Classroom Management Tips For A Great Year

Every year teachers welcome a new group of students into their classrooms. The way the students interact with the teacher, and each other, can make the difference between a great year, and a not so hot one. From the moment students enter the classroom, and in some cases even before, the teacher wants to set the tone, and start things off right.

One of the first ways teachers do this is by praising appropriate behavior - "Lela is doing a nice job of standing in line quietly", "Jamie is writing his name on his paper very neatly", etc . . . Another way is by teaching students explicitly about rules and consequences. Teachers can list the rules, and explain each of them in-depth, or they can have students come up with their own ideas. Either way teachers approach the issue, it is important for students to understand what the rules mean, and know the consequences of ignoring them.

Once students have learned the basic classroom expectations, teachers might want to lead students to explore how they can help make the class run smoothly. A teacher might decide to dole out classroom duties, or help students learn how to work successfully in groups. The lesson plans listed below can help teachers pave the way to a great year.

Classroom Management Lesson Plans:

Introducing the Manager System: In this lesson students create a "student centered" classroom. They learn about classroom managers, and leadership roles. They learn about the duties and responsibilities that go with each classroom task.

I Can Manage Myself (ICMM) Club: This lesson plan involves a series of activities that explore such concepts as respect. They also discuss appropriate, and inappropriate, times to talk, and ways to address behavior issues.

Creating a Classroom Constitution: Students learn about working together, and create a "Classroom Constitution". As a group, students work to develop a list of rules, policies, and procedures. They create a final draft of their constitution.

In Honor of My Country: Students use the Texas pledge and the Pledge of Allegiance to complete this lesson. Students analyze these pledges, and then create their own classroom pledges.