We all have those days when lesson plans don’t pan out the way you envisioned them. Even the most seasoned educators experience this. But when a challenge pops up, how do we handle it? As teachers and education leaders, there are two distinct ways we can navigate classroom hiccups and ride those waves of unpredictability. We can be proactive or reactive. How can we distinguish these two methods, and what are some proactive vs. reactive classroom management examples? Let’s find out!
What is Proactive and Reactive Classroom Management?
Reactive classroom management
Reactive classroom management refers to strategies that address classroom disruptions after they've occurred. There’s something to be said for flexibility and thinking on the fly. However, in challenging situations, reactive classroom management can be tricky. You can deal with certain issues in the moment. But when you have a string of problems coming at you, you may not want to be stuck making a bunch of in-the-moment judgment calls.
Proactive classroom management
Let’s talk about the alternative. Even if trying days are few and far between, we want to be prepared. While reactive classroom management involves taking things as they come, proactive classroom management is the fine art of anticipating an issue and having solid contingency plans in place.
Of course, you cannot predict every curveball. You will always need to have a strong reactive management skill set for those times sudden changes that are unavoidable. But, if you embrace proactive classroom management, you will not need to rely on reactive teaching nearly as often.
Examples of Proactive and Reactive Behavior Management Strategies
What does reactive classroom management look like?
Imagine this: You get to school and realize you left some important supplies at home. Now you’ll have to alter or altogether scrap your big activity of the day. You do not have a solid backup plan, so you’ll just have to make do. You check your day planner and realize that the recess supervision day you swapped out weeks ago has now come back to haunt you—and it’s cold outside, and you do not have all the proper gear. You have an early meeting, during which a parent stops by unexpectedly. They want to talk about their child’s latest test score. Once you’re teaching, you discover that your students are having an off day too. On top of that, the class pet has tummy issues.
You’ll have reactions to each of these problems, and, like the star teacher that you are, you’ll likely find little ways to at least get through each roadblock. But at the end of the day, how will you be feeling? Exhausted perhaps—worn out, and a little disillusioned. Now, if this is just a single day and a similar one only occurs once or twice more in a school year, reactive classroom management may work for you. If this starts to happen monthly, weekly, or every other day, you’ll be on the fast track to burning out.
What does proactive classroom management look like?
Now imagine a similar day to the one described above. You get to school and realize that you forgot your supplies. Having a literacy program like Into Reading can come in handy. Into Reading provides teachers with ready-to-teach, standards-aligned sessions for whole group instruction. You can swap your planned activity for the next day and dive right into a session instead. Later, you can set a reminder in your phone or day planner to get activity supplies ready for tomorrow.
You check your plan for the day and see that you have supervision duties. You may not have your A-game scarf and hat, but you have old faithful in your drawer at all times: a decent hat and some mittens that aren’t your favorite but will do in a pinch.
Your meeting begins and a parent swings by for an impromptu chat. Luckily, you have files of student work examples. Plus you can pull assessment data and formative check responses from your digital literacy and math programs, like Into Reading and Into Math. You graciously set up the parent with their child’s work to peruse, and let them know you’ll be ready for a quick talk in 20 minutes. In the meantime, they can see what their child has been doing and get a clearer picture of their progress ahead of your chat. If you want to be really proactive in this situation, you can have a super clear plan laid out for meetings beforehand. Let parents and caregivers know from the outset that you are happy to set up meetings or phone calls with a little notice, and carve out time during one prep period a cycle to either meet or talk to any concerned parents. Better still, schedule regular check-ins with parents and caregivers and discuss the good things happening, as well as areas that need improvement. Student issues will be nipped in the bud, parents and guardians will feel informed, and you’ll have fewer unplanned drop-ins.
If you find that your students are not having a great day behavior-wise, what can you do proactively? You know that these days will happen, regardless of the grade level that you teach. A proactive approach is to first have clear classroom rules and guidelines that you regularly revisit. Teach students what to do if they are feeling frustrated. Is there a quiet spot in your room for a reading break? Do they know that they can approach you with problems or write about their feelings when needed? Have strategies to help students regulate their emotions. If it’s just one of those days, have a backup plan at the ready. Brainstorm before the school year even begins, and have a list handy in your desk drawer. Perhaps there are brain-break activities you’ll want to use, outside time to get extra energy out, or calming techniques to get your classroom back to a more peaceful place. Have tranquil music ready to go, detailed coloring pages, and a great book to read from.
Oh, yes, almost forgot. The class gerbil isn’t feeling well. If you have a classroom pet, or some kind of similar classroom extra that requires attention, be prepared! Find out from your administration at the start of the school year what the protocol is for classroom pets. Have your students set up with class jobs that include general tidying and caring for any furry classroom friends. Everyone can and should pitch in. It can become an important learning experience for students that builds a sense of community and belonging.
Both Proactive and Reactive Classroom Management Strategies Have Their Place
Reactive classroom management has its place, to be sure. But a little proactive management will go a long way. Plan for those likely bumps in the road that happen to the best of us, and enjoy a much smoother teaching experience.
This article was adapted from a blog post initially developed by the education technology company Classcraft, which was acquired by HMH in 2023. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of HMH.
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