Running a classroom is like running a business. Sometimes, we have our success stories, and other times, we have to have some tough conversations. Running a productive classroom is about management. With management comes academic success, motivation, and confidence. Behavior management strategies are the key to unlocking a really rewarding classroom.
Behavior Management Strategies For The Classroom
Behavior management doesn’t always come easily. It can be challenging to get it all right from the beginning. But there are some ways to make it easier. Read on for some of the best classroom behavior management strategies to use today!
Morning Meeting
Yes, a morning meeting routine is the perfect opportunity to instill some classroom management into your classroom. This meeting is teacher-led, low-stakes, and perfect for relationship building. With relationships, students are more willing to help one another, engage in group work with each other, and share respect as a class. Take some time in morning meetings to have fun, share exciting updates amongst the class, make compliments a part of the day, and have a social-emotional component. Knowing when students are feeling down, struggling with a problem, or feeling less than confident by engaging in the morning meeting allows you to intervene prior to an outburst later in the day. Use the social worker, have a conversation, or reach out to families by giving a phone call home.
Class Meetings
Even though a morning meeting is perfect for the day, class meetings after lunch and recess to reset and refocus are also an incredible opportunity to keep your classroom management running smoothly. Don’t let those recess conflicts spill into the classroom, or those lunchroom debates ruin your math lesson. Take some time to reset, and work on conflict resolution if needed. If your students are a little older or just ready, have students gradually take the leadership role in navigating conflicts. Ease back into learning with a simple meeting, and everyone will feel confident and ready to learn. This will help students practice mindfulness and decrease anxiety or stress before learning.
Classroom Contracts
Kids are very intuitive and understand what makes a classroom best for learning. Engage students in building expectations with a classroom contract. Students know exactly what they want to learn best. Maybe it is agreeing not to shout out and use hands to answer a question. Another one could be remembering not to interrupt others when they are sharing. Include the students in the classroom expectations, and they will own the expectations rather than have to follow them, leading to a much calmer, well-run classroom.
Routines
Morning or class meetings are one part of building a routine in your classroom. When students know what to expect and when to expect it, the stress and anxiety that may follow the unknown is alleviated. Students often act out when they feel uncomfortable, stressed, or don’t know the content. Remembering your routines is essential to running a classroom. Post a schedule, and remind students when everything happens. Our youngest learners thrive on routines, which will also be a game-changer for your classroom!
Classroom Jobs
Students who feel included are likelier to share ownership of their classroom and want to be a part of the learning experiences. Using classroom jobs gives students accountability for their behavior and helps them really want to be positive role models. Classroom jobs can last a few weeks or a month, but make sure to rotate them at some point so all students have an opportunity to participate. Remember when you were young, and you were so excited to be a line leader? That pride is the same for all classroom jobs, so make sure you include them! Some ideas are snack helper, door holder, and, of course, line leader.
Classroom Positivity and Rewards
One more vital tool for classroom management is remaining positive! Positive reinforcement of behavior and academics is essential for building a positive learning and behavior environment. Rewards can be simple in creating a positive culture for learning, and a simple sticker goes a long way! Bigger rewards, of course, can be used for a pizza party or a theme day, too! Just remember a positive phrase when a student is caught being good has a huge impact on behavior. Focusing too much on the negative will only cause more negative behavior. Turn the culture around with some positivity!
Behavior Management Strategies: The Wrap Up
Behavior management is so important in an elementary classroom. Remembering a few things, like remaining positive and including everyone in ownership of the classroom, will be game changers in having the best year yet! Classroom management doesn’t have to be daunting. Just be you and remember you can always reset and try something new if you need to tomorrow!