Catherine, here, with my first post on what is, in my opinion, one of the biggest challenges new teachers face: classroom management. So much to be managed, where to begin? Students, materials, books, desks, chairs, schedules, testing, homework, allergies, permission slips, pull-outs, behavior, special needs, communication with parents, and the list goes on. Students, especially young students, need to know and understand their teacher’s routines and expectations for everything that happens in the classroom. Everything. For example, where do the scissors go? Because, if kids don’t know where to put the scissors (or the many other supplies in a classroom), they’ll vanish, never to be seen again! What about the backpacks and homework and lunches and notes from home? What happens when students finish their work and have nothing to do? How do students resolve conflict?
Don’t be fooled! These questions do not have simple answers, which is why, they are best answered by expert teachers. So, either seek out a teacher at your school who makes teaching look easy or check out the following resources, written by teachers, which have helped (and will continue to help) form our beliefs and ideas about classroom management.
Ruth Charney’s book, Teaching Children to Care: Classroom Management for Ethical and Academic Growth, K-8, discusses ways to help children develop self-control, which contributes to children's ability to take care of themselves and others, as well as contributing to the overall well-being of the classroom community. Charney gives advice on how teachers can manage their classroom so that all students will be successful.
Another book that's proved helpful is Teaching Effective Classroom Routines by Deborah Diffily and Charlotte Sassman. This book includes strategies for teaching routines and procedures in the classroom, as well as photographs of how teachers have implemented these strategies.
Finally, Maria L. Chang's book, Classroom Management in Photographs, contains photographs of different ways teachers set up classrooms, create routines and procedures, establish learning environments, and manage behavior. The photographs are really helpful for envisioning how these strategies might work in your own classroom.
Just the TIPS of the iceberg.....
Based on ideas from these books, our wise CDP professors and coaches, and our own teaching experiences, here are some tips that we think are important for creating a classroom where students feel confident and safe, leaving them with only one concern: learning. This list of tips will certainly grow longer as we continue our teaching careers.
Routines and procedures. Establish routines and procedures for everything that's done in the classroom. Whether it's arriving in the morning or sharpening pencils, have a routine and communicate expectations for those routines.
Model. Model everything you want students to do. Show students examples and non-examples of expected routines and behaviors and then practice relentlessly! Be sure to model new activities.
Be consistent. Remember to be consistent with expectations and/or consequences.
Transition Signals. Create a signal that quickly gets students' attention and communicates that you need them to listen.
Fidgets. Some kids can't sit still. Silent fidgets, such as squishy balls, are lifesavers for these students and their teachers. Fidgets can be found at Dollar Stores or Walmart. However, in case it's unclear what a fidget is, take a look at The Therapy Shoppe for some ideas on fidgets for your classroom.
Don’t be fooled! These questions do not have simple answers, which is why, they are best answered by expert teachers. So, either seek out a teacher at your school who makes teaching look easy or check out the following resources, written by teachers, which have helped (and will continue to help) form our beliefs and ideas about classroom management.
Ruth Charney’s book, Teaching Children to Care: Classroom Management for Ethical and Academic Growth, K-8, discusses ways to help children develop self-control, which contributes to children's ability to take care of themselves and others, as well as contributing to the overall well-being of the classroom community. Charney gives advice on how teachers can manage their classroom so that all students will be successful.
Another book that's proved helpful is Teaching Effective Classroom Routines by Deborah Diffily and Charlotte Sassman. This book includes strategies for teaching routines and procedures in the classroom, as well as photographs of how teachers have implemented these strategies.
Finally, Maria L. Chang's book, Classroom Management in Photographs, contains photographs of different ways teachers set up classrooms, create routines and procedures, establish learning environments, and manage behavior. The photographs are really helpful for envisioning how these strategies might work in your own classroom.
Just the TIPS of the iceberg.....
Based on ideas from these books, our wise CDP professors and coaches, and our own teaching experiences, here are some tips that we think are important for creating a classroom where students feel confident and safe, leaving them with only one concern: learning. This list of tips will certainly grow longer as we continue our teaching careers.
Routines and procedures. Establish routines and procedures for everything that's done in the classroom. Whether it's arriving in the morning or sharpening pencils, have a routine and communicate expectations for those routines.
Model. Model everything you want students to do. Show students examples and non-examples of expected routines and behaviors and then practice relentlessly! Be sure to model new activities.
Be consistent. Remember to be consistent with expectations and/or consequences.
Transition Signals. Create a signal that quickly gets students' attention and communicates that you need them to listen.
Fidgets. Some kids can't sit still. Silent fidgets, such as squishy balls, are lifesavers for these students and their teachers. Fidgets can be found at Dollar Stores or Walmart. However, in case it's unclear what a fidget is, take a look at The Therapy Shoppe for some ideas on fidgets for your classroom.
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