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Fun Classroom Reading Activities for Engaging English Language Learners

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Fun Classroom Reading Activities for Engaging English Language Learners

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Could be entertaining classroom reading activities if I every have an ELL in any of my classes

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People learn to read better when they're having fun. They relax and lose some of the anxiety that often comes with learning to read a new language. Here are five english activities to make learning English a little more fun!

1. Play Trivia

You will likely want to write some questions out ahead of time. Make the questions really easy-it's not the content we're learning, but how to communicate questions and answers. You may vary the difficulty of the questions based on the age and skill level of your students. If you are teaching a diverse group of learners, you may even want to target specific students with specific questions, e.g., give the more advanced students the more difficult questions. You can make it more fun by handing out buzzers or bells-the first person to "ring in" gets to answer the question. Just make sure that everyone gets a turn.

2. Role Play

Set up specific scenarios in your classrooms, scenarios that your students will likely face. Have one student order a pizza from another student. Have a student ask for directions. Or have one student invite another student to a party. Some students will need your help to get through the scene. Other students will be able to get through a scene without assistance. For more advanced learners, there is immense value in being the secondary role player, e.g., the person receiving the pizza order or the party invitation.

3. Turn on the Subtitles!

Find a television program that is appropriate for your class' age and learning level. (Humor is a plus.) Watch the program with closed captioning. The students will hear the words, see the people speaking, and see the text all at the same time!

4. Play Word Association

Have the students sit in a circle. Start the game with a simple word and ask the person to your left to say the first (English) word that comes to mind. Then, the person to his or her left should say the first word that comes to his or her mind. Be sure to stop every so often to debrief and define any mysterious words. A variation of this game is to have each student say a word that begins with the last letter of the previous word, e.g., word, donkey, yodel, loon.

5. Play Word Lottery

Before class, print out dozens of simple nouns and verbs. Cut them into little slips of paper and put them into a hat or bag. Invite each student to draw two words from the hat (you can use more for more advanced students). Give them each a minute to come up with a sentence that uses those two words, and makes sense. Then invite each of them to share their sentence with the class. Collect the words and go again. It's okay to repeat words, as the repetition helps!

Pinterest Reference Guide:

More ESL Teaching Tips:
Teaching Reading Strategies Supporting ESL Students: 10 Tips For Mainstream Teachers The Essential, But Often Forgotten Aspect of Effective ESL Reading Instruction Differentiated Reading Instruction for Multilevel Adult ESL Classrooms - Webinar Q&A Classroom Practices That Accelerate Language Acquisition for ESL Students 4 Key Differences in Teaching ESL to Adults vs. Children Robin Merrill is a children's book author, teacher, and writes for Teacher Certification Degrees, a career site providing teacher interviews and resources for individuals interested in becoming a teacher.

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5 Fun Classroom Reading Activities for Engaging English Language Learners

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People learn to read better when they're having fun. They relax and lose some of the anxiety that often comes with learning to read a new language. Here are five english activities to make learning English a little more fun! You will likely want to write some questions out ahead of time.

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Ideas for Creativity in the Elementary Classroom

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Ideas for Creativity in the Elementary Classroom

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Useful for creating creative activities for elementary students as a whole

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What is the second teacher doing that the first one isn't? He or she is using creativity in that classroom. Creativity makes a huge difference. Creativity is vital for a classroom to be successful. There is a common misconception that the word "creative" has to do mostly with the arts. But being artistic is only a small part of creativity. While any classroom environment would benefit from a teacher blessed with the gift of artistic talent, creativity is many other things.

Creativity is innovation.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. If something isn't working, then it's broken and needs to be fixed. Come up with something else that will work for your students.

Creativity is thinking outside the box.
Everything doesn't always have to be black and white. Sometimes the oddball activities are the ones that work.

Creativity is improvisation.
Things don't always turn out the way you planned. When I've realized that a lesson wasn't working midway through, I literally tossed it out and started over. I tried a different angle (in this case, incorporating a movie that my students liked), and it worked.

Creativity is professional growth.
We don't always have all of the answers. If you can't figure out what to do, use your coworkers as resources. You might find some really great ideas that make sense for your students. Also, look at research and see what has worked for other teachers around the world. Use resources like KS2, hubbardscupboard.org, and starfall.com for some fun engaging activities.

Creativity is being a risk taker or mold breaker.
I have had many crazy ideas for things to try in the classroom. Some have worked and some haven't, but I found that trying was better than being stuck in the same pattern that isn't working.

Creativity is passion.
Be passionate about what you are doing. You are there to inspire students to become lifelong learners. If you want them to love learning, you have to love what you are teaching.

Suggested Activities: The Game of Learning

For the first six activities, seat your students in a circle and introduce a ball or something else they can pass easily between them.

1. "I know a word"
You can begin this skills game by saying, "I know a word that starts with the same sound you hear at the beginning of butterfly." Students will raise their hands, and you choose one to tell you a word the starts with "B." Once they tell you the word, toss them the ball. They choose someone else to tell them another word that begins with that letter, passing the ball to the student who gets it right. As the game continues, change the letter every so often. Play until everyone has had a turn. You can use this game for beginning sounds, ending sounds, middle sounds etc.

2. Rhyme time
Say, "I need a word that rhymes with cat." Pass the ball to someone once they give you a correct rhyming word. Keep changing the starting word and continue the game until all kids have gone.

3. Practice counting
You can have your class practice counting by twos, fives and tens. Pass the ball clockwise or counterclockwise, with the student who receives it saying the number that comes next. For example, you say, "We are going to count by fives. Five!" The person next to you says "ten," the next one says "fifteen," and so on.

4. Spelling review
For older kids, you can pass the ball and go through your spelling words one letter at a time. For example, you say, "We're going to spell the word t heir, as in 'This is their ball.'" The first person says "T," the second person says "H," the third person says "E," and so on. If one says the wrong letter, the next person says correct letter and fixes the mistake.

5. "I need a synonym"
This is a great vocabulary building exercise. You can use the ball or a pair of flyswatters, depending on the age of your students. You say, "I need a synonym for mad." Choose someone to give you another word that means the same thing, such as angry, furious and enraged. For older kids, you can put a list of synonyms on the board and divide the class into two teams. Have one person from each team come up and compete. Whoever slaps the board with the flyswatter and says the correct synonym wins a point for their team. In the end all of your students win a better vocabulary.

6. Reinforce other skills
What other subjects are you teaching? You could adapt these games to fit pretty much anything. "I need a name of an explorer." "I need you to name one of the phases of matter." "I need to know one of the reasons for the Civil War." Be creative!

7. Roll dice to have your students answer story questions.
"What is the plot of the story?" you might ask them. "What is the setting?" You can introduce more reflective questions such as, "Why did this character do what he or she did?" and "What was the author's purpose?" You can write these questions on cards or purchase them from reallygoodstuff.com.

8. Sight Word Slap Game
Write your sight words on the board. Separate your class into two random teams. Let one person from each team step forward and hold a fly swatter. Call out one of the sight words. The first one to slap the correct sight word gets a point for their team. Continue until everyone has gone. This is great for helping sight word recognition.

Suggested Activities: The Artsy Side of Creative

9. Use different voices or accents when reading stories to the class.

10. Dress in costumes of storybook characters to leave a lasting impression, or let students dress up as characters to retell stories.

11. Turn your room into the environment of what you are learning about. When the class is learning about fairy tales, turn your classroom into a castle. When you're learning about animals, turn your classroom into a jungle.

12. Create class songs about topics they need to know, or use the music of singers like Hap Palmer and Jack Hartman. You might also borrow songs and games from coworkers. Songs are catchy, and children learn quickly from them.

Creative Science

13. When teaching about the properties of friction, use KS2 for interactive projects you can do in small groups or as a class using a smart board. You might ask your students slide down the hallway first in their socks, then barefoot, and have them journal about the different amounts of friction.

14. When teaching phases of matter, drop some food coloring into beakers of cold and warm water and note the difference. Then pour the contents of one beaker in a bag and put it in the freezer. The next day, compare the liquid bag with the solid chunk of ice and note differences.

15. Use the ice from the above activity and talk about gravity. Stand on a chair and discuss what will happen if you drop the ice, and if it matters which way you drop it. Let your students predict the possible outcomes.

Incorporate Your Students' Favorite Things

16. Survey your students at the beginning of the year. Get to know them and what they like. Then make a point of using their names, favorite foods, games, books, etc. in word problems, writing exercises, shared reading and many other activities. People do better and learn more when working with things they like. As adults we know that we don't want to do something if it's not fun. The same goes for kids.

Creative time savers

17. Have your students rely on each other as resources. For each table, pick a team leader to try answering his or her classmates' questions before they come to you for help.

18. Pair your higher achievers with lower achievers to study sight words, letters or other skills.

19. Put them into literature circles to discuss books.

20. Have them read one another's writing to check for completion or suggest ideas before they come see you.

21. Use the Leap Frog Reader system. You can plug it into the computer to get student scores on activities, which will provide guidelines for what you need to work on. This is a great way to collect data!

22. Have a "math problem of the day" journal to review skills in which your students scored low on assessments. Put the problem on the board and have them copy it into their journals at the beginning of the day. You can take a minute or two after they have completed it to review the problem with the class. Check notebooks later for understanding.

Live Like a Turtle

For those of you trying to figure out how you'll find the time to integrate all this into an already busy teaching day, here's some food for thought. It will take longer to teach a lesson three times than it will to teach it once using a little creativity. Make time for creativity. Most of the above creative activities take only a few minutes to do. They also require very little prep time and cost very little money, if any. So go ahead -- be a risk taker and try at least one of these ideas this week. I'm sure you won't regret it.

As I said above, everyone has bad days, but overall my classroom is a happy place to be. It's like this because I use creativity to make learning fun. I live by these words that Dr. Ruth once said: "Live life every day like a turtle." To get anywhere, a turtle has to stick its neck out and take a risk. So take risks every day. It's the only way to truly live and make a difference in the world.

What are some of your favorite tips and tricks for bringing creativity into your elementary students?

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22 Simple Ideas for Harnessing Creativity in the Elementary Classroom

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Look through the door of one classroom and you might see the students hunched over, not engaged, even frowning. Look through the door of another classroom, and you might see a room full of lively students, eager, engaged and participating. What is the second teacher doing that the first one isn't?

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Useful for researching some hands-on activities for 1st graders

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1st Grade Activities for Kids | Education.com

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These first grade activities are desigined to target the skills that are covered in science, math, reading, and writing in the first grade.

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Includes Activities for Teaching Students with Autism

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Includes Activities for Teaching Students with Autism

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Useful for creating activities for teaching students with ASD

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Even if you don't have a child with autism in your class this year, you will probably teach one at some point. Autism is seen in around 1 in 59 children, a figure that has risen as clinicians have gotten better at recognizing autistic symptoms.[1] Supporting children with autism can make a world of difference in their lives, which is why it's important for educators to accommodate these students as needed.

Want to better understand and support students with autism at your school? Read on to learn more about what autism is, which challenges students with autism face, and a few tips and lesson ideas for helping them make the most with their education.

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

The definition of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that causes children to be hypersensitive to sensory stimuli. We use the term "spectrum disorder" because characteristics of autism vary depending on the child and can range from mild to severe.[2] That being said, students with autism often have trouble communicating with others and exhibit repetitive behavior.

While it's not certain what causes autism in children, the strongest factor seems to be genetics. A study involving forty-three pairs of twins found that genes can highly predict a person's likelihood of having autism.[4] While some environmental factors seem to increase the chance that a child develops autism, one thing is certain-researchers have not found evidence that vaccines are one of these factors.[5]

When working with students with autism, schedule a meeting with the child's parents or a school specialist at the beginning of the year. That way, you can get a sense of your student's personal needs and how you can best help. Try not to assume which symptoms a child has or try to self-diagnose a student with autism. When in doubt, the best person to discuss any questions with is always their parent or guardian.

What Challenges Do Students with ASD Experience in School?

While teachers often ask if autism is a learning disability, the answer isn't as straightforward as you'd think. Autism itself isn't a learning disability, but there are some learning difficulties associated with autism. For example, students diagnosed with autism are more likely to develop attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia.[6] When teaching students with ASD, it's helpful to watch for symptoms of learning disorders and refer them to a specialist if needed.

Children with autism are also more likely to develop emotional disorders due to the unique challenges they face. Without support in the classroom, these students are more likely to feel isolated or misunderstood. At least one in three people with autism with develop mental health issues like depression or anxiety in their lives.[7] And since the risk of self-harm behaviors is 28 times more likely for children with autism, making sure your students receive the emotional support they need is essential.[8]

Another issue many students with autism face is bullying. Around 34% of children with autism report being picked on at school to the point that it distresses them.[9] Because these kids may think or act differently from others, other students may tease them or leave them out of their friend circles. That's why it's important to educate all children in your school about autism, not just the student with ASD.

If these issues aren't resolved early on, they can affect students on the autism spectrum through their entire educational career. Children with autism are less likely to pursue employment or college after high school, in part because of these difficulties.[10] Luckily, teaching students with autism strategies to overcome their personal challenges can help them reach their potential.

