An Interpersonal Perspective on Classroom Management: Building Teacher Relational Capacity

Effective classroom management is an essential skill for teachers and student teachers alike. Packed full of practical examples and evidence-informed guidance, this book offers a comprehensive approach to classroom management that emphasises the importance of building positive teacher-student relationships and fostering a supportive classroom climate that promotes student well-being, engagement, and learning.

Drawing from interpersonal theory, 40 years of research in the field, and the authors’ own experiences as teachers and teacher educators, this book offers a deeper understanding of classroom dynamics and provides strategies for navigating various classroom situations. Insightful real-life examples and hands-on practical strategies are provided throughout, as well as tools, individual and team assignments, and best practice for addressing teacher-student interactions and relationships. Its contents will help both novice and experienced teachers manage classrooms for the benefit of student development. It effectively guides readers around teacher relationships and styles, interactions during a variety of classroom situations, responding to challenging student behaviours, and creating a psychologically safe classroom.

This book is an essential read for teachers, student teachers, and teacher educators across all education grade levels and subject areas who are seeking to enhance their classroom management knowledge, skills and courses. The book caters to educators at different stages of their careers, from novice teachers aiming to establish a solid foundation to experienced educators interested in refining their interpersonal approaches to classroom management.

Theo Wubbels is emeritus professor of educational sciences at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences of Utrecht University in the Netherlands. He has been involved for over 40 years in teaching and research on teacher-student relationships, learning environments, and staff development in primary, secondary, and higher education.

Perry den Brok is professor of education and learning sciences at the Department of Social Sciences of Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands. He is also teacher educator, supervises several PhD students, and head of the group on education and learning.

Luce Claessens is an associate professor at the Department of Education at Utrecht University in The Netherlands and director of the teacher education program for primary education. She teaches on interactions in class and research in schools.

Tim Mainhard is professor of Educational Sciences and head of the primary teacher education programs at Leiden University. He teaches classroom management and research methods.

Jan van Tartwijk is professor of education and vice-dean for graduate education at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences at Utecht University in the Netherlands. He teaches in the university’s graduate school for teacher education and is involved in research projects on teacher-student communication, teacher expertise, and curriculum and assessment.