Classroom management

Effective classroom management is essential in creating positive learning environment for all students with minimal disruptive behaviours. Research suggests that students with diverse learning needs, including students on the autism spectrum, benefit from structured teaching and environments that cater to their sensory needs. The practices in these series provides teachers with tools and techniques create calmer classrooms that are accessible and engaging to diverse learners.

Teacher speaks to a classroom of students
Practice

Assess your classroom's acoustics

Preschool – Year 12
1
Students spend an estimated 45%–60% of their school day listening to their teacher and classmates. If students are to succeed in the classroom, they must be able to hear what has... Read more
a student raises a hand in class
Practice

Establish classroom rules

Middle years
1
Establishing and clearly communicating rules helps students understand classroom expectations. When students understand what is expected of their behaviour, the classroom becomes... Read more
A teacher and a student talking
Practice

Respond constructively to student behaviour

Middle years
How teachers respond to positive behaviour can contribute to a positive learning environment and can help prevent inappropriate behaviour. Constructive responses to behaviour: us... Read more
Student works understands and works on her task
Practice

Structure tasks using work systems

Preschool – Year 12
4
Work systems provide a means for teachers to structure tasks or elements of a task for students on the autism spectrum. Work systems can help students to understand:  what task o... Read more
Dr Jill Ashburner
Child reads a visual schedule
Practice

Use visual schedules to help students stay on task

Preschool – Year 12
9
Visual schedules show students the sequence of activities or events that will happen over a certain amount of time. Students can see where these activities take place and when th... Read more
Practice

Consistently use routines

Early years
Some students find it challenging to carry out routine instructions. They need clear predictable routines to help them understand what they need to do. This practice focuses on t... Read more
Dr Beth Saggers
Practice

Consistently use schedules

Early years
Schedules help provide clarity to the student. Using them consistently supports students to independently follow routines and decrease off-task behaviours. Knowing what will h... Read more
Dr Beth Saggers
Teacher standing in front of a class
Practice

Organise your classroom

Middle years
1
Structuring a classroom so that it is well organised and easy to move around creates a productive learning environment, encourages student independence, and helps with efficient ... Read more
A teacher standing in front of a screen in a classroom
Practice

Use instructional sequences in your classroom

Middle years
1
By providing an instructional sequence at the beginning of each lesson, teachers give students a road map of what will happen in the lesson.  A clear visual instructional sequenc... Read more
A person writing a checklist in a notebook
Practice

Use visual self-management tools in your classroom

Early years
Middle years
1
Providing visual self-management tools for complex activities or assignments can help students to build their organisation skills, independence, and engagement. These tools help ... Read more
Dr Trevor Clark