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16 Creative Classroom Management Strategies for Elementary Teachers

Do you feel like you have a good grasp on classroom management strategies, but keep hitting a wall with your students? Or maybe you are a new teacher and need some tips on classroom management. Are your students well-behaved, but they never stop talking?

This is a topic that many teachers can relate to! Myself included. It can be so frustrating to come up with and implement classroom management plans that sometimes just don’t work. Or they do work, but the students are just a chatty group.

I’ve been there (am there) my friend. My current group of students is great…but man do they love to talk. I am not of the belief that no one should ever talk in a classroom. There is a time and a place for it though. 

I spent the first month (or two) of my school year feeling stressed and overwhelmed with the non-stop chatter. So, how did I go from losing my sanity to feeling more calm throughout our day? Grab your favorite beverage and cozy up for my classroom management tips and tricks!

Why is Classroom Management Important?

This is the age-old question of how to run a successful classroom for the school year. I think back to my days of student teaching and I’m embarrassed by how little I actually knew. The way I ran my classroom then compared to now was very different. It took me a few years to perfect my classroom management plan. It’s not perfect, but it does help keep me sane.

Classroom management is essential for creating a positive, engaging, and productive learning environment. It is crucial for the following:

  • Promotes learning
  • Fosters a positive environment
  • Encourages student engagement
  • Supports differentiated instruction
  • Minimizes disruptions
  • Builds relationships
  • Prepares students for life

 

In other words, classroom management is the foundation for building a successful school year.

My Philosophy for Classroom Management

Every teacher has their own ideas and philosophy for managing their classroom and students. If you are a new teacher, speak to your administrators and colleagues about what works best in your school setting. If you’re a veteran teacher, think about what works well and doesn’t with this new generation of students.

Think about the following guidelines when creating your classroom management plan:

  • Respect and dignity
  • Clear expectations
  • Positive reinforcement
  • Fairness & consistency
  • Individualized approach
  • Empowerment & responsibility
  • Continuous reflection & adaptation

✨ Want more details and information? Sign up for my classroom management planning guide. ✨

Classroom Management Tips for New Teachers

Are you a new(ish) teacher looking for tips? Or maybe even a veteran that needs some help? Classroom management is a continuous practice we teachers need to improve. Every year is different because of the kids. Here are a few tips to help out those new(ish) teachers!

  1. Establish Clear Expectations from Day One
    • Clearly communicate your expectations about behavior, assignments, and participation from the first day of school.
  2. Build Positive Relationships
    • Get to know your students. You don’t have to spend one-on-one time with them. Ask them questions during a morning meeting to get to know them better. Make connections on how you feel and think about those questions.
  3. Plan Engaging Lessons
    • Nothing is more boring than listening to a teacher drone on. Get the students involved in the lessons and keep them focused on learning. This will help minimize disruptions.
  4. Use Positive Reinforcement
    • We all want recognition for a job well done. You can give verbal praise, a reward, or even a class reward.
  5. Address Behavior Issues in Private
    • Try to avoid embarrassing the student (I know it’s hard). You may call them out to the hallway or to your teacher’s area. Discuss the issue and come up with a solution.
  6. Be Consistent with Consequences
    • Consistency is key for positive and negative behavior. Did they do a good job lining up the first time? Give them praise! Did they do a poor job lining up? Make them do it over.
  7. Use Non-Verbal Cues
    • Over time you will perfect the “teacher look”. Until then, think of ways to give non-verbal cues to the students, so you don’t have to disrupt the entire class.
  8. Encourage Active Participation
    • Make sure all students feel comfortable sharing their ideas and thoughts. Encourage them to ask questions, participate in discussions, and lead in group activities.
  9. Stay Calm & Confident
    • Even in challenging situations…I know…easier said than done. Take a breath, call for help if needed, and remember that they are just kids. I’ve even walked away to ignore the behavior and that student is no longer getting the attention.
  10. Seek a Mentor & Support
    • Don’t be afraid to ask for advice or help from colleagues. They can give you ideas and even support when dealing with these issues.

✨ Want more details and information? Sign up for my classroom management planning guide. ✨

Classroom Management Tips for Elementary Teachers (After the School Year Starts)

  1. Reinforce, reinforce, reinforce: make sure to reinforce the expectations set at the beginning of the school year. 
  2. Build positive relationships: continue to create those relationships with your students. Talk to them while on recess duty, in the morning, or at the end of the day.
  3. Use a reinforcement system: focus on the positive. Implement the system used by your school or create your own. Give kids praise and rewards.
  4. Integrate interactive learning: giving students a hands-on approach to learning will help keep them engaged.
  5. Communicate with parents: it’s not always an easy task, but keep an open line of communication with parents/guardians.
  6. Assess & reflect: think about your current classroom dynamics. What is working well and what needs to change? Each group of students is different. Find what works for you and them.

Remember, no one teacher is perfect and has the best classroom management. It is something we all deal with in ebbs and flows. Take the time to reflect and determine your next steps. Don’t forget, you are not alone. Reach out to your colleagues and administrators to help! Every classroom is unique. Feel free to adapt these tips to fit your teaching style and students’ needs.

I’d love to hear your classroom management ideas in the comments!

Love this teaching journey for you.