In well-managed classrooms, rules and procedures are communicated, practiced and enforced consistently. Classroom rules and procedures are different. Rules outline how students are expected to behave, and students experience consequences for not following classroom rules. Procedures help students know how to accomplish daily tasks in the classroom, such as lining up for lunch, handing in homework or participating in class discussions. Procedures should be modeled by the teacher and practiced by students until they can be performed without prompting.
Learning time, or "time on task," is optimal in well-managed classrooms. Teachers are able to focus on lessons and learning because they spend very little time redirecting or disciplining students. This does not mean that well-managed classrooms are quiet and calm all the time. Well-managed classrooms are often buzzing with activity. Students are engaged, working independently or in small groups. They are experiencing hands-on learning and they are able to talk with one another about the lesson. The difference between a classroom that is not managed well and a well-managed classroom is that the teacher is able to keep students focused on learning during activities and she is able to get students' attention when she needs it.
Teachers in well-managed classrooms take the time to build relationships with students. They also encourage students to build positive and supportive relationships with each other. Educational expert Ron Clark uses the method of treating everyone in the classroom as family members. The classroom family is the foundation of the classroom management style Clark writes about in his book, The Essential 55: An Award-Winning Educator's Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child.
Well-managed classrooms are led by teachers who are professional and effective. These teachers greet students at the door with a smile and a handshake. They are dressed professionally, have their credentials visible for students and classroom visitors to see, and they model the respectful, positive and engaged demeanor they expect from their students. These effective educators use teaching best practices, such as connecting with students' prior knowledge, creating student-centered lessons and activities, and differentiating instruction to meet the learning needs of all students. These techniques help keep students engaged, which helps maintain a well-managed classroom environment.