Why Autism Awareness Month? Dispelling Myths About Autism

Every year in April, we celebrate Autism Awareness Month to shed light on misconceptions about autism and help students with ASD find the support they need. Here are a few myths along with the real facts to help you understand more about your students with autism.

"All children with autism have intellectual disabilities."

Because autism is a spectrum disorder, it comes in a broad range of symptoms and severity.[11] In terms of how autism affects learning in school, some students may have cognitive disabilities while others might not. The best way to know for sure is to discuss their symptoms with their parents or a school specialist.

"Only boys can develop autism. Girls with autism are rare or nonexistent."

While it's true that boys are more likely to develop autism, girls can have this condition, too. The ratio of boys to girls with autism is estimated at around 3:1, but girls with ASD are less likely to be formally diagnosed.[12] Some researchers have theorized that autism symptoms can be different in men and women, causing girls with ASD to be misdiagnosed or underreported.[13]

"Students with autism cannot make friends or feel emotions."

Children with autism feel emotions just like everybody else, even if they show it in different ways.[14] Most students with autism want friends, but if they struggle with social skills, they might not know how.

Luckily, teaching students with autism key social skills can help them bond with their classmates. If a child has trouble fitting in, try playing autism awareness activities or teaching a lesson about diversity with your whole class to help all of your students feel welcome.

"Autism can be cured."

Since autism is a neurological disorder, symptoms can be alleviated but not "cured" entirely. But while children with autism might struggle with some things, they're just as capable of growth as other students. Finding activities and learning strategies that address their challenges can help them turn their weaknesses into strengths.

"Children with autism will never achieve as much as their peers."

Beloved poets, talented musicians and artists, and scientists who shaped how we see the world today have been included on lists of famous people with autism. Our communities would not be the same without people on the autism spectrum. While students with autism may have different weaknesses than their classmates, they often have plenty of strengths, too.

Fun Classroom Activities for Teaching Students with Autism

Sometimes, educational strategies for autism may differ from the lesson plans you make for the rest of your class. But thankfully, autism activities can be as simple as stocking sensory toys in your classroom or reading picture books about social skills. Use these four activities for students with autism to help these students learn academic concepts.

Sensory Activities

Because children with autism are sensitive to sensory input, activities that involve their five senses can help ground them in the present.[15] If a child with ASD is having a hard time focus in class, try giving them a special sensory toy to play with. If possible, try to work the sensory item into their assignment.

Exercise Games

Studies show that regular exercise can help alleviate symptoms of autism and improve social skills.[16] Try planning outdoor activities that get your students moving and tie into your lesson plans. You could, for example, play hopscotch to teach kindergarteners how to count or plan a kickball game as a class reward. Once your students come back inside, everyone will have gotten their wiggles out and be ready to work.

SEL Picture Books

Stories are a great method for teaching children with autism important social emotional learning (SEL) skills. You can read SEL picture books as a class or assign them to your student as independent reading.

Here are a few books about social-emotional skills you can read to your student with autism:

No, David! by David Shannon

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip and Erin Stead

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

Reading Time

Since school can involve so much sensory stimulation, a full day of class can leave students with ASD feeling overwhelmed. Children with autism benefit from quiet breaks throughout the day, so try planning a quiet reading activity as a class to give everyone time to de-stress and work independently.[17] Or if your student with autism is having trouble focusing, ask them if they'd like to spend some time reading in the school library.

Tips for Working with Children on the Autism Spectrum

The more you know about how to support students with autism, the better prepared these children will be for academic success.
Sources:
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Data & Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder. Retrieved from cdc.gov: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html.[1]

Iowa Department of Education. Talking to Parents About Autism. Retrieved from educateiowa.gov: http://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/Parent-Factsheets_April2010_Autism.pdf.[2]

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. What are the symptoms of autism? Retrieved from nichd.nih.gov: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/autism/conditioninfo/symptoms.[3]

Baily, A., Couteur, A.L., Gottesman, I., and Bolton, P. Autism as a strongly genetic disorder: evidence from a British twin study. Psychological Medicine, July 2009, 25(1), pp. 63-77.[4]

Landrigan, P.J. What causes autism? Exploring the environmental contribution. Current Opinion in Pediatrics, April 2010, 22(2), pp. 219-25.[5]

Montes, G., and Halterman, J.S. Characteristics of School-Age Children with Autism. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, October 2006, 27(5), pp. 379-85.[6]

National Autistic Society. Autism facts and history. Retrieved from autism.org.uk: https://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is/myths-facts-stats.aspx.[7]

Mayes, S.D., Gorman, A.A., Hillwig-Garcia, J., and Syed, E. What causes autism? Exploring the environmental contribution. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, january 2013, 7(1), pp. 109-19.[8]

National Autistic Society. Autism facts and history. Retrieved from autism.org.uk: https://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is/myths-facts-stats.aspx.[9]

Ibid.[10]

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. What are the symptoms of autism? Retrieved from nichd.nih.gov: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/autism/conditioninfo/symptoms.[11]

Loomes, R., Hull, L., and Mandy, W.P. What Is the Male-to-Female Ratio in Autism Spectrum Disorder? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, June 2017, 56(6), pp. 466-74.[12]

Bargiela, S., Steward, R., and Mandy, W. The Experiences of Late-diagnosed Women with Autism Spectrum Conditions: An Investigation of the Female Autism Phenotype. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, October 2016, 46(10), pp. 3281-94.[13]

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. What are the symptoms of autism? Retrieved from nichd.nih.gov: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/autism/conditioninfo/symptoms.[14]

Greene, K. Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Retrieved from scholastic.com: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/teaching-students-autism-spectrum-disorder/.[15]

Healy, S. The effect of physical activity interventions on youth with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis. Periodical from the International Society of Autism Research, 2018, 27(5), pp. 818-33.[16]

Kluth, P. Supporting Students with Autism: 10 Ideas for Inclusive Classrooms. Retrieved from readingrockets.org: http://www.readingrockets.org/article/supporting-students-autism-10-ideas-inclusive-classrooms.[17]

Manolis, L. 6 Tips for Teaching Students with Autism. Retrieved from teachforamerica.org: https://www.teachforamerica.org/stories/6-tips-for-teaching-students-with-autism.[18]

Ibid.[19]

Kluth, P. Supporting Students with Autism: 10 Ideas for Inclusive Classrooms. Retrieved from readingrockets.org: http://www.readingrockets.org/article/supporting-students-autism-10-ideas-inclusive-classrooms.[20]

Moreno, S., and O'Neal, C. Tips for Teaching High-Functioning People with Autism. Retrieved from iidc.indiana.edu: https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/pages/Tips-for-Teaching-High-Functioning-People-with-Autism.[21]

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Tips for Teaching Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder - Waterford.org

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Learn more about what autism is, which challenges students with autism face, and a few tips for helping them make the most with their education.

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Useful for creating fun first day activities for kindergarteners

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Stay up to date on all the latest from Hey Teach: Get periodic emails that include exclusive content, special guides, and other great resources you won't find anywhere else!

The resources to thrive-and the laughs to survive-as an educator.

The first day of school can be exciting and stressful. It's a big adjustment for kindergartners, some of whom have never been in school before. Other little learners may have a rough start adjusting from their preschool teacher and classroom to a new instructor and environment. Since the beginning of school is so important for bonding, I've put together a list of a few of my favorite first day of school ideas. These icebreakers get everyone acquainted and start the new school year on a positive note.

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4 First Day of School Ideas for Kindergarten Teachers

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Stay up to date on all the latest from Hey Teach: Get periodic emails that include exclusive content, special guides, and other great resources you won't find anywhere else! The resources to thrive-and the laughs to survive-as an educator. The first day of school can be exciting and stressful.

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"The Biggest Lesson of My First Year Teaching"

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"The Biggest Lesson of My First Year Teaching"

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An article from a teacher who was struggling in her first year of teaching with classroom management and feeling connected with her classroom. She covers how she worked to correct it including building more relationships with her students.

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The Biggest Lesson of My First Year Teaching

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A veteran teacher shares how she learned the value of prioritizing relationships when she was just starting out in the classroom.

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"How to Open Class Participation to Everyone"

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"How to Open Class Participation to Everyone"

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This article was written by a teacher sharing strategies for encouraging class participation and making sure everyone, including ELLs and other students, has the opportunity to be engaged and participating.

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How to Open Class Participation to Everyone

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Having a wide range of participation tools—in addition to cold calling—helps teachers encourage students of all backgrounds and dispositions to contribute.

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An article written by a high school teacher who observed elementary teachers in order to improve their own teaching. They identified strategies that elementary school teachers implement in their classrooms and the benefit they give to the students, whether they realize it or not.

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Middle and high school teachers can adapt several strategies used by their elementary school peers.

© shutterstock/rawpixel.com

After more than 12 years of teaching high school English, I experienced what some teachers might call a bit of a mid-career crisis. I craved professional development that didn't come in the form of a typical workshop. In an attempt to use other teachers' classrooms as my own personal curriculum, I decided to leave my job and take a position as an upper elementary instructional coach.

I had the opportunity to observe how effective elementary school teachers create safe, engaging, and productive learning environments for their students. Thinking back to my time teaching high school, I realized that many of these elementary school strategies could be used-with some modifications-with middle and high school students.

Brain Breaks and Focused Attention Activities

When I first witnessed an elementary teacher stopping a lesson so that students could jog in place for a minute, I thought it was just a strategy to keep kids from bouncing off the walls. But over time I realized that the teachers who incorporated frequent brain breaks throughout their lessons were able to keep their students on task for longer bursts of time than those who didn't.

It turns out that both children and teenagers benefit from a one- to three-minute mental and physical break every 30 minutes so that their brains can keep up with the academic and social demands of the classroom.

Taking deep breaths-with meditation apps like Calm-gives students an opportunity to focus on their breathing and harness their energy.

Time-lapse videos (such as nature or food videos) sustain students' attention so they can refocus on learning tasks.

A game of thumb war or rock-paper-scissors gives students an opportunity to partner up for a fun, no-prep activity.

While jogging in place isn't always an option in a room full of teenagers, here are some focused attention activities that do work:

Morning Meeting and More

Morning meetings, student jobs, and other cute elementary classroom traditions are not just for fun. I found that elementary school teachers who used these approaches-which emphasize values like community, respect, and responsibility-had a far easier time implementing academic curricula than those who didn't.

I also observed that the students who didn't appear to feel safe, heard, or seen in the classroom didn't willingly participate in workshops, centers, or other activities-indicating a need for the teacher to reach out or make changes in classroom management.

Set and model clear expectations for kind, constructive student language and behavior. Anticipate, model, and explain behavioral norms before negative incidents occur.

Greet students by name at the door at the start of each class period so they feel seen.

Create an I Wonder wall where students respond to thought-provoking questions. This helps students feel heard and validated. You might designate I Wonder Wednesdays, or mix it up with Thankful Thursdays, Motivational Mondays, etc.

Here are some ways middle and high school teachers can create safe learning communities in their classrooms:

The Value of Manipulatives

Math manipulatives, such as colorful tiles and base 10 blocks, are found in many elementary classrooms. These manipulatives help break down abstract concepts into smaller parts so students can play around with and test different scenarios and solutions to complex problems.

As concepts in math, science, and the humanities get more complex, providing middle and high school students with a space to break down and manipulate abstract ideas allows them to create their own well-supported, logical arguments and proofs.

Online simulators-like Gizmos-allow math and science students to observe, test, graph, and manipulate hypotheses.

Concept maps allow students to visually assess relationships between concepts, problems, and ideas. Once students create maps-using software like Bubbl.us, Coggle, or Padlet-they can make arguments and observations about information.

Here are two ways middle and high school teachers can bring the benefits of manipulatives to their lessons:

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Middle and high school teachers can adapt several strategies used by their elementary school peers. © shutterstock/rawpixel.com After more than 12 years of teaching high school English, I experienced what some teachers might call a bit of a mid-career crisis. I craved professional development that didn't come in the form of a typical workshop.

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"Kindergarten Teachers Speak Out for Children's Happiness"

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"Kindergarten Teachers Speak Out for Children's Happiness"

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An article about the current state of kindergartens and the long term affect it has on students, which are pretty much solely negative past the 3rd grade. It also includes a letter from the Brookline teacher protest that occurred a while back demanding better for their kindergarteners.

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The research is clear. Academic training in kindergarten has no long-term benefit. In fact, it may cause long-term harm. It does not reduce the education gap between the rich and the poor, which is the usual reason offered for such training. It slightly increases academic test-scores in first grade, but by third grade the benefit is lost and, according to some of the best studies, by fourth grade those subjected to academic kindergartens are doing worse-academically as well as socially and emotionally-than those who were in play-based kindergartens (for some of the evidence, see here).

