Managing Classroom Behavior: Tech Tips for Tantrums

Tutoring online can be a highly rewarding and enjoyable experience, whether you’re working with young children or high school students. That said, it’s important to recognize that this approach comes with its own set of challenges.

In this guide, discover the most effective classroom management strategies tailored for the online environment. We will explore common challenges you may encounter and provide practical tips to overcome them, ensuring a smoother and more engaging virtual learning experience.

But first, let’s define the basics.

What is classroom management?

Classroom management encompasses the strategies and skills that teachers employ to create a structured and conducive learning environment. By effectively managing behavior and minimizing disruptions, educators foster an atmosphere where students can stay organized, remain focused, and feel a sense of belonging within the classroom community.

While we all aspire to create an ideal classroom atmosphere, achieving this doesn’t occur by chance. Many educators encounter challenges in fostering a positive environment in their online classrooms.

Reasons for bad student behavior

Students may exhibit inappropriate behavior in class for a variety of reasons. Understanding these underlying causes is crucial for implementing effective behavior management strategies. Here are some of the most frequent reasons behind student misbehavior:

The student doesn’t know what to do

This issue is prevalent in both online and traditional classrooms. To address it effectively, ensure that every activity or task you assign to your students is clearly articulated. Clear instructions can significantly enhance student understanding and engagement.

Provide concise, step-by-step instructions to ensure clarity. Collaborate with the group or individual by working through an example together. For speaking activities, demonstrate the task alongside a student to illustrate the process effectively.

Check students have understood the instructions by asking them to explain or demonstrate the activity.  

The task is too easy or too difficult

We understand the significance of offering appropriately challenging activities for our students. However, this can become challenging when you have multiple students in one lesson.

In an online classroom setting, students often struggle to express when they need assistance. To foster a supportive learning environment, it’s essential to implement strategies that proactively offer help or challenges tailored to those who may require extra guidance.

The student isn’t actively involved

Some students flourish in the spotlight, and when they feel overlooked, they may resort to disruptive behavior. To engage these individuals positively, consider offering them additional responsibilities or leadership opportunities. This not only helps them feel included but also channels their energy into productive activities.

Transform them into your virtual assistant! Have them read questions aloud to the class or select a fellow student to respond. This approach not only fosters a sense of significance among students but also promotes positive behavior in the classroom.

The student is distracted 

Distractions are everywhere in the online classroom. You can’t control what is happening in the student’s home. 

To enhance the online learning experience, it’s crucial for students and their parents to eliminate distractions. This includes minimizing background noise, interruptions, and even removing nearby toys and games. By creating a focused environment, students can engage more effectively in their studies.

Students often face distractions not only from their surroundings but also from their own thoughts. When worries creep in, it can be challenging for them to focus during lessons. It’s important to identify what’s bothering them and offer support—suggesting a conversation after class can make a significant difference.

For more tips on teaching online, read our article on how to be a good online teacher. 

Five effective online classroom management strategies

Effective Strategies to Overcome Common Classroom Management Challenges

1. Set clear rules

From the very first lesson, it’s essential for students to understand the ground rules. Clearly outlining your expectations right from the start can greatly enhance the online learning experience. The more specific and detailed your guidelines are, the more effective they will be.

Engaging students in the creation of classroom norms and rules fosters a sense of ownership and collaboration. One effective approach is to turn this process into a mini-project at the start of the course, encouraging participation and ensuring that everyone feels invested.

• Set out your expectations for students
• If you’re teaching a group, have students work in pairs to discuss how to achieve these expectations
• Ask students to come up with their own expectations for the teacher
• Create a code of conduct or class contract and ask students to sign it 

2. Make a classroom management plan

Effective lesson planning goes beyond just outlining the content for teachers and students; it’s about creating a roadmap for how the lesson will unfold. Incorporating strategies for classroom dynamics is crucial for a seamless learning experience. By developing a classroom management plan alongside your lesson content, you set the stage for a more engaging and organized environment.

Plan ahead for student activities by assigning pairs or groups in advance, especially for online lessons. This proactive approach enables you to strategically match students based on their skills and abilities, enhancing collaboration and learning outcomes.

When organizing activities, consider mixing ability levels or combining different personalities in groups. However, be mindful that having too many leaders can lead to confusion! To ensure smooth collaboration, assign specific roles to each student based on the activity. These roles might include:

Supervisor

The Supervisor plays a vital role in facilitating the discussion by reading questions aloud, clarifying instructions, and ensuring that all participants are actively engaged and contributing their thoughts.

Note Taker

The Note Taker writes down the group’s answers.

