Classroom Management

Approaches to Support School Connectedness

Some classroom management approaches strengthen school connectedness. See below for example strategies, tools, and templates that school staff can use to apply these approaches in their face-to-face, virtual, or blended learning modes.

School connectedness

School connectedness is the belief held by students that adults and peers in the school care about their learning as well as about them as individuals.
Students who feel connected and engaged at school are less likely to report risky behaviors (such as early sexual initiation, substance use, violence, and suicide) and have more positive academic outcomes.^1-6

Classroom management

Classroom management is the process that teachers and schools use to create positive classroom environments in face-to-face or virtual learning modes.
Classroom management includes teacher- and student-led actions to support academic and social-emotional learning among all students.⁷
Well-managed classrooms that incorporate positive behavior management strategies are one way that teachers and other school staff can build school connectedness.⁸

Which classroom management approaches and skills increase connectedness?

CDC researchers reviewed scientific papers on classroom management and identified these classroom management approaches that promote student connectedness and engagement. Strategies to support these approaches were identified through a structured review of web-based practice resources.

You can learn more about these strategies by clicking on the boxes below.

Illustration of teacher supporting students

Teacher Caring and Support

Illustration of group of happy adolescents

Peer Connection and Support

Illustration of teacher empowering student in classroom

Student Autonomy and Empowerment

Illustration of adolescents reading and learning

Management of Classroom Social Dynamics

Teacher Expectations

Behavior Management

Promising Practices

There are other classroom management approaches that appear promising for promoting school connectedness and engagement, although more research is needed on the extent to which these classroom management approaches directly impact connectedness.

These approaches have been linked to increased school connectedness and engagement when combined with other classroom management approaches.

Instructional Monitoring & Support.

When teachers use instructional approaches that 1) monitor the needs of students and 2) explicitly focus on increasing students’ interest and engagement (combined with other classroom management approaches such as those reported above), students report higher levels of engagement and connectedness.^{9 -11}

For example, when teachers demonstrated a number of classroom management skills including awareness and responsiveness to students’ needs (e.g., walking around the classroom and checking in on students) and maximizing students’ interest and engagement in learning (e.g., using interesting and engaging lesson materials & active facilitation), students were more likely to report a strong sense of peer community and school bonding.⁹

Content Relevance.

Students report higher levels of school engagement when teachers demonstrate a variety of strong classroom management skills and make classroom content useful and relevant to them.

For example, when students perceived that their teachers had high expectations for them and connected classroom content to their lives and future goals, they were more engaged and involved at school.¹² Teachers may increase school connectedness by ensuring that all students from diverse backgrounds have opportunities to engage in content that includes individuals, communities, and experiences that reflect their own.