The views of kindergarten teachers are also clear (see here). I have spoken at many early education conferences over the past several years, and at each one I heard from teachers about unhappy little children who are being deprived of play and forced to do increasing amounts of "seat work." I also hear regularly from kindergarten teachers who are resigning or taking early retirement because they see that the policies they are forced to enforce are harming children. We are losing our best teachers because they are the ones who are most likely to see what is happening and least likely to tolerate it.

So why do we continue on this trend of depriving little children of play and joyful group activities, from which they learn so much, and subjecting them ever more to meaningless, shallow "academic work," from which they learn so little? The answer, as far as I can tell, is that the politicians who make education policy and many of the administrators who enforce it know little about children or learning, and don't pay attention to the two groups of people who do: those who conduct research on child development, and the teachers who see directly how the policies affect children.

There was a time when teachers could use their experience, judgment, and common sense to vary what they did in the classroom to respond to children's varying individual needs. But now teachers are increasingly seen as tools of the administration, to carry out the policies that constitute the latest fad-so many hours of this and of that, and everything the same for every child regardless of the child's interests and dispositions. Children are data points, not individuals. This is "No Child Left Behind," "Common Core," and, heaven forbid, "Race to the Top."

Race to the Top; what a horrid metaphor for education. A race? Everyone is on the same track, seeing how fast they can go? Racing toward what? The top? The top of what? Education is not a race, it's an amble. Real education only occurs when everyone is ambling along their own path.

I have often wondered what would happen if the teachers who can see what is happening would stand up and protest, not individually, but together, as a united force. I was fascinated, therefore, to read this past June about the united stand taken that month by kindergarten teachers in Brookline, Massachusetts, not far from my home. Twenty-seven of the 34 public school kindergarten teachers in Brookline signed a letter that they read aloud at a meeting of the Brookline School Committee.

Here, in part, is what the letter said (for the full letter, see here):

"We have dedicated our careers to teaching 5- and 6-year-olds, and we see that some current practices are leaving an everlasting negative impact on our students' social-emotional well-being. Therefore, we are here tonight to share with you our concerns about a new kind of gap that is emerging in Brookline Kindergarten. It is a "reality gap"-a gap between the way research shows that young children learn best and the curriculum the district requires us to teach. It is a reality gap between Brookline educational values and what is actually happening to children in our classrooms.

"We have all worked with our literacy coaches and specialists to implement the various reading and writing lessons with fidelity. However, block scheduling-90-minute reading and writing blocks-comes at the expense of thematic units, play-based learning, and social-emotional opportunities.

"We are seeing the effects of this loss. We see many of our Kindergartners struggle with anxiety about school because they know they are expected to read ... It is now common to hear their little voices announce to us, "I don't know how to read, I hate reading, I hate school, I am not good at anything." This is our greatest concern.

"Current academic pressures on 5- and 6-year-olds are contributing to increasing challenges with our kindergartners ability to self-regulate, to be independent and creative ... Study after study has shown that young children need time to play, but in Brookline, because of academic demands, time for play-based learning has been shortened and, on some days, eliminated entirely. As Kindergarten teachers, we know that play is not frivolous; it enhances brain structure and function and promotes executive function, which allow us to pursue goals and ignore distractions. It helps children learn to persevere, increase attention and navigate emotions.

"Young children are also meant to move around and explore. Many children who sit for long periods of time experience frustration, muscle cramps, and disruptive behaviors. We have seen an increase in the number of children diagnosed with ADHD and behavior issues within our schools and we know why this is happening. Yet, we are doing things that will only exacerbate the problem rather than make it better.

"We are not advancing equity. As mentioned with play and social-emotional development, the district is asking us to teach our children in ways that reduce equity in the classroom. We are told that everything has to be the same. Please think about what 'the same' means. It is not uniquely tailored to maximize the joy and learning for every single child. Standardization is not equity.

"Where once teachers were trusted to use their judgment and teach to the needs of each unique class, now we are directed to follow set curricula from textbooks. We are being given directives, not empowerment for our students.

"Let's envision our children being excited to come to school each day, developing a deep love of learning, having confidence in their abilities as learners, strengthening social-emotional skills, creating deep relationships with peers and teachers, and being part of a community of learners. Imagine a classroom where teachers are spending time working directly with students, forming trusting relationships, and engaging in meaningful teaching experiences that address students' needs as a whole.

"Imagine a future where the educational power of play is returned to Brookline Kindergarten. There is no arguing that our students learn best through play and real experiences that allow them to explore and make connections, build some background knowledge, and develop problem solving skills. The play can be purposeful (teacher guided), but there also needs to be time for children to explore freely without teacher direction. This is essential in the development of curiosity, and the ability to follow an idea or a project through. This is the bedrock of Kindergarten practice. In fact, it is the bedrock of lifelong learning

"Brookline Kindergarten can be a place where children explore relationships with others in order to develop a sense of empathy. It can be a place where they master amicable and respectful dialogue with their peers. It can be a place where they learn how to justify their own ideas and solve problems. Imagine a classroom where children learn how to fail, so they can try again and find their way.

"We ask you to envision with us a future in which our Kindergartners are deeply engaged in fun, integrated content areas. Envision with us classrooms where learning to read is fun, purposeful engaging and organic. We ask you to imagine Brookline Kindergarten classrooms where teachers are trusted to use their judgment about what's best for each class. Imagine a future where love of learning, not test-based performance, returns to the heart of our children's very first educational experiences."

The letter was accompanied by a petition of support signed by more than 500 Brookline parents. It garnered a considerable amount of publicity, nationally as well as locally, including this article in The Washington Post. Did it have an effect?

A new school year is now underway, and I wondered if much has changed in Brookline kindergartens. So, I called Benjamin Kelley, co-president of the Brookline Parents Organization and a supporter of the teachers' protest. He told me that there have been some small improvements in some of the schools, but all in all little has changed. A request for a full hour of recess every day in kindergarten was turned down. Block academic scheduling still occurs. The Brookline school superintendent resigned suddenly over the summer, though it is not clear that the teachers' protest had anything to do with it. Currently, there is an interim superintendent while they search for a replacement.

Maybe serious change will come after a new superintendent is hired? Or maybe not. If not, then I hope the kindergarten teachers will have the courage to do more than write a letter. How about a strike? A strike not for higher pay or other such benefits, but for the welfare of the children and our nation's future.

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And now, what are your thoughts about all of this? If you are involved with a kindergarten (or a preschool)-as a parent, teacher, or administrator-what is happening where you are? This blog is a forum for discussion, and your knowledge and views are valued and taken seriously, by me and by other readers. Make your thoughts known in the comments section below. As always, I prefer if you post your comments and questions here rather than send them to me by private email. By putting them here, you share with other readers, not just with me. I read all comments and try to respond to all serious questions if I feel I have something useful to say.
Facebook image: DGLimages/Shutterstock

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Kindergarten Teachers Speak Out for Children's Happiness

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The research is clear. Academic training in kindergarten has no long-term benefit. In fact, it may cause long-term harm. It does not reduce the education gap between the rich and the poor, which is the usual reason offered for such training.

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'Why our youngest learners are doomed right out of the gate' 

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'Why our youngest learners are doomed right out of the gate' 

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An article by a kindergarten teacher outlining the harm that is caused by forcing kindergartens to grow up too fast and not letting them be kindergarteners. She outlines what kindergarteners need and the roadmap to helping them.

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Back in 2014, I wrote about a New York school that canceled its annual year-end kindergarten show because - are you ready? - the kids had to keep working so they would be ready for "college and career."

If you think that was a singular event, guess again. Preschool and kindergarten have become increasingly academic for years, often to the exclusion of structured play-based learning that has long been seen by experts as being the best way for young children to be educated. Things have gotten to such a point that children who leave kindergarten without having learned to read are often considered failures.
[Kindergarten show canceled so kids can keep studying to become 'college and career ready.' Really.]
Phyllis Doerr is a veteran kindergarten teacher in Newark, who is sick of the status quo. In this post, she writes about why so many kids "are doomed right out of the gate," and she provides a road map to remedy the problem and making early learning joyful again.
By Phyllis Doerr
I once watched a kindergarten teacher pass by my classroom door, struggling to move a large wooden play kitchen toward the exit of our school building in New Jersey.

"What are you doing?" I asked my colleague.

"Moving this out of my room - we have no time for play!"

My heart sank.
To all who love and care about kindergartners
Dear parents of young children, kindergarten teachers, elementary school principals, district and state superintendents, university education program professors and administrators, and any person who cares about the education and well-being of our youngest learners:

Have you ever watched a 5- or 6-year-old child play? Have you seen a little boy cradle a baby doll, pretending to be a daddy? Or watched a team put together a giant floor puzzle? Or observed a pair of students work together creating a magnificent cityscape with blocks that includes a bridge? Or seen a little girl don a chef's hat and apron and happily serve pizza to her customers?

Kindergartners should love and be excited about school. Their first year of formal education should be ... maybe even a magical year. Early education expert Dorothy Strickland, a Rutgers University professor and researcher, said that a child's first learning experience determines a child's attitude toward school for years to come. She maintains that the primary focus of kindergarten should be executive functions such as problem-solving, organizing, sequencing, conflict resolution, decision-making, and reasoning.

There is an important debate taking place over questions such as: What is age-appropriate to teach in kindergarten? What are the most appropriate teaching practices in the kindergarten classroom?

As kindergarten registration gets underway in the United States for the 2019-20 school year, let's consider these questions: Which methods are working to achieve the goal of best educating young children? And which are not serving our goals for the education of our youngest learners?

These days, words that you will hear some educators and decision-makers use when discussing the question of what should be taught and how in kindergarten are: rigor, stamina, technology and standardized testing. Oh, and data.

I would argue that joy, character-building, social emotional learning, recess, multi-sensory/hands-on/interactive learning and multiple intelligences are more appropriate terms when it comes to discussing the kindergarten learner. Integrating these methods into instruction in the kindergarten classroom will result in better "outcomes."
Things are not going well
As a kindergarten teacher for 10 years, I am surrounded by teachers both in my school and other schools. And I talk to parents in and out of my school. I am finding out that things are not going well for many kindergartners.

Recently on a plane, a kindergarten mom sat next to me. She lamented that she was pulling her child out of the expensive, private school her daughter was attending. The mom was upset that the school planned to hold the child back in kindergarten another year because she was not reading sentences.

A friend who is a mom of twins in kindergarten is panicked because her son is not reading proficiently, and the teacher has discussed keeping the child back. She instructed the parent to work harder with this child at home so they could bring him up to speed.

A fellow teacher is very concerned because her son is losing interest in school. In kindergarten!

A worried parent on an advice blog geared at helping parents raise their kids wrote: "My son is having a really rough year and it's breaking my heart. He went to preschool for two years and did awesome! The teachers thought he would do great and I never had any behavior complaints. Kindergarten has been a nightmare. This year he's having a hard time reading and writing. He says he hates school and he's totally uninterested. I'm constantly getting phone calls that he's distracting the class and acting out."

The truth is, it is not that hard to do things right in kindergarten; to do things in such a way that optimal learning is accomplished and the child experiences joy, growth and even wonder.

Thanks to hundreds of child psychologists, researchers and experts in the field of early-childhood education, we have always known what makes a kindergartner flourish. John Dewey, Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky pointed the way in the past, and more recently, early-childhood education experts such as Strickland, Nancy Carlsson-Paige, Pasi Sahlberg and James F. Christie have added to our knowledge.

This has not changed over time because the brains of 5- and 6-year-old children have not changed. Psychologists, researchers and educators who have done the work for a very long time point to the same conclusion.
Kindergartners will not thrive as long as we continue to push developmentally inappropriate concepts, like:

Reading too soon.

Writing too soon. (They have been out of the womb five years and many of their little fingers cannot yet grasp a pencil.)

Making them sit for long periods of time. (Kindergartners can typically attend to a task that is of interest for 10-15 minutes, according to most reputable sources.)

Forcing so much time engaged in academic areas that no time is left for creativity, building, constructing, pretending, imagination, music and movement, social skills practice and so many other activities essential to the healthy development of the young child.

So what should we do?
Based on my experience (and lots of research done by passionate, dedicated professionals) kindergartners will thrive and love school when we:

Integrate instruction based on multisensory learning. Kindergartners learn with their five senses - exploring, creating, building, testing, sorting, organizing, pretending, moving, singing, chanting. Sitting still and listening for long periods of time is not how they learn. In fact, it is the opposite of how to best teach a kindergartner and is guaranteed to shut them down to learning.

Stop over-testing and teach with the premise in mind that testing is not teaching. (The curriculum my school uses includes a test on singing "Old MacDonald." You read that correctly. A TEST. The child is to be given a SCORE on how they sing the song.)

Teach foundational skills in kindergarten in math and language arts, not complicated, developmentally inappropriate concepts that are largely beyond a 6-year-old's reach. By all means, expose them to lots and lots of books!

In literacy, teach letters and sounds and pre-reading skills. With some exceptions, the brain of a young child opens the door for more proficient reading in first and second grade - not in kindergarten!

Stop making 5- and 6-year-old children take tests on computers. For many, the results are completely inaccurate because of the vehicle. Young fingers don't work well on the keypad yet due to small-motor immaturity.