Researcher

The Researcher checks any information the group is unsure about.

Spokesperson

The Spokesperson reports back to the class at the end of the activity.

Whichever roles you choose, it is essential that each student knows what they need to do.

3. Have routines

Younger students thrive on consistency and structure, which are essential for creating a safe online classroom environment. Establishing routines not only fosters their social and emotional well-being but also allows you to maintain this structure without feeling like you’re stuck in a repetitive cycle.

Beginning and concluding your lesson with a brief, straightforward routine can greatly enhance engagement. This could involve asking students about the date and weather or inviting them to share one activity they’ve completed that day. These simple practices can set a positive tone and encourage participation.

To kick off your lesson with younger students, consider engaging them by singing and incorporating actions to a song. This lively approach can help capture their attention and create an enthusiastic atmosphere before you settle into the lesson.

Routines don’t have to be monotonous or repetitive; instead, they provide a structured framework that helps students understand what to expect at each stage of a lesson. This familiarity fosters a more effective learning environment, allowing students to engage more confidently with the material.

4. Build relationships

Every teacher eventually cultivates their own unique classroom management style. A positive classroom atmosphere not only enhances the teaching experience but also fosters better relationships among students, making learning more enjoyable and effective.

When students feel appreciated by both their peers and their teacher, they are significantly less prone to misbehavior, and their engagement levels soar. While team-building activities can be effective, sometimes the key lies in how you kick off the lesson.

Welcome students enthusiastically as they enter the online classroom! Rather than simply saying hello, consider incorporating a fun physical greeting, like a TikTok dance challenge, to make the experience more interactive and lively. This not only sets a positive tone but also encourages participation and connection among students.

One effective way to build rapport with students is by inquiring about their lives. Take note of their interests and significant events they share. In subsequent lessons, revisit these topics with follow-up questions to show that you genuinely care and remember what they’ve told you.

A friendly greeting like, “Hello, Aiko! How did your basketball game turn out?” demonstrates to students that you recognize them as individuals and genuinely care about their experiences.

5. Use praise

Regardless of your classroom management approach or teaching method, one of the most effective strategies for encouraging students to adhere to rules is to offer them praise when they do so. Positive reinforcement not only boosts their morale but also reinforces desired behaviors.

Celebrate their achievements with genuine enthusiasm! Recognizing positive behavior is far more effective than pointing out mistakes. This approach boosts students’ self-esteem and encourages them to continue striving for success.

What can make classroom management difficult when teaching online?

These classroom management tips are invaluable for teaching young learners, whether you’re in a virtual setting or engaging them in person. However, it’s important to note that online teaching presents its own unique set of challenges that educators must navigate.

Checking in on individuals

A significant challenge in online learning is the difficulty in gauging student engagement, even when their cameras are on. It raises an important question: how can educators determine if students are focused on their work or if they require assistance?

If you notice a student is becoming distracted during a group class, try sending them a private message. 

A simple “Are you OK?” or “Can I help?” can often make a big difference in getting a student back on track and assessing their need for further support. In one-on-one sessions, taking a moment to pause and directly ask the student can create an open dialogue that fosters understanding and encourages their progress.

Turn taking

In a classroom filled with multiple students, especially younger ones, it’s common for everyone to want to speak at the same time. To manage this enthusiastic chatter, establish a feedback system that guides students on how to take turns and effectively share their answers. This will create a more organized and engaging learning environment.

Decide in advance how you want students to respond:

• Should they answer in the chat box or orally? 
• Should everyone have their mics on or off? 
• Will you nominate a student to answer or allow free discussion? 
• How can students show they want to answer?

Visual aids can effectively convey the desired responses from students. Consider creating small traffic signs featuring images that illustrate the type of response you expect. For instance:

• A microphone icon for oral responses
• A single stick person to show you’ll nominate a student
• A group of stick people to show that anyone can answer

Hold up a sign before and after you ask a question for best results.

Dealing with more serious issues

Even with the best intentions, serious classroom management issues like bullying or trolling can still arise in group settings.

Many students mimic the trolling they’ve encountered online, bringing this behavior into the classroom. Others might share hurtful or inappropriate messages with their peers. To address these challenges effectively, consider the following strategies:

• Disable private chat
• Have students switch off their phones
• Hold ‘office hours’ or individual tutor chats
• Maintain contact with caregivers

Effective communication is essential. Clearly articulate your expectations and the potential consequences of not meeting them in a way that students can easily grasp. Approach conversations with patience and understanding, while also maintaining a firm and fair stance.

To find out more about online teaching with kids, read The ultimate dos and don’t guide to teaching kids online.