At the onset of each academic year, teachers and educational therapists face the demanding responsibility of creating a classroom management plan for their students. Effective classroom management, one of the most challenging parts of teaching, is essential to help students learn, address behavioral issues, maintain concentration, increase productivity, and motivate reluctant students.
Promoting positive classroom behavior is critical to ensure that academic learning times are used to their fullest potential while maximizing the amount of learning that happens. From lively games and fascinating books to technological tools and valuable incentives, using strategies for classroom management can help teachers establish and maintain classroom expectations.
Thankfully, the K-12 teacher and educational therapist community is highly connected and provides the opportunity to learn from other educators’ classroom management strategies. After all, what has worked for one teacher may also work for another!
We’ve created a list of easy yet effective classroom management strategies to support your classroom’s daily operations. Both teacher-recommended and classroom-proofed, these ten strategies for classroom management are an excellent starting point for managing any classroom.
1. Positive Reinforcement
Use positive affirmations to reinforce students that have met your expectations. Because children often want to know that the teacher is proud of them, here are a few examples of positive reinforcements:
- “Thank you, Nicholas, for raising your hand.”
- “I like how Amy is working quietly and independently.”
- “Good job with organizing the bookshelves, Tony.”
- “I see Sarah following my directions. Great job!”
Once students hear behavior-specific affirmations, many will fall into line and immediately do what the teacher has asked. Also, for students who benefit from multiple reminders, this strategy can effectively remind students of the teacher’s expectations of them and how they should behave.
2. Classroom Arrangement
It may come as a surprise that teachers can manage the class more efficiently by rearranging the seating chart and classroom management plan. Creating a strategic classroom arrangement gives students more personal space, saving teachers time and trouble determining where each student will sit during activities.
Adjusting the classroom arrangement can also allow the teacher to keep each student within their line of vision. When students know that the teacher is watching them, they are less likely to cause distractions or get off-task. For this reason, place the teacher’s desk at a location where the teacher can monitor all students during instructional and independent work time.
3. Whiteboards
Individual whiteboards allow students to participate in a lesson while working in a quieter, more focused environment. These tools work particularly well for various subjects, including mathematics, spelling, vocabulary, etc.
First, provide students with a whiteboard and a dry erase marker. Then, ask them to respond to a prompt or question on their board. After each student has finished writing their answers, the teacher should ask students to hold up their boards simultaneously so everyone’s responses are visible.
Rather than yelling out answers to questions–or passively sitting and remaining silent–students can show the teacher that they understand the material based on what they’ve written. After seeing each student’s board, the teacher can identify which students need additional support and ask them to explain their answers.
4. Classroom Zones
Divide your classroom into learning zones with corresponding functions where students can go to find resources and tools about a particular subject. Keep each zone organized by letting students know where items belong when it is time to clean up. Zone examples are as follows:
- Writing Zone
- Writing utensils
- Paper
- Laptops/computers
- Printers
- Wallcharts with writing guides, grammatical rules, etc.
- Word games (Wordle, Scrabble, Bananagrams, etc.)
- Math Zone
- Calculators
- Graph paper
- Ruler/Protractor
- Math games
- Scratch paper
- Wallcharts with math guides, skills, concepts, etc.
- Reading Zone
- Books
- Vocabulary guides
- E-readers/reading devices
- Reading flashcards
- Periodicals/news articles
- Wallchart with reading comprehension guides, reading tools, etc.
- Science Zone
- Laptops
- Magnifying glass
- Beakers
- Science articles
- Science worksheets
- Wallchart with scientific diagrams, processes, etc.
5. Attention Grabbers
Another excellent classroom management tool, attention grabbers, is a fun way to get students’ attention. Attention-getters can help your class refocus and listen as you give directions if students are busy working with classmates or just talkative. The educator starts by saying the first phrase, and the children say the second. Here are a few examples:
6. Classroom Jobs
Having a job gives students a sense of purpose and ownership in the classroom setting, which can cause them to aim to excel academically. The ownership can also increase students’ self-esteem, attendance, and behavior regulation.