Bring back a balanced approach to teaching kindergarten. Learning through play in kindergarten should be a primary method of learning. Play is a child's work.

Include an hour of outdoor play in the school day. Children are meant to be outside. Watch how they blossom in the classroom when they have enough time outside.

Major research spells it out
According to a major 2018 study by the American Academy of Pediatrics:

The most powerful way children learn is on playgrounds and in playrooms...Play is brain building, a central part of healthy child development, a key to executive function skills and a buffer against the negative impacts of stress.

It is mind-boggling that in our current climate, major research had to be conducted to reiterate what 100 years of research has concluded and recorded in papers, textbooks, and articles by the thousands. Kindergarten-age children learn best through action-based, hands-on activities that engage their five senses.

Yet we continue to push practices that have been proven ineffective and counterproductive for most students. If Strickland is right, and I believe she is, our youngest learners are doomed right out of the gate.

What could be driving this trend in American early-childhood education? Why are we administering instructional practices that have been proven by every bit of research for years to be the WRONG way to teach kindergartners? Why on earth have, as Carlsson-Paige asked, teachers and other professionals who are concerned about poorly designed standards and an over-focus on academic skills been shouting into deaf ears for years?

One can only guess.
A road map to kindergarten success
To best illustrate what will most definitely open the kindergartner to learning and set the tone for their entire educational experience, I would like to borrow a profoundly important document from brilliant teacher, child specialist and pre-eminent teacher trainer, Jean Feldman.

I believe that when we adhere to the Kindergarten Bill of Rights, which is in effect a plea for a balanced and developmentally appropriate approach to teaching kindergarten, we will no longer hear that our youngsters are disinterested, hating kindergarten, acting out and "failing" because they are not yet reading. We will instead see excited, happy children, whose minds are open and fertile for learning and who enthusiastically look forward to school. Should it be any other way in kindergarten?
Kindergarten Bill of Rights by Jean Feldman

Kindergarten children have the right to the pursuit of happiness.

Kindergarten children have the right to wooden blocks and a housekeeping center.

Kindergarten children have the right to play dough and puzzles.

Kindergarten children have the right to hold hands with their friends and play games.

Kindergarten children have the right to free play outside.

Kindergarten children have the right to sing and dance and be silly.

Kindergarten children have the right to explore with paint, crayons, markers, glue, scissors and to make a mess!!!

Kindergarten children have the right to have books read to them ... many, many books.

Kindergarten children have the right to go on field trips.

Kindergarten children have a right to a quiet time every day so their brains can process information.

Kindergarten children have the right to think school is the most wonderful place in their world.

Kindergarten children have the right to think that they are capable and worthy.

Kindergarten children have the right to hopes and dreams.

Kindergarten children have the right to smiles and hugs.

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Perspective | Kindergarten teacher: 'Why our youngest learners are doomed right out of the gate' - and a road map to fix it

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Back in 2014, I wrote about a New York school that canceled its annual year-end kindergarten show because - are you ready? - the kids had to keep working so they would be ready for "college and career." If you think that was a singular event, guess again.

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Ideas, tips, and the like that could help me if I choose to pursue kindergarten teaching

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Kindergarten teachers are magical people. It takes a special person to be able to manage the littlest students without breaking a sweat! Teaching kindergarten is also a special opportunity to introduce children to school and instill in them a love of learning. In honor of those of you who teach this grade, we've scoured our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook to bring you the best tips, tricks, and ideas for teaching kindergarten.

Getting Your Classroom Ready

1. Prepare yourself for kids with a wide range of skills

"Be ready for kids who are readers, kids who have never seen letters, and everything in between. I love my kinders dearly and find so much joy in watching their little light bulbs go on for the first time! They're a different bunch to be sure, but they're a blast!" -Maggie V.

2. Create an inviting classroom

Need ideas? We've gathered real-life kindergarten classrooms for you to browse!

3. Integrate all of the tech

With so many teachers receiving new devices, make sure you're using them fully as a normal part of your day. Check out some of Keri from Enchanted Kinder Garden's favorite tech tools for a kindergarten classroom.

4. Be prepared for changes

The science of reading has been all the buzz lately. Are you aware of what it truly means for your classroom and your students? Check out this article to learn more about the science of reading.

5. Gather all the supplies

Not sure exactly what you need for the kindergarten classroom? Don't worry, we've got you covered with this list of essential kindergarten classroom supplies.

6. Plan your circle time well

Make circle time short, sweet, and active. Incorporate these amazing carpet spots for easy seating.

7. Get a jump start on lessons

In kindergarten, teacher planning and prep time are precious. It makes life a lot easier when you can purchase existing lessons, bundles, books, and pages. And why not support other teachers while you do it? Check out our favorite Teacher Pay Teachers sellers.

8. Put together an irresistible classroom reading nook

If there's one thing you want your kindergartners to walk away with at the end of the year, it's the message that reading is fun! Make reading time extra special for them by setting up one of these awesome reading nooks.

9. Fill your classroom library with these classic kindergarten books

Here are our favorite books for teaching kindergarten.

10. Set up sensory tables

Early childhood teachers know that hands-on learning is essential. Sensory play encourages open-ended thinking, language development, and collaboration and builds fine motor skills. Sensory materials are magically both engaging and calming. Here are our favorites!

11. Set up a writing area

Writing is so important for our early learners. Even when students are just learning to write, it's important to encourage the process. Having a dedicated writing time helps shift a child's focus. Some classrooms even have a dedicated space for writing. Here is an easy setup for a writing center.

12. Create a scavenger hunt for Meet the Teacher

As you prepare to meet your brand-new students, think of inviting ideas for both parents and students. A scavenger hunt around the room to complete forms, sign up for things, and explore the room helps to move families around the classroom as you introduce yourself.

13. Make room for student work

Even though your students haven't had time to come into the classroom yet, make sure there are spaces and places to display student work. You want the classroom to be a shared space. With that art and work proudly displayed, they will feel a connection with the room.

The First Days of School

14. Keep in mind that kids have expectations too

"Kids go to their first day of kindergarten expecting to learn how to read that very day. So you have to do some choral reading of big books or poems so that they know that they have begun to learn to read. Just one big book. Read it many times that day. If they go home seeing themselves as scholars on the first day of school, you will have set the tone for the whole year." -Becky N.

15. Help the parents of your students on the first day because it's a tough transition for them too

"You will have a room full of parents on the first day, so to have a smooth goodbye, I wrap a box with Kinder Bear (any stuffed bear) inside. After the kids are sitting on the carpet, I tell them that I have a friend I'd like them to meet, but that he's shy. I pretend to listen to the bear and tell the kids he wants you to say bye to Mom & Dad so he can come out and play. The parents will 'get' the message and leave, and the students will be eager to meet Kinder Bear!" -Denise B.

16. Start at the very beginning

"Don't assume they know how to do anything. Teach them everything. How to knock at the bathroom door, how to close it behind them, how to wash hands, throw away towels ... routines, routines, routines." -Shannon T.

17. Keep in mind how close to "baby" your students really are

"Remember, they are 60-month-olds! That always gives me perspective the first few weeks teaching kindergarten." -Michelle K.

18. Label your classroom

As soon as you get your class list, add your students' names to their areas in the classroom. This may include tables or desks, book bins, cubbies, and even pencil pouches. Allow them to take ownership of the things that they will need to take care of over the school year.

19. Choose amazing read-alouds for the first week of school

Go ahead and "add to cart" on Amazon to get first-week read-alouds and back-to-school books they'll love.

20. Make keepsake drawings that will show growth from the beginning of the year

"I would have them do a self-portrait the first day and then another one the last week and look at the difference! You will want to start and demo one of yourself just to give them an idea of what to do. You might be surprised at the results, and your parents will save it forever-mine did. I still have one I drew as a kinder or first grader." -Julia A.

Here's a fund self-portrait art project from Splish Splash Splatter.

21. Start the year with firm expectations and clear routines

"Don't worry about the curriculum. Just focus on the routines and rules. One of the best bits of advice I got from a professor was that the kids WANT to love you so don't be afraid to be strict with the rules and set down your boundaries right out of the gate. I've been teaching for 20 years, and I learned that the hard way. Have fun, play games, let them see your playful side, but take the time to let them know what is expected of them." -Julie S.

Check out these first-day routines and procedures for more ideas!

22. Teach kids exactly how to listen

Don't expect that they will come to you knowing what listening looks like. Here's how to teach them.

23. Introduce classroom callbacks

As you teach classroom expectations, routines, and procedures, do not forget to introduce callbacks. Teach your students three or four ways to stop, look, and listen. This can be done with hand motions, responses, and more. One of my favorite ways is when I say "Macaroni and Cheese," they all say "Everybody Freeze!" They also place their hands on top of their head. This allows them to put down whatever they are touching or using and put their attention on me. It's one of the quickest callbacks to teach.

24. Add fun to your center rotations

Engage students with captivating videos and eliminate the need for internet access. Seamlessly manage digital rotations with built-in timers, creating a personalized and efficient learning environment. With everything you need in a digital presentation, you're ready to rock and roll through your day in style.

Check out these center rotation ideas from Enchanted Kinder Garden.

25. Teach kids how to make friends

Some of your students will make friends naturally, while some will need your help. How to be a friend is one of the most important lessons they can leave their first year of school with. Here's an activity you can do to help them.

26. Find fun ways to teach all of the routines your little ones will need to know all year long

"For my lines in the hallway, I say 'There's a cloud with marshmallows falling down (wiggle fingers like they're falling from above), everyone catch a marshmallow!' Pretend to catch and say, 'now put it in your mouth and chew chew chew chew and keep your finger on your lips so it doesn't fall out' until you get to the cafeteria, playground, etc. They'll walk around with their cheeks puffed up pretending to chew. Some might say they ate it, so tell them to catch another or it's too big to eat the whole thing so keep chewing! I've heard teachers say 'catch a bubble.' It's the same concept. When I need instant silence, I say, 'Catch a marshmallow!' and there is quiet immediately." -Heikel F.

Here is our list of must-teach classroom routines and procedures.

27. Take your class on a mini-adventure on the first day

"I teach routines and rules, but I also go on some kind of 'adventure.' My adventure is going through the school to find where everything is: the bathrooms, the nurse, the front office, the cafeteria (which we practice going through the line), library, etc. I've done fishing where I have fish (or a jungle animal if that was my theme) hanging at each place, and they collect them in a bucket as we go around taking turns and collecting through the whole school. They love it." -Dana H.

Classroom Management Tips

28. Keep your kids moving all day long

"Plan lessons/activities that last no more than 15 minutes, with some kind of movement activity in between. (Moving from the circle to the table counts, as does clapping a pattern, or Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.)" -Anne H.

29. Do proper assessments

Teachers need to ultimately adapt their teaching to suit students' needs. You want all of your students to be successful; that's why these kindergarten assessment ideas are so important.

30. Combine multiple objectives into a single lesson

Teach children number sense and fine motor skills at the same time. The kids will love using the hole punch in this activity and will improve their number sense at the same time.

31. Teach with centers

Teaching with centers is one of the easiest ways to work through your curriculum while teaching kindergarten. And kids love them! Check out our kindergarten literacy centers for more ideas.

32. Get the wiggles out

Incorporating brain breaks will help all of your students when they just need a break from learning!

33. Give your kids visual cues to help them follow your directions

"I have my kids line up on numbers. They stay on the same number all year. This saves so much time. We can line up in less than 15 seconds. Their toes touch the number but don't cover it, so I can see it." -Debbie N.

34. Keep little fingers cleaner with this trick

"Glue sponges! There are several videos online for making them. So awesome to not deal with the bottle-of-glue mess or those littles who can't close the bottle and spill glue in their supplies!" -Anita D.
Learn how to make glue sponges from Lucky Little Learners.
35. Use a washable stuffed animal as a class pet

Low maintenance (essential for teaching kindergarten), high fun! Kids will love taking turns bringing the "class pet" home to care for it over the weekend. Check out this classroom pet from A First for Everything.

36. Routine, routine, routine

Veterans who've been teaching kindergarten for years said this again and again on our Helpline: Probably more than any other age group in elementary school, kindergartners thrive on their routine. "Plan fun and easy activities for the first week so you can keep focused on the routine." -Sarah S.

37. Use anchor charts

Creating anchor charts for and with your students helps them learn and remember lessons about topics like friendship, shapes, counting, letters, beginning writing, and more.

Curriculum Tips and Tricks

38. Add in SEL to your routines

Helping children manage their emotions is essential in classrooms. One way to do this is by incorporating SEL books for kids. Start social-emotional learning with your morning meeting time to have it as part of your daily routine.

39. Try daily STEM challenges

These STEM challenges are designed with your kinders in mind. Try one each day or each week to get their minds thinking outside the box.

40. Use these strategies for writing instruction

From invented spelling to punctuation and using words in context, these tips will help your newbie writers catch on quickly.

41. Use hands-on alphabet activities

Go on a scavenger hunt, play with shaving cream, and much more. These alphabet activities are perfect for your kindergarten class.

42. Incorporate daily writing prompts

We've gathered writing prompts that you can download and use to get your kinders practicing their writing skills.

43. Use "space people" to help your beginning writers learn to use spaces between words

Put an astronaut stick down when you get to the end of a word so students know where to start the next one!

44. Put sight words front and center

Keep track of important sight words in fun ways and keep them visually front and center like this growing word-a-pillar.

45. Teach word families

This method is tried-and-true among kindergarten teachers. Check out Teacher Karma's seven simple steps for using word families to teach reading.

46. Bring technology (in small doses) into the classroom

Check out our guide to teaching kindergarten online for tips on using technology when teaching kindergarten.

47. Sneak in the learning with games

"I like playing 'I have, who has' games. I take their picture on the first day of school and create an 'I have who has' game with their photos. It's a great way for them to learn names, plus I use their picture for everything." -Lisa G.

Check out our favorite educational toys and games for kindergarten.

48. Organize your instruction around themes

When you structure your lessons thematically, you provide your kids with more "hooks" for learning. Check out this blog by Fun-a-Day for some great ideas.

49. Find hands-on ways to teach number sense

Number sense is key in kindergarten. You'll want to cover it again and again. Here are some ideas for teaching number sense.

50. Incorporate kindergarten math games

Kindergarten offers so many opportunities to help students find learning truly enjoyable. These kindergarten math games teach concepts in fun and meaningful ways.

51. Watch math videos

Making math more engaging for kids can be difficult. But teaching math will be anything but boring when you introduce students to some of our favorite subtraction and addition videos on YouTube.

52. Begin teaching shapes

Learning shapes is one of the earliest concepts we teach kids. Shapes ready them for geometry in the years ahead, but it's also an important skill for learning how to write and draw. Get started with these activities.

53. Count the days of school and celebrate when you reach 100

There are so many different fun ways to celebrate the 100th day of school. We've got a whole collection of activities for you!

54. Use music for everything

"Music is needed and is a good way to transition. Find a welcome song and an afternoon song (can be the same tune with different words) to start and close your day. It makes a world of difference." -Anne H.

55. Plan lessons with AI

Stumped on an idea for creating a lesson? Try using AI to help you plan your lessons. ChatGPT is one way to add in some creativity and ideas you may not have thought of before. There are also alternatives you can try when it comes to using AI in the classroom.

56. Use journals

Have a routine with journals. This can be a daily freewriting journal, math journals with prompts, science journals, or even a fun twist on sight words with a journal.

Check out these ideas for kindergarten writing prompts.

57. Keep activity sticks on hand so you never have an awkward "What do I do with them now?" moment

One of the most repeated pieces of advice in our WeAreTeachers Helpline Facebook group about teaching kindergarten is that you should always overplan for this age group. These activity sticks from Keep Calm and Teach On are a fantastic safety net when you suddenly find that your lesson went twice as fast as you expected.

58. Go on a field trip

Kinders are a wild bunch, and taking them anywhere might seem daunting. But field trips provide kids with the kind of real-world learning that really sticks with them. These kindergarten field trips will keep your young students interested and (mostly) out of trouble. We even have virtual options!

59. Incorporate LOTS of art

Hands-on learning is best for little ones. We've gathered our favorite fun and interesting projects.

60. Tailor your science to their needs

These fun and free science activities were put together just for kindergarten students. They'll learn how the world works through play and experiments.

Taking Care of You

61. Connect with a community of educators outside of your own school

Teaching is hard! Join our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE Facebook group and connect with other teachers to talk about challenges and triumphs and ask questions.

62. Follow kindergarten teachers and bloggers

Keep a pulse on what's happening in your grade level with our favorite teachers sharing about topics ranging from crafts to addressing important multicultural issues.

63. Laugh with your kids

Kindergartners love to laugh as much as the rest of us! These funny books will add some humor and levity to your day. Plus, check out these jokes just for kindergartners!

64. Keep a "sub tub" on hand for those days when you just can't make it into school

Fill your sub tub with all the lessons and activities your sub will need in case you have an unexpected absence.

65. Reward the small things

We most often celebrate large accomplishments, but it's also OK to celebrate the small things. Did you turn in report card grades on time? Celebrate! Did you do attendance for an entire week without having to be reminded? Celebrate! Take a moment and write down simple tasks that you can celebrate. Small wins also matter and can benefit your mental health.

66. Plan fun annual events for your students and their families

Whether it's Cupcakes With Caregivers, a fall feast, or a spring BBQ, kindergartners love traditions. And they love to include their families. Here are some tips on making these events inclusive for all your students.

67. Take care of yourself

Teaching kindergarten requires a different kind of energy. Eat well and try to get an extra hour of sleep if you can. "When I switched from teaching second grade to teaching kindergarten, I was exhausted for the first two months. It's physically taxing." -Karen E.

Here are some teacher self-care ideas to consider.

68. And last but certainly not least, give them lots (and lots) of time to play

"Playtime teaches kids how to get along with others so that they can effectively learn in a classroom. It's so important, especially in kindergarten." -Michelle S.

Check out our educational toys for kindergarten and why dolls belong in the classroom!

We'd love to hear your favorite tips and tricks for teaching kindergarten! Come and share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

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68 Tips, Tricks, and Ideas for Teaching Kindergarten

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You join a special club when you become a kindergarten teacher. These ideas for teaching kindergarten are great for new teachers and vets!

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Since I want to be a kindergarten or 1st Grade teacher, I need to know what things to do in order to deal with incidents of lice, including my own if afflicted

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For Many, Lice Are a Part of Teaching. How to Deal

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What to do when the creepy-crawlies strike.

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Michigan Department of Education Standards

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Michigan Department of Education Standards

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Important to know for future use, especially as things change and grow. I need to have a basic understanding of these kinds of standards so having them as a reference would be useful.

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As with blind kids, they deserve my best teaching as well so I want to be able to best accommodate their needs

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According to NIDCD (National Institute of Deafness or Other Communication Disorder), about 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children in the United States are born with a detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears. And more than 90 percent of deaf children are born to hearing parents.

For parents who only hope for the best, discovering their child is deaf can be heartbreaking and worrisome. Aside from the fact that they need to exert twice the effort in overcoming everyday challenges, especially in communication, raising a deaf child; they also seek assurance that their children (regardless of disability) will thrive in school the way perfectly able kids do.

As Barbara Rice shared in United Federation of Teachers, " not all children with hearing impairments are in self-contained classes. Some teachers will have the opportunity to work with hearing-impaired youngsters in their general education, collaborative team teaching, special education and/or inclusion classes. Depending on the student's Individualized Education Program, this may or may not include a sign-language interpreter and/or an itinerant Hearing Education Services provider."

Barbara specialized in teaching hearing-impaired and deaf students, and she shared these tips for teachers who work with hearing impaired and deaf student yet unfamiliar with this population.

1. Be sure that the student wears his or her amplification device and you are wearing your microphone.

2. Keep in mind that few people are totally Most have some sort of residual hearing, and we want to utilize it fully.

3. Make sure your student has preferential seating with a direct view of your face and mouth.

4. Don't yell at your student. Speak in a normal tone. Remember the microphone you have on?

5. If your student has an interpreter, then give him or her a copy of the lesson in advance.

6. Remember that there is no need to talk to the interpreter.

7. Don't speak while writing on the board.

8. Use lots of pictures and graphic organizers. These kids are visual learners.

9. Repetition is key, as is the use of hands-on activities.

10. Every lesson is a language lesson. Hearing-impaired kids often lack necessary language skills, so every word counts.

(Access the full article here: Teaching children who are hearing-impaired)

Bright Hub Education also published an article on How to Teach Hearing-Impaired Students: Strategies for success!

A few easy steps can be taken to ensure the classroom is suitable for hearing impaired students. When possible, turn off equipment that creates background noises, such as fans and projectors, when not in use.

Communication Considerations

1. Look directly at the student and face him or her when communicating or teaching.

2. Say the student's name or signal their attention in some way before speaking.

3. Assign the student a desk near the front of the classroom, or where you plan to deliver most of your lectures.

4. Speak naturally and clearly. Remember speaking louder won't help.

5. Do not exaggerate your lip movements, but slowing down a little may help some students.

6. Use facial expressions, gestures and body language to help convey your message, but don't overdo it.

7. Some communication may be difficult for the hard of hearing student to understand. Explicitly teach idioms and explain jokes and sarcasm.

8. Young hearing impaired children often lag in the development of social graces. Consider teaching specific social skills such as joining in to games or conversation, maintaining conversations, and staying on topic.

9. Male teachers should keep moustaches well groomed.

Visual Strategies and Curriculum Accommodations

1. Adjust teaching methods to accommodate your visual learner's needs by writing all homework assignments, class instructions and procedural changes on the board.

2. Arrange desks in a circular pattern if possible so hearing impaired students can see other students. This is especially important if they need to read lips.

3. Provide students with an outline of the daily lesson and printed copies of the notes, allowing them to focus on discussions and questions while you are teaching. Students can then be more engaged in learning and can easily review the notes at a later time. Since vision becomes a hearing impaired student's primary means for receiving information, utilize visual aids whenever you can. Consider using posters, charts, flash cards, pictures, manipulatives, graphic organizers, artifacts or any visual items to illustrate concepts. Try to use captioned videos in class.

4. Follow all established guidelines within the student's IEP (Individualized Education Plan), regarding classroom adaptations and aids for hearing impaired students. Don't be afraid to contact your school district if you need help.

It is critical for teachers to monitor the progress and understanding of all students, but especially so for those with special needs. Teachers must be sensitive to the needs of hearing impaired students and follow the IEP as closely as possible.

Teaching hearing impaired students doesn't have to be difficult, as long as you are flexible. When you incorporate these strategies into your teaching practice, chances are that you'll find a number of students who benefit from your efforts.

And here is another excellent article written by Jeannette Washington, M.Ed. ( A former speech-language pathologist, Ms. Washington created Bearly Articulating, a company that provides multisensory tutoring online and in-home, college planning, and professional development to support the unique educational needs of learners struggling in reading, writing, spelling, speaking and other scholastic aspects of formal education.) And Jenna L. Kubly ( studied theater history and received a B.A. from Bethel University (Minnesota), M.A. from the University of Colorado-Boulder, and Ph.D. from Tufts University. She is fascinated with all types of history, drama, and art, but especially the society and culture of the First World War. She has published essays and book reviews.)

In their article: Supporting Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students, you'll learn about;

Differences: Deaf, Deafness, and Hard of Hearing

Tech Tools for Deaf or Hard of Hearing Students

How Schools Create More Audible Environments

Finding a College that Fits

Scholarships for Deaf or Hard of Hearing Students

Schools for Deaf or Hard of Hearing Students

Additional Resources

Expert Interviews

We are not affiliated with educators mentioned here. But we thought that they shared constructive ideas that can help you succeed in teaching hearing-impaired and deaf students.

In the end, we all have a common goal; help hearing-impaired and deaf students receive proper education to unleash their full potential!

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Strategies for Teaching Hearing-Impaired and Deaf Students | TherapyTravelers

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According to NIDCD (National Institute of Deafness or Other Communication Disorder) , about 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children in the United States are born with a detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears. And more than 90 percent of deaf children are born to hearing parents.

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At the moment, I don't know many strategies for teaching blind students and they deserve my best as well so these tips as well as talking to the student and supports and finding out what they want and need will be useful

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The average classroom is designed for fully sighted students. But according to the CDC, nearly 3 percent of children under the age of 18 are blind or visually impaired. Some of these children attend schools specifically for teaching blind students, but others enroll in their local public or private schools. As a teacher, you may wonder how to accommodate these students to give them the best chance to succeed. That's why we've asked some experts to offer practical tips you can use every day.

What does it mean to be blind or visually impaired?

When you hear the term "blind," you likely think of someone who has no vision at all. But that's just one part of the visual spectrum. Here are some other terms you should know.

Partially sighted: A person who is partially sighted has some vision in one or both eyes. This term is frequently used in educational settings.

Low vision: This term describes a person with poor vision that cannot be fully corrected with glasses or contacts. In some cases, the person can see things up close but not at a distance, or vice versa. Others have poor visual acuity across the entire spectrum.

Legally blind: A legally blind person has vision that cannot be corrected to better than 20/200 in at least one eye. It also refers to those who have a field of sight of 20 degrees or less.

Totally blind: One who is blind has total loss of sight.

Students may fall anywhere along this spectrum, so it's important to know more about their specific level of impairment. They may have an IEP or 504 on file, so study it carefully to learn what you can do to help them do well in your classroom.

Source: USA Today

A Note About Language

The debate continues about "person-first" vs. "identify-first" language, and the correct terms to use to describe those who are differently abled. Some organizations and people prefer the terms "blind person" or "visually impaired person." Others encourage the use of "person who is blind" or "person with visual impairment." In this article, we've used both forms, since you're likely to encounter them both in the real world. We recommend asking affected students in your classroom if they have a preference, and follow their lead.

Meet the Experts

Charlene Laferrera, MEd, is a Certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI). She's spent 30+ years working in various school systems, including the Perkins School for the Blind, with students ranging in age from birth to 22 years of age.

Magali Gueths, MEd, has been a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) for 20+ years, working in various locations and school districts. Magali has a fully blind son, so she innately understands the needs of blind and visually impaired students.

10 Practical Tips for Teaching Blind or Visually Impaired Students

Source: Perkins School for the Blind

Charlene and Magali assembled this list of tips for teachers who work with students who are blind or visually impaired. Overall, they stressed the importance of ensuring these students always have access to COMS or certified TVIs in their schools. They also offer these day-to-day actions for helping blind or visually impaired students succeed.

1. Always use names

Always use a visually impaired student's first name when addressing them. This way they will know you are talking to them and not someone else. When passing them in hallways, instead of saying, "Hi," have people announce their names, as blind or visually impaired students may not be able to recognize faces. For example: "Hi Sara, it's Mrs. Murphy. How are you today?" Prompt fellow students to do the same because this fosters connection in the school community.

2. It's OK to use words that reference sight

Don't avoid words like "see" and "look." Just like their sighted peers, these words should be part of a blind or visually impaired student's vocabulary to connote how they see, whether by touch, bringing things close, or in normal conversation, like saying "see you later!"

3. Don't gesture, always verbalize

When writing on the board, always verbalize what you are writing so the student has access to that information and can follow along. Use positional and directional concepts like above/under, on top, behind/in front of, left/right, etc., and use descriptive sentences like "The ball is next to the door" instead of "The ball is over there." Avoid words and phrases like "here," "there," "over here," "over there," and gestures that provide direction, e.g., pointing to a location without verbalizing what is being pointed to because visually impaired students cannot see that.

4. Avoid asking if a student can see something

Don't ask a student, "Can you see this?" They often can see it, but that does not mean that they can access it or read it. Instead ask, "Can you find X?" or "Can you identify all the words and numbers without guessing?" or "Can you see some parts of the board better than others?"

5. Correct seating is crucial

Always favor the stronger side of the student's vision due to visual field deficits. For example, if the student only uses his left eye, they would need to sit on the right side of the classroom away from the windows. Seating facing a light source (sun, windows) should ideally be at their back.

6. Contrast, contrast, contrast!

When teaching visually impaired or blind students, use contrast for everything. Think, "bold, big, and simple!" Use bright balls in contrast with the floor at the gym. Stairs should have at least the first and last steps taped with a contrasting color (typically yellow) at the edge of the step.

7. Follow the leader

When in line, direct their attention to the child in front of them using color of clothing or hair and have them model/follow what that child is doing (stopping, walking straight, turning, etc.), always moving slowly for safety.

8. Be a confident sighted guide

If you need to be a sighted guide for a preschooler, offer two fingers or your wrist for them to hold. You are not holding them unless it is for their safety. For older students, they hold just above your elbow with their dominant hand.

9. Safety first

Students need to understand the "rules of the road" and always use the right-hand side of hallways or the right railing. Use boundaries like cones in the gym, lines on the pavement to follow from school to the playground, etc. If there are changes to the classroom, walk the student through alone so they know where things are.

10. Examine your own beliefs

Be aware of your own acceptance and your beliefs surrounding what a student who is blind or visually impaired can do both in your classroom and as a professional. Your acceptance of a student who has a visual impairment will serve as an example to all the students in your class.

What practical tips do you have to offer those who are teaching visually impaired or blind students? Come share your thoughts and ask for advice in the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

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10 Tips for Teaching Blind or Visually Impaired Students

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When teaching visually impaired or blind students, these simple suggestions from experts in the field can make a world of difference.

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I think that these would be useful to apply in the classroom in order to make my future classroom as welcoming and helpful as possible

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The classroom is a dynamic environment, bringing together students from different backgrounds with various abilities and personalities. Being an effective teacher therefore requires the implementation of creative and innovative teaching strategies in order to meet students' individual needs.

Whether you've been teaching two months or twenty years, it can be difficult to know which teaching strategies will work best with your students. As a teacher there is no 'one size fits all' solution, so here is a range of effective teaching strategies you can use to inspire your classroom practice.

1. Visualization

Bring d ull academic concepts to life with visual and practical learning experiences, helping your students to understand how their schooling applies in the real-world.

Examples include using the interactive whiteboard to display photos, audio clips and videos, as well as encouraging your students to get out of their seats with classroom experiments and local field trips.

2. Cooperative learning

Encourage students of mixed abilities to work together by promoting small group or whole class activities.

Through verbally expressing their ideas and responding to others your students will develop their self-confidence, as well as enhance their communication and critical thinking skills which are vital throughout life.

Solving mathematical puzzles, conducting scientific experiments and acting out short drama sketches are just a few examples of how cooperative learning can be incorporated into classroom lessons.

3. Inquiry-based instruction

Pose thought-provoking questions which inspire your students to think for themselves and become more independent learners.

Encouraging students to ask questions and investigate their own ideas helps improve their problem-solving skills as well as gain a deeper understanding of academic concepts. Both of which are important life skills.

Inquiries can be science or math-based such as 'why does my shadow change size?' or 'is the sum of two odd numbers always an even number?'. However, they can also be subjective and encourage students to express their unique views, e.g. 'do poems have to rhyme?' or 'should all students wear uniform?'.

4. Differentiation

Differentiate your teaching by allocating tasks based on students' abilities, to ensure no one gets left behind.

Assigning classroom activities according to students' unique learning needs means individuals with higher academic capabilities are stretched and those who are struggling get the appropriate support.

This can involve handing out worksheets that vary in complexity to different groups of students, or setting up a range of work stations around the classroom which contain an assortment of tasks for students to choose from.

Moreover, using an educational tool such as Quizalize can save you hours of time because it automatically groups your students for you, so you can easily identify individual and whole class learning gaps.

5. Technology in the classroom

Incorporating technology into your teaching is a great way to actively engage your students, especially as digital media surrounds young people in the 21st century.

Interactive whiteboards or mobile devices can be used to display images and videos, which helps students visualize new academic concepts. Learning can become more interactive when technology is used as students can physically engage during lessons as well as instantly research their ideas, which develops autonomy.

Mobile devices, such as iPads and/or tablets, can be used in the classroom for students to record results, take photos/videos or simply as a behaviour management technique. Plus, incorporating educational programmes such as Quizalize into your lesson plans is also a great way to make formative assessments fun and engaging.

6. Behaviour management

Implementing an effective behaviour management strategy is crucial to gain your students respect and ensure students have an equal chance of reaching their full potential.

Noisy, disruptive classrooms do no encourage a productive learning environment, therefore developing an atmosphere of mutual respect through a combination of discipline and reward can be beneficial for both you and your students.

Examples include fun and interactive reward charts for younger students, where individuals move up or down based on behaviour with the top student receiving a prize at the end of the week. 'Golden time' can also work for students of all ages, with a choice of various activities such as games or no homework in reward for their hard work.

7. Professional development

Engaging in regular professional development programmes is a great way to enhance teaching and learning in your classroom.

With educational policies constantly changing it is extremely useful to attend events where you can gain inspiration from other teachers and academics. It's also a great excuse to get out of the classroom and work alongside other teachers just like you!

Sessions can include learning about new educational technologies, online safety training, advice on how to use your teaching assistant(s) and much more.

Being an effective teacher is a challenge because every student is unique, however, by using a combination of teaching strategies you can address students' varying learning styles and academic capabilities as well as make your classroom a dynamic and motivational environment for students.
What strategies do you use to be an effective teacher? Have you got any top tips? Comment below - we'd love to hear from you.

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7 Effective Teaching Strategies For The Classroom - Blog | Quizalize

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The classroom is a dynamic environment, bringing together students from different backgrounds with various abilities and personalities. Being an effective teacher therefore requires the implementation of creative and innovative teaching strategies in order to meet students' individual needs. Whether you've been teaching two months or twenty years, it can be difficult to know which teaching strategies will work best with your students.

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As I said, I'm not great at spacial design, so having techniques that are explained and helpful for my students would be an ideal resource

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With a year of kindergarten under their belts, first graders should be pretty familiar with what school is all about. These first grade classroom management strategies help reinforce what they already know, and create a learning environment where every student can succeed!

1. Agree to the classroom rules.

First grade classroom management starts with a set of clear rules for kids to follow. Give your students a sense of ownership by asking them to agree to the classroom rules. Discuss the purpose of each rule, then have them sign the poster. If they break the rules, you can use this visual to remind them of the promise they made the very first day of class.

Learn more: Anna Schmitdt, Student Data Resource Folder

2. Review good and bad choices.

This simple sorting activity helps reinforce what your students learned in kindergarten when it comes to making good and bad choices. Talk about how each of the choices fits in with your classroom rules; for instance, if one of your rules is "Be nice to each other," they should recognize that "interrupting" is a bad choice for that rule, while "raise your hand" is a good one.

Learn more: Mrs. Ricca's Kindergarten

3. Assign classroom jobs or pick helpers.

Firsties are definitely old enough to start taking responsibility for some of the tasks around the classroom. You can do this by assigning and rotating jobs (passing out papers, running errands, distributing supplies, etc.). Or, simplify your life and just pick a couple of new helpers each week. These students can take care of whatever needs to be done.

4. Save your voice with a doorbell.

Wireless doorbells have become a huge teacher favorite, and they're a must-have for first grade classroom management. Use them for transitions, attention-getters, cues during group work, and so much more. Find out how teachers are using wireless doorbells here.

5. Post your daily schedule.

Save yourself the hassle of "What are we doing next?" or "When is recess?" by posting your schedule each day. A set of interchangeable cards on magnets or Velcro dots makes it easy to move things around. Add clocks too, since firsties are usually still working on telling time. If your schedule is mostly the same every day, simply post notes to the side indicating changes like special events.

6. Teach them to Give Me 5.

When they're not at their desks, kids tend to have a harder time getting ready to pay attention. Teach them the five things they need to do with this cute free printable. Then, anytime you say "Give Me 5!" kids should automatically do all five steps and raise their hand high in the air. It's a quick and clever way to re-focus their attention.

Learn more: Proud to Be Primary

7. Use call-and-response attention-getters.

Where would teachers be without attention-getter phrases? These are a quick and clever method for getting kids to focus on you. Perennial favorites include: "Hocus Pocus: Time to Focus!" and "Chicka Chicka: Boom Boom!" Find a free printable poster of 25 terrific attention-getters here.

8. Introduce hand signals.

Consider using hand signals as part of your first grade classroom management strategy. These are especially useful during quiet working periods, but they also allow you to respond quickly from across the room as needed. Hand signals can be helpful for kids who might otherwise be shy about speaking up, too.

Learn more: Primarily Speaking

9. Try a movement code word.

It's an all-too-familiar scene: You're giving a set of directions for your next activity, and before you get a full sentence out of your mouth, kids are already heading off to gather supplies or get into groups. They miss those important instructions! Curb this behavior with a movement code word. You'll choose a word and tell students they need to stay still and listen until they hear you say that word. (It's a little like Simon Says.) Change up the word occasionally just for fun!

Learn more: Primarily Speaking

10. Flip for good behavior.

Recognizing good behavior is an important part of first grade classroom management. Help your students understand that they're all part of a community by rewarding them as a group as well as individually. The unique method here results in a reward-for instance extra recess. You start by posting letter cards with the letters upside-down. Then, as you see good behavior worth recognizing, flip the letters right side up, one at at time. When all the letters are flipped, the class earns its reward!

Learn more: One Sharp Bunch

11. Take brain breaks.

First graders are expected to sit still and learn for longer periods than kindergarten kids, and that can be difficult for some. Give them regular breaks to get up and move; studies show it's good for learning anyway.

Learn more: Proud to Be Primary

12. Tackle tattling vs. telling.

"Mr. Jefferson, Aaron took my scissors!" "Ms. Lacey, Emma stuck her tongue out at me!" For many kids the temptation to tattle is just too much. Help first graders understand when they need to get a grown-up involved (someone is being hurt or is in danger), and when they can handle something themselves or learn to let it go. This kind of thing takes time and practice, but social-emotional learning is definitely a key part of first grade classroom management.

Learn more: Create-Abilities

13. Control noise levels with visual cues.

Tap lights have lots of uses in the classroom, and one of the most popular is as a way to signal to kids the appropriate voice level for the current activity. You can also try a noise monitoring app, which provides instant feedback to kids on their noise levels. Never raise your voice again!

14. Set up a Calm Down Corner and toolbox.

Replace "time outs" with this first grade classroom management option. Calm Down Corners give kids a safe place to go when they need to check their emotions and re-direct their behavior. Stock these corners with tools that students can use to help them calm down and make better choices. Include items like books, fidget toys, stuffed animals, and strategy cards.

Learn more: Creatively Teaching First

15. Consider numbers vs. name tags.

Some folks absolutely hate the idea of labeling things with numbers instead of student names, but there can be some real benefits. Number systems allow you to see at a glance what's missing. You don't need to re-label everything year after year. It's easy to use numbers to divide kids into groups (evens and odds, etc.). So give it some thought; it's possible this system could make your first grade classroom management a little bit easier. (If numbers just aren't your thing, find more great classroom organization hacks here.)

Learn more: Adrienne Teaches
Get more first grade classroom management inspiration in this list of 50 Tips, Tricks, and Ideas for Teaching 1st Grade. Plus, 15 Awesome First Grade Blogs and Teachers to Follow.

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The Very Best First Grade Classroom Management Tips and Ideas

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With a year of kindergarten under their belts, first graders should be pretty familiar with what school is all about. These first grade classroom management strategies help reinforce what they already know, and create a learning environment where every student can succeed! First grade classroom management starts with a set of clear rules for kids to follow.

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I'm not great at designing space, so having techniques like these that would be the best for my students is something I think would be very useful

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Oh, those shining happy kindergarten faces! Everything is new and exciting, and they have their whole school career ahead of them. Where does a teacher even begin to teach them how school works? No worries, we've got the best kindergarten classroom management tips for you, all from teachers who've been there and done that.

1. Begin at the beginning.

When it comes to kindergarten classroom management, it's important to remember that at least some of these kids have never been in a structured school setting before. They'll need to learn all the expected rules and behaviors, so start with the most basic of basics and work your way up. Oh, and remember that long vacations like Christmas or spring break usually require a pretty strong re-set of expectations when you're back in the classroom again.

Learn more: Mrs. Wills' Kindergarten

2. It's all about procedures, procedures, procedures.

When you start writing it down, it's really surprising the number of behaviors kids are expected to know by the end of kindergarten. In between teaching them to read and count, kindergarten teachers also help little ones understand how to behave in a classroom, how to walk in a line, the right way and time to sharpen a pencil, and so much more. This incredibly detailed list (there are two more pages at the link!) is a good reference for all the many procedures kindies need to learn.

Learn more: Mrs. Jones's Class

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3. Show them what correct (and incorrect) behaviors look like.

Teacher Elizabeth Coller has five simple steps for teaching procedures to kinders, and modeling is an important part. "I do the first modeling. I get up and literally show the students what to do as I talk through the steps of the procedure," she explains. Sometimes she shows her kids the wrong way to do things, too. "The students love this - and it is a great way to demonstrate some common things you could see without a procedure in place."

Learn more: The Kinderhearted Classroom

4. Practice, practice, practice.

They're not always going to get it right the first time (or the twelfth time, for that matter). Be consistent, insistent, and persistent to help them develop good habits. It also helps to make sure they understand the "why" behind procedures. ("We put our toys away so others don't trip over them and hurt themselves.") Be patient; recognize when they're trying to get it right, and understand that sometimes they'll get it wrong (especially in the beginning).

Learn more: KindergartenWorks

5. Give lots of visual cues.

Visual reminders can help trigger the right kindergarten classroom management behaviors. Carpet spots are a terrific example: use them to show kids where to sit during carpet time, where to stand when it's time to line up, and more.

6. Use words and pictures on charts and cards.

Many kindergarteners are still learning to read, so combine written directions with images on your kindergarten classroom management anchor charts and procedure cards. This will ensure kids at every level can understand the message.

Learn more: F is For First Grade

7. A place for everything, and everything in its place.

A big part of kindergarten classroom management is staying organized. Teach your littles to help with this: label EVERYTHING, and be sure they always take the time to put things where they're supposed to go.

Learn more: Teaching is a Royal Adventure

8. Introduce them to The Doorbell.

If you're not already using a doorbell as part of your kindergarten classroom management strategy, now's the time to start! Teach kids to listen for the different sounds so they know when it's time to stop working, be quiet, transition to the next activity, and more. Here's how teachers use doorbells in their classrooms.

9. Teach them a few good attention-getters.

These simple call-and-response patterns have long been a hit with elementary school teachers. Most teachers have their favorites, but if you're new the to classroom and not sure what to pick, talk to other teachers in your school. First and second grade teachers will appreciate it if kids come to their classrooms already knowing the attention-getters they love to use.

10. Give them responsibilities.

As kids learn the rules and procedures, let them take on some of the responsibilities too. Stop taking attendance every day; introduce a Check In Chart instead. Don't collect papers and pass out supplies-teach them where to turn things in and find the materials they need. Start small and build to bigger things. You'll be surprised at what they can handle!

Learn more: KindergartenWorks

11. Celebrate their smallest achievements.

When everything is new, there are a lot of small achievements to celebrate every single day. Be generous and specific with your positive feedback. If you want to establish a reward system, keep it small and simple. These sticker cards are one fun way to do it. But really, a smile and "Nice job lining up quietly, James!" can be just as effective. Little kids thrive on this kind of thing, so sprinkle kindness like confetti. ( Find more ideas here.)

Learn more: Mrs. Kinder-Hearted

12. Re-direct them when they make poor choices.

Will they make mistakes? Oh yes, indeed! Sometimes they'll know they're doing it, and sometimes they won't even realize what they're doing is wrong. Your job as a teacher is to help them recognize good choices and learn to make them as often as possible. Keep things clear and simple; be gentle but firm and consistent. Remember that student behavior can really mean a lot of different things, and learn to recognize problems like Oppositional Defiant Disorder too.

Learn more: Pocket of Preschool: Green and Red Choices

13. Create a Calm Down Corner.

Leave "time outs" behind in preschool and instead create a cozy place in your classroom for kids who need a minute to calm down and re-think their choices. Be sure you take the time to teach little learners about its purpose and your expectations for how they'll use it. ( Find good items for your calm-down kit here.)

Learn more: Natalie Lynn Kindergarten

14. Prepare kids for a substitute teacher.

It can be very disconcerting and confusing to a young child to walk into their classroom and find a different, unfamiliar grown-up in charge for the day. Talk about subs early in the school year, so they'll be prepared when the day actually comes. The most important rule: their behavior shouldn't change just because their teacher does!

Learn more: Mrs. Beattie's Classroom

15. Help them learn to be flexible.

A lot of kindergarten classroom management time is spent getting kids into a routine. But what happens when the routine is interrupted? Fire drills, weather delays, school assemblies, guest speakers ... all of these things and more can disrupt a school routine in no time flat. How do you prepare your kiddos to deal with these disruptions?

One good way to is talk in advance about anything you can predict. Practice emergency drills in your classroom, before they need to participate school-wide. Try mixing up your routine on a fairly regular basis, too; move counting practice from before lunch to the end of the day; have storytime on the playground instead of the classroom carpet. Teach kids to roll with the punches, because life is definitely full of surprises.

Learn more: Pocket of Preschool: Drill Routines

16. Communicate (and set boundaries) with parents.

If kindergarten is the first time many kids attend school, it's also the first time for a lot of parents. There are so many different types of parents , from those who want constant communication to those who seem to ignore everything you send home. This is the time to help parents understand the best ways they can contribute to their child's education-and when they need to relax and let teachers do their thing.

Set a communication schedule and system, and stick to it whenever possible. This way, parents know what to expect from you. Consider your tone, especially in written communications. Be available, but not 24/7; your personal time is important and valuable. Avoid common parent communication mistakes, like not documenting interactions. Most importantly, find ways to work with parents to achieve outcomes that will make you all happy.

Learn more: Count on Tricia
Want to become a kindergarten expert? Try these 50 Tips, Tricks, and Ideas for Teaching Kindergarten! Plus, 11 Common Classroom Management Mistakes to Avoid.

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All the Best Kindergarten Classroom Management Tips and Ideas

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Set your students on the right educational path from day one with these tips and tricks for kindergarten classroom management from real teachers.

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Something I think about a lot is when to help a student reach an answer vs. when to let them figure it out on their own. Strategies like these might help mitigate that problem

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Developing Critical Thinking Skills in Kids

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Want to help your kids build a foundation for critical thinking? Read our tips for helping children become better problem solvers!

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One thing I see myself struggling with is motivation, so I think having something like this that includes helpful reminders and techniques for retaining it would be helpful.

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How to Stay Motivated as a Teacher | TCI

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Teaching is a challenging job, but even during the most difficult years, most teachers can find a lot to be thankful for and a great deal to keep them motivated to move forward into next year with excitement. However, it’s

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Ideas, tips, and the like that would help me if I chose to pursue teaching the 1st grade

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First grade is an exciting time of transition for your little ones! To help you and your students have the best year ever, we've scoured our own WeAreTeachers HELPLINE! and the web for some of the best tips and ideas for teaching first grade. While it by no means covers every possible topic, we hope this list of gems will inspire you, whether you are a brand new teacher or a veteran. And, we've organized the list by topic to make it easy to cruise for ideas!

Ideas for First Days:

1. Welcome your students with a big colorful, bulletin board.

Source: Doodlebugs Teaching

Seeing their names up on the wall will help students instantly feel at home, and the bright colors will create a festive mood in the classroom.

2. Introduce yourself creatively.

SOURCE: Good Choices Good Life

If you're teaching 1st grade, you have the honor of being one of the first teachers a child will meet! Make day one memorable by introducing yourself in a creative way, such as sending postcards over the summer! For 10 creative ideas, click here.

3. Get to know each other with icebreakers.

Get the kids mixing and moving as they get to know one another. Click here for lots of great ideas, including a free download of this fun icebreaker activity.

Ideas to Create your Classroom Community:

4. Start the day with Morning Meeting.

SOURCE: First Grade Fresh

Morning Meeting is an engaging way to connect with your students at the beginning of each day. An objectives and agenda board, along with a morning message, will help your students start off on the right track. For more on morning meetings, check out Responsive Classroom.

5. Establish a culture of kindness.

Print these free, downloadable posters to remind your students that kindness matters most of all.

6. Teach citizenship.

SOURCE: First Grade Wow

Read the story of Johnny Appleseed with your students, then analyze the qualities that make Johnny a good citizen. Help students brainstorm ideas about how they might show these characteristics in the classroom and at home!

7. Teach the difference between reporting and tattling.

SOURCE: Mrs. Warner's Fourth Grade Classroom

Save yourself a lot of headaches and teach your students the difference. Read Is it Tattling or Telling?

8. Assign jobs.

Give your students ownership of the classroom and teach responsibility by assigning jobs. Remember the saying: Many hands make light work! Here are 25 Flexible, Fun, and Free Classroom Job Charts to choose from.

Learning how to be in school and be a good friend are a huge part of being a first grader. Share stories that will not only teach lessons but start conversations.

10. Use Recite This to create your own inspirational posters.

SOURCE: Recite This

Ready to retire your old classroom posters? Get your creative juices flowing and use Recite This to make a brand new set.

Ideas for Language Arts:

11. Stock up on fun tools to use for guided reading.

SOURCE: Miss Van Maren's Fantastic First Grade

Learning to read is hard work! Make it as fun as you can with the great ideas found at the blog Guided Reading: A Little Novelty Goes a LONG Way.

12. Encourage critical thinking by giving your students writing prompts.

"I give students questions that take more thought than our simple carpet discussions-questions that they had to apply what they know to answer. It helps them get away from answering without thinking just to be first." - Heather M.

Here are 37 suggestions from Journal Buddies to get you started.

13. Read them stories every day.

Check out our list of 50 of the Best Books for First Grade. You'll have a hard time choosing which one to read first!

14. Differentiate reading instruction.

" Read Works is an incredible resource for teaching reading! At least once a week, I use a reading passage and question set in either the 'guided reading' or 'read to someone' for small group practice. I can easily differentiate because they provide the Lexile levels. I found this resource to be very helpful, especially with non-fiction to integrate science and social studies concepts into Daily 5." - Kellie P.

15. Have your students create personal word walls.

SOURCE: First Grade Parade

Instead of having one massive class word wall, have students create and post their own personal word walls in your classroom. Your first graders will love showcasing their skills! Check out the First Grade Parade for a free personal word wall template.

16. Travel your way through literature.

SOURCE: Library Patch

Make reading fun with reading passports from Library Patch.

17. Make things interesting with foldables.

SOURCE: Mrs. T's First Grade Class

Foldables are a great-and easy!-way to make any literacy activity more fun. The one above helps students group words with the same blend.

18. Teach them how to retell a story.

Use this reading comprehension anchor chart (1 of 25) to review stories with your first graders and strengthen their recall skills after reading.

19. Use paint swatches to teach parts of speech.

Source: DentonISD.org

Color-code parts of speech and sentence components and then have students create silly sentences to tell stories! Students can copy down their sentences and then illustrate them (We love paint swatches as a cool free tool for this).

20. Spell sight words by using magnetic letters on cookie tins.

Source: Make, Take, and Teach

This tip for teaching 1st grade comes from Make, Take, and Teach. It doubles as an excuse upgrade your kitchen pans!

21. Use games to teach blends.

SOURCE: The Measured Mom

Check out these six free, low-prep games for teaching blends.

22. Introduce interactive notebooks.

SOURCE: Teaching with Love & Laughter

"Using interactive notebooks is a great way for children to learn and interact with new information, as well as review and practice skills already introduced. They really took pride in their notebooks and were very proud to share their work with others. Unlike completing worksheets or other printables, which go home right away, these books are always available to the children." - Lori

Ideas for Math:

23. Keep your math manipulatives organized and easy to access.

"Use labels with words and pictures on bins. We take actual pictures of the materials." - Amy L.

"I give my kids the things they use the most, like counters and linking cubes, in a Ziploc baggie to keep in their desks. When we need them, I just tell them to take out their math tools. It saves a lot of time passing them out every time they are needed." - Diane D.

"I put my manipulatives into clear shoeboxes and label them with words and pictures. I have a set of shelves in my back room where the kids can access them." - Kelly H.

"Save baby wipe tubs and give each student their own set of place value books to keep in the desk." - Ann M.

24. Keep math journals.

Making a chart that connects the numeral, word, and picture for each number will help reinforce number concepts with your little ones. Check out this blog for more great examples of how to use math journals!

25. Differentiate math work by using online resources.

There are tons of online resources for differentiating math work. For a huge list of suggestions, read Best Math Websites for Teaching and Learning Math.

26. Stamp a story problem!

Source: First Grade Schoolbox

Students can visualize abstract numbers with this activity from First Grade Schoolbox. Since students are creating the activity, they can individually differentiate its complexity.

27. Have "Number Talks."

You can build mental math and computation skills with Number Talks.

"Our students need to be able to explain their thinking on math assessments, so this is a perfect way to get them comfortable with reasoning aloud. They learn to explain clearly and logically. It also helps them to see their errors since you write down the problem exactly the way they explain it. If they can't see the errors, other students can help clarify. It also gives value to working problems in different ways. As children develop a deeper number sense, they decompose and manipulate numbers in more complex ways." - Stephanie W.

28. Get to know the hundreds chart with number puzzles.

Source: Mrs. T's First Grade Class

These easy-to-make games will help students see what one more, ten more, one less, and ten less look like. Get the full tutorial on Mrs. T's First Grade Class.

Ideas for Science:

29. Create "apple eruptions."

SOURCE: Growing a Jeweled Rose

Conduct an apple-volcano science experiment. Fun and yum! Click here for step-by-step instructions. For more apple science activities, click here.

30. Get hands-on with science.

Science is the perfect subject for kids to get down and dirty. Read 5 Ways to Get Hands-On With Science on a Budget for inspiration.

31. Use a science journal to teach the seasons.

SOURCE: Today ... in First Grade

Students will draw trees in each season, describe what they wear during the different seasons, and journal about what makes winter, spring, summer, and fall different as they fill in this science journal from Today ... in First Grade!

32. Look for resources from an old friend.

Check out these awesome lesson plans for science in the kitchen, on the playground, and throughout the day from PBS Kids.

Ideas for Classroom Organization:

(For LOADS of classroom organization tips and tricks, click here.)

33. When it comes to decorating your classroom, less is more.

Anyone teaching 1st grade is going to have the urge to decorate, but check out these HELPLINE! readers' thoughts on why simplicity rules.

"I have learned to start with a blank slate and let the students 'decorate' the classroom through the year with their work." - Sarah H.

"I made the mistake of covering every wall with decor and then had nowhere for anchor charts!" - Ann M.

"You will see people go overboard with themes. Don't bother! I saw the cutest classroom where the teacher had bought a pack of plain borders with various colors, and she just alternated the colors on the wall with alternating butcher paper. Go simple." - Suzanne H.

Read 5 Secrets to Easy and Awesome-Looking Bulletin Boards.

34. Organize your classroom library with colorful bins.

SOURCE: Mrs. Wheeler's First Grade

Label the bins according to the way you've organized your classroom books: by series, genre, author, and so on!

35. Keep paperwork organized with labeled, three-drawer bins.

SOURCE: Learning to Teach

No more messy piles everywhere. Hurrah! For more organization tips, read 10 Teaching Hacks That Make You Go Duh!

36. Create classroom mailboxes for students.

SOURCE: The Teaching Thief

Use mailboxes to return work and have students write and deliver letters to each other! Personalize them to match your classroom decor.

37. Make space-saving seats for your centers.

SOURCE: DIY for Life

These adorable seats can double as buckets for easy materials storage. For a DIY tutorial, read 12 Amazing Ideas for Classrooms.

38. Use "absent folders" to help students catch up when they return to school.

SOURCE: Teaching with Terhune

Partner students at the beginning of the year. When one student is absent, have their partner put work in the Absent Folder for them. When the student returns to school, send the folder home. Total time-saver!

Ideas for Classroom Management:

39. There's a chart for that.

Be inspired by these 19 Classroom Management Anchor Charts.

40. Use a snappy call-and-response to get their attention.

For 27 fun ideas for quieting a noisy class, click here.

41. Take a brain break with games for every subject.

BrainPOP Junior lets you choose interactive games and activities based on subject and topic, such as science, art and technology, reading and writing, and health.

42. Reduce stress during dismissal.

SOURCE: Heidi Songs

Dismissal time doesn't have to be chaotic! Check out this blog for some great tips on handling dismissal time.

43. Let students pick their own seats (carefully).

Teaching 1st grade is part of easing kids into the school experience. Let them practice their independence with these tips for letting students choose their seats.

44. Have students use colored sticky notes to communicate their understanding of a concept.

SOURCE: Love, Teach, Inspire

We love this visual aid from Love, Teach, Inspire. Students signal if they're struggling, stuck, or solid on a concept they're learning! You can use sticky notes or colored index cards.

45. Stop the pencil-sharpening interruptions!

SOURCE: A Life Homemade

Students can drop their dull pencils in the Sharpen Please tin and take a sharpened pencil from the Ready to Write tin. Add pencil sharpener to your list of classroom jobs, and lessons will never be interrupted by an errant sharpener again! -A Life Homemade

Other Ideas:

46. Use all the anchor charts.

Here are 22 anchor charts just for first graders!

47. Build relationships with your students' parents.

Read 11 Teacher-Tested Ways to Make Your Classroom Parents Adore You.

48. Delight your students by dressing the part.

Get on the magic school bus with these Ms. Frizzle-inspired dresses.

49. Set the tone for work time with background music.

From Piano Guys to Afrobeat to The Jingle Punks Hipster Orchestra, you can find a Pandora station for every occasion.

50. Play with your kids!

First graders are hilarious! Don't forget to have fun with them. Here are 17 old-school recess games you can teach your students.
What are your top tips for teaching 1st grade? Come in share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook. WeAreTeachers HELPLINE is a place for teachers to ask and respond to questions on classroom challenges, collaboration and advice.

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50 Tips, Tricks, and Ideas for Teaching 1st Grade

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First grade is an exciting time of transition for your little ones! To help you and your students have the best year ever, we've scoured our own WeAreTeachers HELPLINE! and the web for some of the best tips and ideas for teaching first grade.

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I can see myself getting flustered by unruly children and classes, so I need strategies like these that might help me better handle them

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Beetbox | Early Education STEAM Learning Kits

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You asked, and we listened! The most common question we get from educators writing into our blog is: "How can I control my difficult classroom!?" And while there might not be a "one size fits all" fix, there are a few things you can do to help yourself out. It's worth mentioning that parent involvement ISN'T on the list (as our intention is to give teachers in-class solutions) but alerting parents to behavioral issues or disruptive tendencies is a must.
1. Be the boss
Think of yourself as the commander in chief! This means, when you speak, they listen. Establish clear rules for what it really means to be listening and explain clearly to the children. What does it mean to be listening? It could mean eyes on the teacher, sitting down, with their hands on their lap. This will be their signal to you that they're fully ready to listen. Include a directive, like the ring of a bell, or a clap 3 times to alert children that it's time to get their bodies and ears ready for listening.

You can also easily open the lines of communication by telling them something interesting about your day, or asking them a question to get them eager. For example, "What did everyone have for breakfast this morning? I had cereal and an apple! Did anyone else?" They'll surely want to share, and from there your classroom will be easier to command, and they'll be open and ready to start learning afterward. Remember to wait until everyone is seated, and meeting your listening criteria before you start an activity or lesson.
2. Redirect Attention
If students aren't paying attention or busy with other things, get them focused by using nonverbal signals of disapproval. If they are talking, pause and look toward them. If in front of the class, continue with the lesson but walk toward the problem students and stop near their seats, while still teaching. Having you so near usually shuts off the unwanted activity as the rest of the class's attention is directed toward the misbehaving students. If there is an active discussion going, direct a question to the student who is not paying attention or misbehaving. For example, say "Leah, would you agree that the yellow apple has the highest density?" Hearing her name and the question will prompt Leah to pay attention without the embarrassment of a negative redirection, which could have a negative affect on her, and decrease her chance of participating in the next lesson or discussion. Calling a student by name (especially in the vicinity of their friends, if they're an older student) is a sure fire way to make sure you'll have their attention. If the previous measures are ignored, or intentionally disregarded, the next step will be implementing a physical redirection or consequences, such as having them sit in a different part of the classroom, or the delay of a fun activity. class or changing their seat.
3. Let the children call the shots...sometimes!
With choice comes freedom, and with freedom comes children feeling like they're part of something important, and respected. That's why we like letting children help in making choices, for example, the daily schedule, or where they sit. At the beginning of the school year, allow children to sit where they'd like for one week. want for a few days. After that week, allow children to choose where they sit, and announce that where they sit, will be there will stay for the remainder of the month, next 3 months, or year, depending on age. When students are able to make this choice, they feel "ownership" and tend to behave well in order to avoid being moved.
4. Give Incentives to Do Their Best
Like most of us, children sometimes just don't feel like "giving it their all" or putting their best foot forward. While we would all love to give our students as much flexibility and patience as we want, realistically speaking, there aren't enough hours in the day. Ideally, we want to be able to regularly hard and reinforce positive behaviors, so much so, that it's possible for us to ignore the negative ones. Focus on the top 3 things you notice your students having trouble with that day. Is it lining up for class? Encourage children to work as a team to line up quickly by offering a reward for doing so quietly, in 1 minute or less. Use an egg or hourglass timer, and if they accomplish the task, everyone gets to pick a reward from the reward jar (could be stickers, an eraser, pennies, you name it). With the added pressure of their friends' reward on the line, children are more likely to be better listeners. Working with older students? Come up with a system that rewards children on an ongoing basis for their good behavior, like "behavior bucks" that they can turn in for prizes like extra recess time or computer time, even extra credit.

Eye contact goes a long way. When speaking, try your best to position yourself so that you can make eye contact with each of the children as you make an announcement or teach. Doing so reinforces structure and routine, as students come to expect to have your attention while they give you theirs. When children are aware they're being watched, they're much less likely to misbehave. When you're not teaching, be mindful of any "blindspots" in your classroom that make it difficult for you (but easy for unruly children) to commit classroom crimes. This could be anything from a bookshelf to a row of cubbies. We want to trust our students to make the best choices when our attention isn't 100% dedicated to them, but it's also a good idea to lessen the temptation by creating an open space.
6. Establish Consequences for Misbehaving
Good classroom management starts the first day of school. Once students learn there will be consequences for misbehavior, they usually come around.
Here are three steps to help you set up consequences:

1. Determine what consequences will be effective with your group of students. Ask yourself what students don't want to have happen-for example, older students won't be happy about having their parents called, or being moved from a seat they've chosen. Younger children will become upset without their favorite toy during free play. The reverse is also true, if you can figure out what students really want and love Classroom management doesn't have to be negative.)

2. Tell students that there will be consequences for misbehavior, and clearly explain the consequences so that they're understood. Children should also verbally confirm they understand. Follow through with consequences for misbehavior. Show students that you are serious and they will take you seriously.

3. As hard it might be, always make sure to follow through with your consequences. Giving a child "on more chance" can really be a mistake. Kids take us seriously and learn to trust what we say. They learn right from wrong as well as the importance of holding themselves accountable for their actions. ... When done with respect, following through with consequences isn't about "punishments," but providing the boundaries kids need to learn and grow.

4. Use logical consequences: One of the best ways to teach our students to accept responsibility is to use logical consequences. This means teaching children why and how we make good decisions, rather than simply punishing them for a negative one. An example could be if a student ripped up their friend's artwork in anger. A logical consequence could be for the student to apologize to their friend, listen to how it made the friend feel, and offer to help their friend repair or re-create their picture. Then, follow up with another way to express their anger for the future, like stomping their feet or counting to ten.

Getting a difficult classroom under control can feel like a marathon, not a sprint! But it's important to remember to stick to your structure, your rules, and follow through with consequences. You'll find you're reaching little milestones here and there, so make sure you pat yourself on the back for sticking it out.

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10 Ways to Control an Unruly Class - Beetbox | Early Education STEAM Learning Kits

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You asked, and we listened! The most common question we get from educators writing into our blog is: "How can I control my difficult classroom!?" And while there might not be a "one size fits all" fix, there are a few things you can do to help yourself out.