120 hr. TEFL Course Module 9-Classroom Management (Pt.5 How to Facilitate Respect)

Module 9: Classroom management

9.2.2 How to facilitate respect

Creating a classroom environment that has its foundations in mutual respect does not mean that you can never have fun. If done properly, it will actually give you the opportunity to have more fun in the classroom because you will know that your students can handle it and still do their work and progress as students. Here are some tips on how to provide that safe and enjoyable community classroom for your students:

Your classroom needs to be built on mutual respect, so discuss respect on the first day and stress it throughout the year. Let the students know that they have your respect and that you in turn require them to show you respect. Students will have a harder time being disrespectful to teachers who have shown them respect.


This sounds obvious, but it needs to be said: follow your own rules and treat your students with respect. Do not make them feel dumb for an answer that is wrong and lead by example. If a student is off the mark with an answer or comment (in terms of being correct, not in terms of being disrespectful), look for their train of thought and give them credit for how they answered, while letting them down easy. Students will look to you to model the behavior you are looking for from them, so be a good classroom role model.


Whenever you are doing an activity that will require students to step out of their comfort zone, make mutual respect a spoken goal. If necessary, attach a grade to it. Students need to be reminded constantly about how they should act, so when you especially need them to show respect to each other, it is worth taking a few minutes to go over it. If you are doing an activity that requires students to critique each other, model the behavior first to show them what constructive criticism looks like.



Handle disrespectful behavior severely. Even if you have a lenient classroom where students feel freer to express themselves, make disrespect where you draw a line in the sand. If you have discussed respect and the students are aware of how they should act, treat disrespectful behavior seriously, and implement real and meaningful consequences for disrespectful actions.

Do not be afraid to bring parents and administrators into your plans for a respectful classroom. Disrespectful behavior should be accompanied by both a punishment and by contact home. Students will often make rash decisions and not worry about the in-school consequences, but if your students know they will also face consequences at home, they are much more likely to think about their actions.