Managing the Adolescent Classroom : Lessons from Outstanding Teachers

Uncover the secrets of teachers who are recognized as outstanding classroom managers!

Through fourteen case studies of exemplary teachers, Crawford showcases adolescent classroom management at its best. Teachers can draw from this rich store of individual tips, secrets, and procedures and adapt these management solutions immediately. Along with these variations on classic elements of success, Crawford also provides many new entry points for new and experienced teachers to improve their own management. Reflective chapter questions and discussion prompts make this a productive resource for study groups and mentors as well as classroom teachers.

Managing the Adolescent Classroom demonstrates how to triangulate great management around three essential factors:

• Physical-- leveraging time, space, and a structured environment
• Affective--strategies to promote positive personal and interpersonal development
• Cognitive--use of instructional pace and engagement to motivate behavior and commitment to learning

By successfully managing the physical, social-emotional, and academic dimensions of the classroom environment, teachers can create an essential foundation for a learning community of young adolescents that will promote relationships, belonging, and achievement.

Glenda Beamon Crawford’s experiences with young adolescent learners span nearly thirty years. She has taught in grades 4–12 and currently coordinates the middle grades program at Elon University, where she is a professor of teacher education. She has authored three books, including Managing the Adolescent Classroom and Sparking the Thinking of Students, Ages 10–14, as well as articles on structuring classrooms for adolescent thinking and learning. She consults and presents regularly at state, national, and international conferences. Her research and teaching honors include the 2002 North Carolina Award for Outstanding Contribution to Gifted Education, the North Carolina ASCD Outstanding Research Award, and the Teacher of the Year Award.