hormones are out of whack. They may be overly concerned with their social status, anxious about peer pressure, and feel awkward and uncomfortable in their own bodies. According to the National Institute of Mental Health the teenage brain has a great deal of “plasticity,” or the ability to grow and adapt—yet teens are more likely to experience stress and to need more sleep than children and adults.
The lingering effects of the pandemic may have also left high school students feeling depressed or isolated, further compounding the challenges that any typical teenager faces. It’s no wonder that such students may be distracted—and may sometimes present behavioral issues that can throw teachers for a loop.
How can we best guide these students through their high school years, helping them to maintain focus and grow socially, emotionally, and academically? Having a high school classroom management plan in place prior to the first day of school is key. And focusing on positive reinforcement, building relationships, and creating a safe and supportive culture—rather than enforcing punitive consequences and rigid rules—is what many teachers say works best.
According to the American Psychological Association, “Classroom management systems are effective because they increase student success by creating an orderly learning environment that enhances students' academic skills and competencies, as well as their social and emotional development.”
Here are eight examples of high school classroom management strategies that will help you with behavior management, and will also help students to feel respected, nurtured, and safe to express themselves.
Here is one area in which a high school student doesn’t differ that vastly from a kindergartner. Young children and teenagers alike benefit from routines and consistency. Routines give our days a sense of order, helping us to feel safe and to know what to expect.
Examples of regular routines for a high school classroom might include:
Certainly, some unexpected detours (such as having a local author suddenly drop in to greet your class) can surprise and delight your students. Once you have your routines in place, breaking them now and again can be a welcome change. Here are yet more ways to establish classroom norms and a positive classroom culture.
Know what your own “deal breaker” rules are and communicate them clearly—these are rules that you consider non-negotiable. Examples might include an expectation that students will keep devices in their lockers throughout the day, will be punctual and in their seats when the first bell rings, and will refrain from interrupting another classmate when they are speaking. But your rules may differ depending on your own philosophy and classroom environment.
Francis Jasson Villanueva, who teaches 11th and 12th grade science at La Salle Green Hills High School in the Philippines, starts every course with three key rules:
Although some rules should be ironclad, such as asking students to avoid any demeaning speech or physical altercations, you don’t need to be a dictator about all the rules. “Students are more likely to buy into your expectations for the classroom if their voice is heard. Work with your students to come up with a list of classroom rules and consequences,” writes Brittany Mamphey in this blog.
“This year it is particularly important to build relationships with and among our students,” says Dr. Debbie Silver, former Louisiana State Teacher of the Year and a speaker, author, and presenter. A teacher for 30 years, she now coaches other educators in professional development around the world. She adds: “Social and emotional skills took a hit when students were mainly interacting online. Common courtesy and manners need to be reintroduced and reinforced as we weave appropriate social- and self-skills into student learning. Building a considerate, caring environment is as good for the teacher as it is for the students. Let’s work to restore civility in the places we control—our own classrooms.”
Here are a few of Dr. Silver’s favorite tips on getting started:
