9 Very Effective Classroom Management Techniques For High School

High school is an exciting time for students as they progress to higher grades and prepare for the outer world. At the same time, it is a challenging period for both the students and the teachers. Students are evolving and going through a prime period of change. Teachers have to tackle this with some very effective classroom management strategies for high school to make sure all students are learning effectively. It is also true that high schools have a very high and long-lasting impact on students, their families, and the entire community.
Classroom management in high school includes all the skills and methods used by teachers to ensure that students are organised, learning, and safe. The main objective of classroom management is to maximise student engagement in classes and learning.
As a teacher, you need to know when to apply which teaching technique in the class, judge when the class is getting chaotic, and handle it tactfully to bring it back to order. This includes knowing when to give those 10 minutes of free time to students or let them play for a while from time to time. Such effective classroom management techniques for high school will help you teach with more impact and students will learn better.
Why is High School Different?
High school students are young adults and often think of themselves as adults. They are eager to explore the world, become independent and work without supervision. This is vastly different from pre-primary and primary kids, who still rely heavily on teachers and are almost excited about attending school every day.
It is also true that high school students have more outside exposure and real-life experiences that change or shape them in a certain way. A few of them might also have already taken responsibility for their families and homes or would be doing so shortly. All these reasons make high school very different for students and teachers alike.
While it can get challenging, it can also be quite rewarding to help these young adults and with correct classroom management techniques, you can help them wonderfully.
Classroom Management Techniques for High School
Students in high school are going through a period of changes both physically and emotionally. This is the time they feel they do not need help but actually require a lot of mentorship and guidance from their teachers. When you adopt some effective classroom management techniques for high school, you can help these students learn more effectively and retain what they have learned for a lifetime.
- Show Enthusiasm: You have to show students how excited you are and looking forward to the session; this will help students become more interested and increase their participation. When students feel and see the enthusiasm of their teachers, they get motivated, improving their stimulation and engagement.
- Set Reliable Routines: Make sure there is consistency in their daily activities and a routine for the flow of their day. This will help them form a habit, follow a routine, and know what to expect. This also makes the students more organised and sets things in order.
- Establish Clear Rules: An important classroom management technique is to set clear rules and communicate these to the students. This way, the students will know how they are expected to behave and what will not be tolerated at any cost. A good example of this could be making clear to everyone in your class that mobiles or any devices are not allowed inside the class or how you expect all students to be punctual and regular in their classes.
- Build Relationships: You must work actively to build nurturing and positive relationships with your students. This goes a long way in students’ social development, and they can learn to be more empathetic, caring, and understanding.
- Prepare: As a teacher, your preparation for the class is your biggest and most important homework. You should always be prepared for the classes and sessions, and by doing so, you reduce the chances of any surprises and sudden disruptions in the class.
- Master Transitions: During any period or session, you will have to change topics or tones to get your students to pay more attention. Mastering this transition and knowing when the attention is fading will help you to manage your class better. Occasionally, ask students to pay attention to what you are saying and observe when and why they are drifting.
- Practice Follow-Through: Ensure you follow through on your words, meaning you will act on what you have said no matter what. This way, your students will learn honesty, consistency, trust, and following through. Your class will have a positive energy, where everyone keeps their word.
- Remember to Play: Do not make high school about only studying and learning. Students need a break and need to unwind periodically. You can introduce them to fun interactive activities, share jokes and real-life experiences, play games, etc., to make them feel rejuvenated and increase their engagement and attention. This is also a good way to connect with your students and gain their trust.
- Start a “Tech Off” Policy: A necessary classroom management policy is asking students to deposit or switch off their mobiles or other devices. These devices cause distractions and shift students’ focus from learning to browsing online.
How Extramarks Help Teachers to Manage High School Classes?
While managing a classroom is all about a teacher’s instincts and efficiency, some help from online platforms like Extramarks can make classroom management more effective and not feel like a burden. Some of the ways Extramarks help teachers to manage high school classes are:
- Interactive Content: Extramarks provides very interactive multimedia-rich lessons that include videos, animations, and simulations. These engage students better and enhance their learning.
- Real-Time Performance Analytics: It allows teachers to track student progress, identify learning gaps, and offer personalised support.
- Automated Grading and Feedback: With Extramarks, teachers save time by automating grading for quizzes, assignments, and tests. This enables them to focus more on teaching.
- Easy Assignment Management: Extramarks facilitate the creation and distribution of assignments. It also provides automatic grading and detailed insights into student performance.
- Personalised Learning Paths: Extramarks adapt to individual student needs, ensuring that each learner gets the right resources and attention required to maximise learning.
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Good and effective classroom management techniques for high school can help students have a holistic and fulfilling high school experience and learning. Teachers should focus on building positive relationships, effective communication and creating a safe and supportive learning environment for high school students. Such classroom management strategies become successful as they increase students’ success and create an organised learning environment, which also improves their social and emotional skills.
Last Updated on March 5, 2025
Reviewed by

Prachi Singh | VP - Academics
Prachi Singh is a highly accomplished educationist with over 16 years of experience in the EdTech industry. Currently, she plays a pivotal role at Extramarks, leading content strategy and curriculum development initiatives that shape the future of education...read more.

