Does classroom management coursework influence pre-service teachers’ perceived preparedness or confidence?

There has been conjecture that completing focused coursework units on classroom management during pre-service teacher preparation might lead to increased feelings of preparedness and confidence. This study reports the preparedness in managing specific problem behaviours, familiarity, and confidence in using management strategies and models of final-year pre-service teachers in Australia who had and had not completed focused classroom management units. Unit completion significantly increased perceived preparedness, familiarity, and confidence in using strategies and models. However, the whole sample felt only somewhat prepared to manage misbehaviour, and were confident in using only half of the strategies they were familiar with.

► Completion of classroom behaviour management units leads to feeling better prepared. ► When completed, they felt only somewhat prepared to manage any kind of misbehaviour. ► Completing no units decreased preparedness to manage challenging behaviours. ► Unit completion increased the number of strategies known and confidence in use. ► Unit completion increased the number of models known and confidence in use 4:1.