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There are some topics that are so broad, so overwhelming that it's hard to know where to begin. For teachers, classroom management can be one of those topics. It is a critical skill; some say it's more important than content knowledge. And yet, there is no single method or protocol to follow to ensure success. So what's a new teacher, or a teacher returning to the classroom after many years away, to do? No worries-we've got you. Here are the basics, along with amazing resources to get you started or give you inspiration to try something new.

What is classroom management?

Simply put, classroom management refers to the wide variety of skills and techniques that teachers use to ensure that their classroom runs smoothly, without disruptive behavior from students. According to teacher Ben Johnson, it boils down to having a structured learning environment with clear rules that promote learning as well as consequences that diminish or eliminate behaviors that get in the way of learning.

This can look different depending on which subject and age group you teach, how many students you have, and most importantly, your core personality. What works for a type-A, highly organized, routine-loving teacher may not work for a more laid back, roll-with-the-punches kind of teacher.

Of course, the ultimate goal for any teacher is an academically productive classroom with focused, attentive, and on-task students. Unfortunately, any teacher can tell you this is way harder than it sounds and usually takes years to accomplish. Even for teachers who consider themselves relatively skilled managers, things often change depending on the new mix of students they teach every year. So really, being skilled at management is an ongoing process, part of the lifelong learning that makes teaching so interesting.

The bottom line is this: Effective classroom management i s an absolute must. It impacts your ability to be an effective educator and your job, and it impacts your students' success as learners. If your classroom is out of control, it won't matter how passionate you are about your subject or how much you are truly dedicated to children, learning will be negatively impacted.

So where do I begin?

Luckily, there is no shortage of resources available to help you master the art of classroom management. There are mountains of books, podcasts, seminars, and classes dedicated to the subject. We've teased out the main components from some of our favorites to help you begin.

First, take time to build relationships with students.

Get to know your students. What are their strengths? Their challenges? What are they really into? Investing in them as individuals builds trust, and that is the key to successful classroom management. Integrate social-emotional learning into your day. Teaching your students social-emotional skills builds a cohesive classroom community.

For more about building relationships, read:

Second, have a solid plan.

Jennifer Gonzalez, in her blog Cult of Pedagogy , emphasizes the importance of having a well-thought-out plan before your students even arrive on day one. In the first few days and weeks, teach your plan in excruciating detail. The more front-loading you do with your students, the more successful your year will be. Enforce your rules and consequences consistently. Finally, she recommends getting student buy-in by " getting students excited about the year, about the learning they're going to do and the community they will create."

For more on creating a solid plan, read:

Third, have clear, reliable routines and procedures.

When kids know exactly what is expected of them on a daily basis, they feel safe and secure. It's our job as teachers to create a space that is predictable and productive. Create daily routines that make it easy for students to live up to your expectations.Have an arsenal of predictable cues for your students to keep them on track when they are chatty or disruptive.

For more on creating procedures and routines, read:

Finally, keep your sense of humor.

Managing a classroom can be a grind, so find ways to have a laugh instead of pulling your hair out. Kids will be kids. After all, they're still learning. And humor helps us keep our perspective, so we can help our students along in the kindest and most effective way.

For humorous takes on classroom management, read:

Learn more about classroom management:
What are your most successful classroom management tips? Share in the comments below!

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What is classroom management? It may be the most important skill teachers need for a successful career. Get all the tips you need here.

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"Classroom management" means creating systems that support the kind of positive behavior across a classroom. 

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"Classroom management" means creating systems that support the kind of positive behavior across a classroom. 

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Structure, Accountability, Reinforcement

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"Behavior management" is made strategies and systems that will manage and eliminate difficult behaviors that prevent students from succeeding in an academic environment.

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"Behavior management" is made strategies and systems that will manage and eliminate difficult behaviors that prevent students from succeeding in an academic environment.

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Positive Strategies and Reactive Strategies

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9 Classroom Management Ideas We Can Steal From Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

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I will never forget my first time going to WrestleMania as a kid. Wrestler after wrestler and match after match, I waited to see one person. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson! I will never forget the sound of the crowd as The Rock walked out and slid under the ropes into the ring.

