3 Keys to Successful Classroom Management

Did classroom management get you down this year? You're not alone! It's tough to train and manage a class well. There are lots of pieces to successful classroom management. But, let's start with just a few.

Here's 3 Essentials:

1. Simplicity

The more complicated your classroom management system, the harder it is to implement on a daily basis. Here's where I put on my inner Marie Kondo of the Classroom Management world. Simple is best. Simple expectations and consequences are easily remembered and followed by everyone. I have only 2 written expectations (rules) for students and myself. They cover pretty much everything. You can do more if you prefer. But when you get to more than 5 expectations or rules, it's too complicated.

2. No Rewards for Expected Behavior

While I know this is something many of you don't want to hear, I firmly believe it needs to be said out loud. I have 5 kids of my own and more than 20 years of teaching experience. Begging or bribing students to behave with rewards is detrimental to students' long-term well being. I don't give rewards for behaving well except that it feels good to get so much done and get along with others. It feels good to take charge of ourselves, to be in control of our own behavior. That IS the reward. For some students, this will be difficult to understand at first, and yes, it can take a bit longer to instill this in students. Your students will get it, and you will have a great year, if you are consistent, respectful and still firm.

When talking with a class about who you are together, set the expectation with your words. Give your class a name, an identity - Team Burns, whatever you like. Then, use it when you speak of you and your class as a team or tribe. Here on Team Burns are kind to each other. We are helpful. We care about everyone who enters our room. I emphasize how good it feels to be in charge of our own actions. Regularly model and practice what that looks like and sounds like with your students. This will make a world of difference.

The students will rise to the occasion if we give them the opportunity and a group identity. But if we micro manage our students, they'll let us take all the responsibility. Letting students suffer the consequences of their actions is the kindest thing you can do for them long-term. Be make sure you (and your class) give them a hand back up when they fall and help them start over. 

3. Consistency

Consistency is the key to success in creating a well-run classroom with a great culture. Without consistency, nothing we try will work. We will always have to micro-manage our students if we are inconsistent. So, look yourself in the mirror every morning and consciously decide to be consistent. Visualize (see below) what that looks like for any area you struggled with the day before.

Make a list of what's not going well in your classroom (or didn't go well this year). Choose just one or two items on your list to reframe at a time.

Write down how you want your classroom to run instead. What's your dream? Think about each sticky spot in your day and each student situation you encountered that didn't go well and create a visualization for how it could go differently. What will you say and do that's different than before? How will you hold to your boundaries? Each day, take the time to read and visualize each of your new scenarios. Add in scenarios one at a time until you have them all internalized. 

Here's my promise.

If you work on this 4+ days each week for the summer, you'll start your year in a great place. 

You've got this!