Mastering Classroom Management: 7 Tips And Tricks For Teachers

Classroom management is the process of creating and maintaining a positive learning environment in a classroom. It involves a set of strategies and techniques that teachers use to keep students engaged, motivated, and focused on learning. Here are some of the best classroom management tips for elementary teachers! Mastering classroom management takes some time, but it CAN be done!

Whether you are a new teacher or a veteran teacher planning out the school year is important and so is reflecting on your updated classroom management system. We all know classroom management helps to reduce disruptive behavior, which can be a significant barrier to learning. By creating a positive learning environment, you can help students to develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in school and beyond.

The Importance of Mastering Classroom Management

Effective classroom management has many benefits. First of all, it helps to create a positive learning environment where students feel safe, supported, and motivated to learn. It also helps to reduce unwanted, disruptive behavior, which can be a significant barrier to learning. When students are engaged in the learning process, they are much more likely to achieve their academic goals.

On the other hand, poor classroom management can have serious consequences. It can lead to disruptive behavior, which disrupts the learning process for all students. It can also lead to low academic achievement, as students may not be motivated to learn in a negative environment. Poor classroom management also often leads to teacher burnout, as teachers may become frustrated and overwhelmed by the challenges of managing a difficult classroom.

Tip 1: Creating a Positive Classroom Environment

Creating a positive classroom environment is essential for mastering classroom management. A positive classroom environment helps to create a safe and supportive learning environment where students can thrive. Teachers can create a positive classroom environment by using a variety of strategies, such as positive reinforcement, building positive relationships with students, and creating a sense of community in the classroom. Building a relationship with each student is a must so they know they can come to you with hard problems and trust you this school year.

To help understand students and get to know them we recommend checking out this parent and teacher survey! It helps you to understand your students faster so you can start creating a positive environment right away. Check it out here.

Tip 2: Establishing Clear Classroom Rules and Expectations

Establishing clear classroom rules and expectations is essential for effective classroom management. Clear rules and expectations help to create a safe and supportive learning environment where students can thrive. You can establish clear classroom rules and expectations by setting clear guidelines for behavior, communicating these guidelines to students, and enforcing them consistently. For elementary students, we recommend starting out with four rules and even getting the class involved in making those rules too! Your class can also help decide on consequences too! Kids are hard on themselves when they control the consequences.

Tip 3: Managing Student Behavior

Student behavior is a big portion of your classroom management system. There are many reward ideas and incentives for motivating positive student behavior. The good news for you, we have created a reward system to help you reinforce positive behavior. Check it out here! Furthermore, for managing behavior, we recommend you encourage students and reinforce good behavior by pointing out the good things students are doing. For example, if you want your kids to transition quietly, point out the students who are following the rules. Soon, all of your students will remember that rule.

Tip 4: Effective Communication with Students and Parents

Effective communication with students and parents is critical for effective classroom management. Make sure to communicate regularly with students and parents to ensure that they are aware of classroom expectations, assignments, and other important information. Furthermore, we love to communicate the good with parents too! Tell students when they have followed the rules, and when they were kind to another. All of these will help you run a positive classroom. Also, it is important for teachers and parents to become a team. For each child make sure you and the parents are on the same page when it comes to student expectations. This team model will help you so much!

Have a student that needs to apologize to a parent, teacher or fellow student? This apology letter template is a perfect guided template.

Tip 5: Transition Management

Elementary students are always rotating and moving around the room and it is important that they get to where they need to be and stay focused. One of our favorite transition tips is to invest in a doorbell from Amazon. Some doorbells you can change the tone of it too! For example, one tone can signal it is time to switch and the next tone can signal it is time to focus. We love using the doorbell because it is fun and saves your voice too!

Have a few moments extra before a transition to a special area class or recess? Do a quick movement activity or conversation starter. I recommend printing and laminating these cards and put them on a metal ring so you can easily grab them for these quick brain breaks.

Tip 6: Always Stay Calm

This can be easier said than done, right? We know those frustrating moments come. “Hello, I told you the assignment like 205 798,572 times? Why are we still off task?” So when those moments of frustration arise it is important to keep the room positive. We recommend taking a deep breath and counting to three. Then, come back to the situation with a calm tone to handle the situation.

Once when my class was a little unruly, I simply sat down on the floor under the whiteboard and didn’t say a word. That unexpected reaction quieted them down real quick! Then I simply got back up and kept on teaching!

Tip 7: Start Your Classroom Management Strategy the First Day of School

When does your classroom management start? It starts on day one, right as students walk through the door. You will need to train students on the morning routine, how to line up, the limitations in the room, and everything in between. So before the first day of school make sure your systems are all in place and ready to go for students. Take the time to really work through how each hour will look and transitions between centers and coming and leaving the classroom to set up your classroom for success.

Mastering classroom management is very important not just for behavior purposes but for learning too! Teachers who have a strong classroom management system also have a more positive room which helps students feel safe at school to take those risks of learning and making mistakes.

We hope you enjoy these classroom management tips for elementary teachers! Have questions, email me at info@happyteacherhappystudents.com and I’m happy to chat!