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Why Good Classroom Management is a Lot Like Training a Puppy

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Nobody wants to own the dog that eats through the drywall, chews shoes with their morning kibble, and growls by way of a greeting. Similarly, no teacher wants students who eat the paste, destroy the desks, and maraud the hallways like minions of mayhem.

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A spoon full of sugar doesn't even make the list!

It's easy to quickly get overwhelmed by classroom management techniques, strategies, and methods. This is where I turn to Mary Poppins. Not only is she "practically perfect in every way," but I also think she totally has what it takes to run a 21st century classroom, using both humor and heart.

1. Be kind but firm

Mary Poppins is clear about her expectations from day one, and, boy, is she consistent!

2. Make sure you have their attention

Wait until you have all your students' attention before you speak. Use clear language when giving directions.

3. Encourage tidiness

It's important to set an expectation that students should clean up after themselves. They should treat the classroom and all school materials with respect.

4. Add an element of fun

Class jobs can be fun. Sometimes making a task a game is all it takes to get your students started: set a timer, set a class goal, put on some music, offer a few extra minutes of recess. Always acknowledge a job well done!

5. Be prepared

We teach students to be prepared, and we need to follow this advice, too. It doesn't hurt to have a bag like this either!

6. Perfect your teacher face

Handed down from one generation of teachers to the next, the teacher face lets students know without a single word that their behavior has gone too far.

7. Don't be afraid to smile and laugh

You are their role model for all emotions, not just the serious ones.

8. Learn how to sell it

They won't buy in if you don't. Even if you have to make up a fun name or try something new to build excitement, dive in full steam ahead.

9. Always offer support

Be encouraging and supportive to all students' efforts...and be willing to get down on the ground with them and get a little messy, too!

10. Don't be a pushover

There are always students who will want to leave the room for every bumped elbow or students who ask to go to the bathroom 18 times a day. Be judicious about allowing students to frequently leave the room, especially if you think they are looking to avoid work.

11. Have a plan for when students act out

Have a plan for how you will handle attention-seeking behavior. Often it makes sense to ignore it, but sometimes you need to quietly let the student know how they are acting is not acceptable.

12. Be ready to handle any comments

Have to have a go-to phrase or two to handle off-topic comments, calling out and those few students who always try to derail your lessons. Or just ignore them in a lot of cases!

13. Save up a little magic

On those days where you're tired and frustrated, write yourself a cheer-up note or keep a special chocolate stash. It'll help you keep making the magic happen.

14. Remember tomorrow is always a new day

Know how to take care of yourself at the end of a long day! Then leave it all behind because tomorrow is a clean slate!

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14 Classroom Management Strategies We Can Learn from Mary Poppins

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A spoon full of sugar doesn't even make the list! It's easy to quickly get overwhelmed by classroom management techniques, strategies, and methods. This is where I turn to Mary Poppins. Not only is she "practically perfect in every way," but I also think she totally has what it takes to run a 21st century classroom, using both humor and heart.

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5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Middle School Teacher

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Great Resources for Classroom Management

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Great Resources for Classroom Management

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There are some topics that are so broad, so overwhelming that it's hard to know where to begin. For teachers, classroom management can be one of those topics. It is a critical skill; some say it's more important than content knowledge. And yet, there is no single method or protocol to follow to ensure success. So what's a new teacher, or a teacher returning to the classroom after many years away, to do? No worries-we've got you. Here are the basics, along with amazing resources to get you started or give you inspiration to try something new.

What is classroom management?

Simply put, classroom management refers to the wide variety of skills and techniques that teachers use to ensure that their classroom runs smoothly, without disruptive behavior from students. According to teacher Ben Johnson, it boils down to having a structured learning environment with clear rules that promote learning as well as consequences that diminish or eliminate behaviors that get in the way of learning.

