Classroom Management

Between summer camps, student teaching and substituting teacher, I have had over six years of experience in managing student behavior. I follow these five strategies to successfully manage my classroom: 

1. Classroom rules - Classroom rules are the starting element of a successful classroom. I encourage students on the first day of school to help us determine rules for our classroom. When students are involved in creating the rules, they have greater ownership towards the rules. Once our classroom rules have been established, I strive to consistently apply those expectations. 

2. Clear and consistent routines - Students are more successful when daily routines are established. As a substitute teacher, I have gained an even greater understanding of how important consistency in routine is for students. Students should know where to find the tools they need throughout the day, where to turn in papers and how to transition between activities.

3. Positive Reinforcement - I regularly use both individual positive reinforcement and group positive reinforcement. While substituting, I have had the unique opportunity to see and use a variety of strategies to motivate student behavior. 

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• Individual - collecting tickets, marbles, brag tags and fuzzies to earn rewards 
• Group - collecting a jar of marbles, tally table races, adding letters to spell a word and teacher vs. students points to earn rewards 
• Other strategies - secret hallway student and secret transition student

4. Appropriate Consequences - When students are not following the rules of the classroom, it is important to have appropriate consequences for their behavior. I believe in using a layered system to approach students who are not following our classroom rules. Every situation will be different based on the student and circumstance. I strive to have a logical consequence for student misbehavior. Below is a general outline of consequences for failing to follow classroom rules. 

• Class reminder
• Individual reminder
• Modification
• Removed from the situation
• Parent contact
• Office referral 

It is important to note that for situations that continue to be a problem in the classroom, I would implement an individual behavior chart to best meet that students' needs. 

5. Engaging Students - Although engaging students is listed last, I would consider engaging students to be the first step to help with classroom management. When students are engaged in their learning and understand the expectations of the lesson, there are less behavior concerns that arise. When lesson planning, I consider ways that I will engage students, ways that I will encourage student participation and steps to smoothly transition from modeling the skill to practicing the skill. 

I also plan movement opportunities for students to limit behaviors. I might plan for students to walk to share with a partner if they have been sitting for a while. I also regularly plan stretching breaks or brain breaks, such as GoNoodle, throughout the lesson.