This spring is presenting new challenges for teachers all across the country. Some of us are getting ready to go back to the classroom for the first time this year. Some of us have been in person all year, but we are about to get new virtual kids. Some of you have been in the classroom all year, but your class is experiencing spring fever. Whether it is the beginning of the year, or, you want to review your classroom expectations, I have a few ideas for you.
Read Aloud
It all starts with a read aloud, right? The best way to manage a classroom is through explicitly teaching expectations. If students don’t know what is expected, they won’t follow those expectations and your classroom will be chaotic. There are so many great read alouds that teach about classroom expectations. I love We Don’t Eat Our Classmates. It is a book about a dinosaur who is excited to go to school, but doesn’t realize she can’t eat her classmates. She has to learn how to practice self control (because children our delicious). You can purchase my Interactive Read Aloud for We Don’t Eat Our Classmates here. I have a great post about books on Kindness HERE. This will also help to teach classroom expectations.
Practice
I think we often think students know how to behave in a classroom. Often times, they don’t. We have to teach them. After I read a story, I like to have students practice the skills. We start with picture sorts. Then, I have students physically practice. We practice lining up, raising our hands, using quiet voices, taking supplies out and putting them away, following playground rules. If you have been in the classroom all year, think about what they are struggling with right now and practice those skills. Part of spring fever means kids forget how to act. Rather then get frustrated that kids have forgotten how to be students, we practice the skills we learned in the fall. If you didn’t have a class in the fall, practice as though they are brand new students, because guess what? they are brand new students to the classroom. Being an in person student is so different then being virtual. We practice how to handle to be a good friend. If you need scenario cards to practice, check out my Kindness Resource. It has scenario cards to be a good friend.
Visuals
I love visuals and think they are an essential piece to classroom management. Often times we throw so many words at kids, they can’t process what we are saying. Visuals help students to understand what you are saying. I use visuals for my classroom schedule. Classroom schedules support students by reducing their anxiety and letting them know what is coming up next in their day. I also use visuals for directions. I also do a lot of pocket charts activities so students can visualize what I am saying. I made these FREE Whole body Listening visuals that you can use in your classroom. I look to put them in the front of the classroom. I will reference them throughout the day. We review before a lesson. I point to the picture when I want to point out what a student is doing well. For example, I might say, “I like how Ava’s eyes are watching,” and point to the picture of the girl watching. If you want these FREE cards, click here.
If you would like more tips and tricks for classroom management, check out this blog post I wrote in January.
