5 Classroom Management Strategies for High School Teachers

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Effective classroom management plans are critical to a successful classroom dynamic that fosters age-appropriate learning in a safe and supportive environment. While every strategy regardless of grade level will include basic components such as discipline plans and reward structures, teachers working with high school students need to account for a wide range of developmental and social issues that can create a lot of complications for simple plans.

High schoolers enter the classroom in the midst of physical, emotional, and social evolutions that they often don’t have the experience to fully understand or manage. They also experience additional stress through social media, peer pressure, relationships, and anxiety about deadlines, tests, sporting events, and college applications.

It’s a very complicated challenge for any teacher that requires ongoing professional development to stay on top of the latest research and trends. Courses like Classroom Management I—Creating Expectations equip educators with the skills they need to stay in control and maintain a safe and effective learning environment.

Classroom management strategies for high school students need to give teachers the structure required to set expectations and goals while allowing flexibility for age-appropriate interactions and a wide variety of unique experiences. The following five elements form the foundation of an effective classroom management plan for freshmen and seniors alike.

1. Establish the Rules

Every classroom management plan begins with setting basic ground rules. Teens can be very independent and push boundaries, and they need the context and structure afforded by established guidelines to regulate their behavior appropriately. The key is being as clear as possible. Removing as much room for interpretation as possible sets behavioral expectations that can be applied equitably, and these should be spelled out for assignments as well as for general behavior.

Remember: the phrase “Give an inch, take a mile” is particularly true with high school teenagers, so consistency is important. It’s much easier to reevaluate a classroom management strategy for high school students than it is to change how you enforce the plan you have.

2. Assessment and Consistency

For high school students, grades are particularly consequential since they can affect college admission and scholarship opportunities. This means that grading policies should be backed by defensible criteria—especially for subjective assignments like creative writing.

In general, graded work falls into two categories: process and product.

• Process grades are assessed based on completion by a deadline, accurate following of steps, development, and participation.
• Product grades are results-oriented assessments of progress, and reflect percentages of correct answers, accuracy, and even subjective judgments like quality of work.

There are also formative and summative assessments that measure a student’s progress and mastery of a unit respectively, and it’s important for teachers to understand how their evaluations reflect district grading policy. Also, many districts offer college-level courses to advanced students, and teachers will need to follow the college’s grading policies if required.

Additionally, consequences for in-class behavior need to be transparent, and enforcement should be fair and consistent. Like grades, behavioral expectations need to be supported by clear consequences that escalate appropriately. A good relationship and solid communication with administration, school counselors, and support staff is vital for managing behavioral problems and understanding when it’s appropriate to bring them into the conversation.

Of course, each student is different, and there are many instances where an appropriate response for one student is inappropriate for another. Learning disabilities, IEPs, family issues, changes in medication, and a host of other stressors all play a role in a high schooler’s in-the-moment choices, and timely communication with the right colleagues is key for finding ideal solutions.

3. Set Routines

Just like a clear set of classroom expectations, teenagers appreciate the consistency of a routine. Setting routines as part of classroom management strategies for high school students helps maintain their rhythm and continue on the path to success—especially with teenagers who are often in the midst of profound personal and physical changes.

High schoolers are also transitioning into a stage in their life where they may be taking on more autonomy and responsibility for the outcomes of their decisions. They typically have free time between periods, open lunch periods, and participate in activities where they are partially responsible for regulating their experience. These opportunities are all healthy parts of becoming an adult, and routines make the boundary between freedom and function clear.

4. Build Relationships

High school is full of new opportunities. Joining different clubs, and athletic teams, and meeting different people supports a new and exciting stage of growth where teenagers start to express their uniqueness and find a path to their future lives and careers. Getting to know your students and understanding them as individuals helps them see you as a potential mentor, leader, and role model in their lives.

Building trust allows high school teachers to identify challenges their students may face and connect them with solutions. At the same time, it’s important to set boundaries that preserve your role as an educator and authority figure. At the end of the day, the grades you issue and the classroom solutions you employ need to be consistent with school policy and equitably applied to your students.

5. Alternative Teaching Strategies

Incorporating different teaching styles and learning strategies into the classroom supports different learning styles and helps keep students engaged. High schoolers are often very social and independent, and utilizing strategies that allow them to interact and share their experiences can be invaluable for creating a compelling classroom environment.

• Flipped classroom. Students can watch videos at home or complete an online learning module before coming to class so that time in the classroom can be used to discuss and explore the topic on a deeper level.
• Formal debates are opportunities to interact, compete, and build rapport with each other. Setting the topic to something current and relevant to their age group can offer an exercise in critical thinking while having an opposing but respectful conversation.
• Project-based learning. Allow students to engage in a topic of their choice for a long-term assignment that can draw on their interests and creativity while engaged in problem-solving autonomously or with a team.
• Digital storytelling. Select projects where students can use multimedia tools to create a story that combines writing, visuals, and technology.

Consider These Great Classroom Management Strategies for High School

Strong classroom management strategies for high school students allow teachers to make the most of the limited time they have and create powerful educational experiences in a safe and supportive environment. In fact, establishing trust and security while reinforcing the student-teacher relationship creates a great classroom dynamic that can benefit the teacher as much as the student. Planning and effective processes help educators avoid burnout and maintain a healthy and rewarding career.

Premiere is committed to giving teachers the skills they need to successfully manage their classrooms. Participating in professional development through online courses like Classroom Management I: Creating Expectations and Classroom Management II: Quick Everyday Tips to Create a Positive and Safe Classroom Environment by Tiffany Whitcomb, M.Ed. Educational Strategist, Collaborative Teaching Solutions, can help you get ahead of problems with your high school students before they start.

All of Premiere’s courses are developed by leading industry professionals and make it easy for educators to meet their professional obligations and find the answers they need with the touch of a screen.