Classroom Management

Classroom Management is the toolbox teachers use to ensure their classroom runs smoothly and their students are successful. It can range from schedules, routines, rituals, transitions, and rules. Classroom management is important for the fact that it provides a conducive environment that promotes learning and engagement. It keeps the chaos low, and it provides organization for all that are operating within the room. How you plan your lessons, arrange your room, what materials you provide, and how you communicate with your students all are apart of classroom management. When you have good classroom management, you also are providing a place for you and your students to develop deeper relationships. You can do this by allotting time to work in small groups, one-on one, or by providing a time they can come to you for help. These teacher-student relationships also can be accomplished by having a good communication system. Classroom communication can be a monthly calendar sent home, ClassDojo, Google Classroom, or other classroom communication apps. Overall, classroom management is a helpful skill to have in your teacher tool belt. 

Three children raising their hands in a classroom.

I believe that classroom management is one of the most important aspects of being a teacher. In my experience, it is best to to introduce your schedule, routines, rituals, transitions, and rules at the beginning of the year. This sets the expectations for how you want the classroom to operate throughout the year. There are no surprises and everyone is on the same page. Implementing everything at the beginning of the year also institutes consistency. I work with 5 year olds. They like to know how long they get to play in centers or how long they have to do their activity or craft. They also like to know why they are doing things like cleaning up or lining up. Implementing the routines and transitions early on, keeps the children constantly in the know so they don't have to worry if they have enough time to finish their skyscraper in block center or their picture they're drawing to take home to mom. At my school, we use an app called Procare. Every morning I share my lesson plans for the parents to share with their children on their way to school so the kids know what we are doing before they even walk through the doors of the building. This eases children's minds and gets them prepared for the day. When we start group time, the children get to raise their hands and tell me something they already know on the topic, something they want to learn, or one question they have about the topic. The children knowing to raise their hands is a rule. Hand raising keeps the classroom from getting too loud or from children trying to yell on top of each other. When children raise their hands, the classroom environment is "managed" and positive for all involved. Imagine the children never raising their hands and always shouting at you! That's why classroom management needs to be implemented at the start of the school year, so everyone can have a fun, positive, structured environment that promotes learning all year long.