Elementary Classroom Management: Lessons from Research and Practice

This is a comprehensive introduction to classroom management in elementary schools. It combines what research has to say about effective classroom management with knowledge culled from practice. This is done by integrating into the research discussions accounts of the actual management practices and thinking of four case study teachers. The research discussions comprise approximately two-thirds of most chapters, and the case study materials approximately one-third. A companion volume dealing with classroom management in secondary classrooms is now available for use in mixed classes enrolling both elementary and secondary majors.

Carol S. Weinstein is currently Professor of Education at Rutgers Graduate School of Education, where she was Associate Dean of Teacher Education and Chair of the Department of Learning and Teaching. She received her doctorate from Harvard Graduate School of Education in 1975. A former public school teacher, she has authored dozens of journal articles and book chapters on topics ranging from the physical design of classrooms to prospective teachers' beliefs about classroom management. She has also co-authored (with Andrew J. Mignano)a companion volume on managing elementary classrooms (McGraw-Hill). In July 2000, she received a Contributing Researcher Award from the American Federation of Teachers for "Bridging the Gap between Research and Practice in Effective Classroom Management." Her special interests are classroom organization and management, violence prevention, and teacher education.

Andrew J. Mignano Jr. is currently the principal of the Laura Donovan School in Freehold Township, New Jersey. He received his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Rutgers College in 1974 and his master’s degree in educational psychology from Kean College in 1981. During his 15 years as a teacher, he taught at all levels from kindergarten to fifth grade, including one year teaching special education. His tenure as a principal has been characterized by the implementation of new programs in early literacy, technology integration and world languages. A firm believer in professional development and teacher preparation, Mr. Mignano has worked closely with the Rutgers Office of Teacher Education. As a staff developer, he has conducted workshops on the topics of writing workshops, early literacy, brain based learning, classroom management and cooperative learning.