Round-Up: All About Classroom Management

Classroom management looks a little different in the drama room than in other classes. However, laying a solid foundation for discipline is imperative for you and your students so you can all work together towards success. No matter where you are on your teaching journey, there are always tips, tricks, and techniques to refine your classroom management style, as every class is going to be different.

Here are 10 of our best articles on classroom management, including different approaches to teaching rules, establishing routines and rituals, practicing accountability, and more.

Top 10 Classroom Management Tips for Drama Teachers
It’s right there in the title. Matt Webster shares his no-fuss tips for establishing a solid foundation for discipline in your drama classroom, focusing on preparation, clear communication, and consistency. Plus, you’ll find a PDF download of emergency activities to help you be prepared in the classroom.

Day One of the Drama Classroom
For many teachers, the first day of class is the most important day of the year. It sets the tone for what’s to come and how things will run. This episode of The Drama Teacher Podcast features five drama teachers sharing what they do with their students to get started on the right foot and make the most out of that first day.

Ordered Chaos: Balancing Structure and Creative Activity in the Drama Classroom
The drama classroom is unique, and expectations are not the same as in other classes. Maintaining the balance between creative activity and structure can be challenging, but it’s doable. This article discusses techniques for classroom management through the elements of routine, behaviour, co-operation via group work, and peer leadership.

Top 5 Discipline Mistakes New Drama Teachers Make (And How to Fix Them)
Giving empty threats, repeatedly shushing students, and ignoring behaviour issues doesn’t work. If you feel stuck because your discipline attempts don’t work with your students, don’t fear — we’ve got solutions. This post also includes helpful video tips.

Establishing Boundaries with Your Students
You are one person with a finite amount of resources and mental capacity to do your job effectively. Boundaries are necessary to protect ourselves and our well-being. Setting boundaries with your students demonstrates how you wish to be treated, how your classroom is run, and the expectations that students must live up to.

Developing Classroom Routines and Systems
Classroom routines and systems make students feel organized and secure, and help them shift into the drama class mindset. Establishing clear routines can reduce behavioural issues, as your students know what to expect when they enter the room, even if they don’t know what the lesson will be about.

Accountability: In Rehearsal, the Classroom, and as a Citizen
Classroom management starts in the classroom, but it also teaches students how to function in the “real world” when dealing with part-time jobs, extracurricular activities, community involvement, and friends and family. Practicing accountability in school sets students up for success in their future life commitments.

Community Agreements in the Drama Classroom
Community agreements are a collection of guidelines produced by students and educators together, about how everyone agrees to work together in class. The difference between rules and community agreements is that rules are made and enforced from a position of authority (usually teachers, but also principals and/or school boards), while community agreements are created and maintained by everyone in the classroom.

5 Ways to Quiet Down a Noisy Drama Class without Yelling
Take a bunch of students who have been sitting down in other classes for hours, fill them to the brim with great ideas, and then ask them to be quiet and focus on the work. Yes, drama class is fun, but you still need to have your students’ focus and quiet so you can teach amazing lessons without having to constantly raise your voice. Save your voice and your sanity with these five techniques.

Learning the Rules: “Act It Out” Game
During the first week of class, it’s imperative to inform students about classroom rules and expectations to start on a positive note. However, it’s boring to just lecture students about rules, or hand out and read a sheet full of rules. “Act It Out” is an active game that enhances students’ understanding of the rules by having them get up and present them in a theatrical manner.

Bonus: 3 Tips to Learn Students’ Names Quickly and The Importance of Pronouns

Want your students to respect you and your classroom? Start by demonstrating respect by learning your students’ names and pronouns quickly and using them correctly.