Classroom jobs promote kindness and responsibility, create a sense of community, and lessen the workload for teachers. Here are examples of jobs that teachers can assign students in the classroom:
- Greeter: The greeter comes to class first and greets each student by name as they walk into the classroom.
- Errand Runner: The errand runner makes deliveries and picks up items around the school. The runner also walks sick children to the nurse.
- Germ Patrol: The germ patrol gives hand sanitizer to anyone who enters the classroom. They also replenish soap and tissues.
- Announcements: The student makes announcements and shares reminders at the beginning of class.
- Pencil Patrol: The pencil patrol makes sure to always sharpen pencils, checks them out to classmates, and takes them back from students after class ends.
7. Books
Reading books is another ideal way to teach students about classroom expectations. Try introducing texts to the classroom that remind students to follow the rules, do the right thing, and avoid misbehavior. We suggest having students read the following titles:
That Rule Doesn’t Apply to Me!
Written by former educator and school counselor Julia Cook, this book explores how and why a child named Noodle struggles to follow the rules. Noodle wishes for a rule-free day and struggles to accept that many of the rules apply to him.
However, the author reiterates that educators implement regulations to help, not harm, students. That Rule Doesn’t Apply to Me! is part of the Responsible Me! series, which offers clear messages about accountability, respect, good sportsmanship, and integrity.
Kindness Starts With You – At School
Kindness Starts With You – At School follows a child named Maddy throughout her day at school and encourages acts of kindness, selfless consideration, and empathy towards others. The book’s overarching message is that kindness is the most influential thing educators and adults can teach children. From taking turns on the playground to including less outgoing students in group discussions, students learn that no act of kindness goes to waste–no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.
The Recess Queen
A refreshing story addressing the issue of bullying, The Recess Queen features a main character who bullies other students until a new girl overturns her–by becoming her friend. Kids find this text relatable, and teachers are thankful for how the story handles conflict resolution without teacher intervention.
My Mouth Is A Volcano
Another popular title from Julia Cook, My Mouth Is A Volcano, is a book that empathetically teaches students how to verbalize their thoughts without interrupting others. The story is about a boy named Louis who constantly interrupts others but eventually learns how to listen and respectfully wait for his turn to speak. The book provides a fun way to teach kids essential skills and help them control their unruly words and thoughts.
Can Quiiliam Learn To Control His Temper?
A humorous story that addresses emotional and social resilience, this book helps children manage their emotions in a fun way. Whenever Quilliam the Porcupine gets angry, he shoots quills, putting his friends in danger. However, he wants to change before his shooting quills hurt one of his friends. The book provides a list of coping mechanisms and teacher curriculum materials on topics such as:
- Being an authentic friend
- Practicing coping skills
- Learning how to calm down
- Helping others who are managing difficult emotions
8. Use Music
From catchy educational jingles from Schoolhouse Rock! to culturally significant melodies from artists like the Beatles, music can have a lasting presence in the classroom. Try downloading various tunes to a device, and use each song as a cue for students to begin making transitions in the classroom. For example, select a song for rotating students through stations, snack time, getting ready for dismissal, packing up, etc. Sit back, relax, and allow the music to do the talking!
9. Shout-Outs!
Many students thrive from receiving positive reinforcement, so reward their positive actions with a shout-out whenever a student makes a good decision! Educators can shout out students verbally or place the student’s name on a shout-out board with a description of how they earned it.
For example, an educator can thank students who are following directions by saying, “Thank you for looking at me. I see that you are listening while I am giving directions–great job!” Continue to compliment children until every student has followed the directions.
10. Note Station
When classroom issues arise, some students hesitate to speak up and address concerns with their teacher because they feel shy or nervous. We suggest setting up a “write me a note” station in the room, which is a space where students can write the teacher a note to voice a concern without feeling embarrassed by others. Also, this classroom management strategy can help reduce the amount of classroom chatter because students who need to communicate with the teacher can write their thoughts in a note.
In conclusion, many educators agree that making a classroom management plan can be difficult. However, we hope that these ten expert strategies for classroom management will help educators create a calm instructional environment where students can learn, concentrate, and succeed as they reach their full potential.
Educators and therapists, what classroom management strategies have you tried that have worked? We want to hear your thoughts. Respond in the comments below!
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