Lead the Classroom

What it means:

Lead with purpose and compassion, setting and reinforcing norms for routines and behavior, in face-to-face learning and online.

More Detail

Lead the classroom includes the following:

Lead with a firm, yet warm presence, in person and online
- Influence students with strong posture, voice, and online communication
- Model eagerness for learning
- Circulate throughout the classroom (and/or conduct check-ins online)

Set norms for a successful learning environment
- Establish a culture of learning and growth in your classroom
- Conduct consistent procedures and routines
- Script, model, and reteach clear directions
- Respond to unique strengths and needs of each student
- Maximize all instructional time

Follow a continuous behavior management cycle
- Set and reinforce high expectations
- Convey the consequence hierarchy
- Apply and assign consequences appropriately
- Use least invasive intervention—de-escalate behavior

Introduce a positive incentive system to highlight exemplary learning behaviors aligned to your vision
- Anticipate proactive steps to prevent misbehaviors
- Describe positive behavior as it happens

See a one-page Instructional Excellence Summary covering all the key elements.

Videos—For Teachers & Multi-Classroom Leaders

Watch these short videos of educators discussing and demonstrating the elements of Lead the Classroom, organized by action:

Lead with a firm, yet warm presence

Classroom Strategies Help Meet
Students’ Needs

MCL Fred Hoffmann shares strategies for
managing the classroom to create an environment
where students can be successful.

Lead Firmly but Warmly

MCL Tonya Reaves discusses her balance of
fun and firmness to set the right tone for learning
and success.

Creating a Positive Classroom
Environment with Affirmations

MCL Candace Butler uses affirmations for herself
and her students to create a safe and encouraging
environment.

Model eagerness for learning

The excitement is contagious as MCL Lara Harris
shows her students how to tell a great story.

Set norms for a successful learning environment

“Speak the Excellence” as Mentor
and Coach

Master Reach Teacher Jimmel Williams discusses
how he sets the proper tone of mutual respect in
his classroom, and takes the role of mentor and
coach for students with often highly challenging lives.

Hold Students Accountable for
Group Work

Blended-Learning Teacher Lori Treiber
explains her detailed system for students
to hold one another accountable on group
projects to set students up for success.

Set Classroom Expectations Together
with Students

Work with students to set classroom expectations
with clear definitions to build relationships, provide
accountability, and set norms, MCL Candace
Butler says.

Follow a continuous behavior management cycle

Follow Behavior Management Protocols
to Hold Everyone Accountable

Follow clear, positive behavior management protocols
to hold students and educators accountable and
keep parents informed, MCL Candace Butler says.

Introduce a positive incentive system

Use Incentives to Reward and Help
Students

Use positive incentives, such as time with a
favorite teacher, to reward students for positive
behavior or help students turn around a bad day,
MCL Candace Butler says.

Discussion Questions

Use these discussion questions to help guide your instructional team through the elements of Lead the Classroom:

Which actions in this element of instructional excellence are strengths for you or your team?
Which actions in this element of instructional excellence are weaknesses for you or your team? Think about actions you never take, fail to take as often as needed, or do not take as well as needed to achieve strong learning growth consistently.
What one to three specific changes will you or your team make to use your strengths more often or more consistently and improve weaknesses in the coming months?
Make a brief action plan with specific goals, roles, and time by which you will make specific changes!
Did your changes produce better learning results? If so, keep them. If not, think again about what other changes to make!