So what do managers say about classroom management?

Abstract

The context of this article was that, after researching issues of classroom management for a number of years, I was asked by managers at different institutions to speak to their staff about strategies for helping to counteract the problems tutors faced in many classes on a day-to-day basis. The question that emerged was how might managers in the lifelong learning sector support tutors in dealing with these stressful situations. The methodology of this inquiry was to offer qualitative practitioner research which would suggest some recommendations to improve practice on how managers might support teachers in these circumstances. The research methods would aim to determine managers’ perspectives, using a survey to identify a sample of their views. This would lead to two focus groups with managers, opening up a more exploratory discussion, followed by an in-depth interview with an experienced, particularly supportive manager, working with challenging classes. The purpose of this interview was to review a range of strategies that might be used to help managers support staff and students create more effective learning environments. The next stage was to subject managers’ suggestions to the views of teachers. The findings from this research showed there were widespread problems in many classes where this research took place. Managers offered a range of localised and wider strategies for supporting teachers in these challenging situations. Offering whole institution approaches, training on interventions and opening spaces for tutors and managers to explore these issues in a blame-free environment were some of the recommendations. The tutors surveyed welcomed these suggestions.