This can look different depending on which subject and age group you teach, how many students you have, and most importantly, your core personality. What works for a type-A, highly organized, routine-loving teacher may not work for a more laid back, roll-with-the-punches kind of teacher.

Of course, the ultimate goal for any teacher is an academically productive classroom with focused, attentive, and on-task students. Unfortunately, any teacher can tell you this is way harder than it sounds and usually takes years to accomplish. Even for teachers who consider themselves relatively skilled managers, things often change depending on the new mix of students they teach every year. So really, being skilled at management is an ongoing process, part of the lifelong learning that makes teaching so interesting.

The bottom line is this: Effective classroom management i s an absolute must. It impacts your ability to be an effective educator and your job, and it impacts your students' success as learners. If your classroom is out of control, it won't matter how passionate you are about your subject or how much you are truly dedicated to children, learning will be negatively impacted.

So where do I begin?

Luckily, there is no shortage of resources available to help you master the art of classroom management. There are mountains of books, podcasts, seminars, and classes dedicated to the subject. We've teased out the main components from some of our favorites to help you begin.

First, take time to build relationships with students.

Get to know your students. What are their strengths? Their challenges? What are they really into? Investing in them as individuals builds trust, and that is the key to successful classroom management. Integrate social-emotional learning into your day. Teaching your students social-emotional skills builds a cohesive classroom community.

For more about building relationships, read:

Second, have a solid plan.

Jennifer Gonzalez, in her blog Cult of Pedagogy , emphasizes the importance of having a well-thought-out plan before your students even arrive on day one. In the first few days and weeks, teach your plan in excruciating detail. The more front-loading you do with your students, the more successful your year will be. Enforce your rules and consequences consistently. Finally, she recommends getting student buy-in by " getting students excited about the year, about the learning they're going to do and the community they will create."

For more on creating a solid plan, read:

Third, have clear, reliable routines and procedures.

When kids know exactly what is expected of them on a daily basis, they feel safe and secure. It's our job as teachers to create a space that is predictable and productive. Create daily routines that make it easy for students to live up to your expectations.Have an arsenal of predictable cues for your students to keep them on track when they are chatty or disruptive.

For more on creating procedures and routines, read:

Finally, keep your sense of humor.

Managing a classroom can be a grind, so find ways to have a laugh instead of pulling your hair out. Kids will be kids. After all, they're still learning. And humor helps us keep our perspective, so we can help our students along in the kindest and most effective way.

For humorous takes on classroom management, read:

Learn more about classroom management:
What are your most successful classroom management tips? Share in the comments below!

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What is classroom management? It may be the most important skill teachers need for a successful career. Get all the tips you need here.

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The Best Professional Development Expert is the Teacher Down the Hall.

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The Best Professional Development Expert is the Teacher Down the Hall.

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Laura  Randazzo – Solutions for the Secondary Classroom

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There's a whole edu-industry out there featuring guest speakers and seminar leaders who are happy to visit our campuses (for a hefty fee) and tell us what works best for kids. Hands down, though, the best use of my professional development time has been visiting my colleagues' classrooms.

When I was a new(ish) teacher, my principal gifted me with a sub-release day. Instead of teaching my classes, I became a student for the day, visiting six rock star teachers on our campus - the catch was that none of them could be from my own department. My day was filled with Algebra 2 equations (oof!), Spanish vocabulario, and, yes, a cow eyeball dissection. (Its milky blue iris still glares in my memory.)

The result? A wealth of ideas, from games to technology to discipline procedures, that I could bend to fit my classroom and curriculum. Even the lead-balloon moments (we all have 'em, even our best teachers) led to growth because knowing what not to do or watching someone regroup when the wheels fall off the cart is also important. (Side note: The day, although awesome in so many ways, left me bone-tired and empathetic about the mental fatigue students face in navigating six strong teacher personalities - including my own - each day. Kids have a TON thrown at them.)

We don't need pundits and policy; untapped talent is hidden in plain sight on our campuses. So maybe you can't get a full sub-release day from your administrators. Fine. Then give up one prep period, even just once a month. Get out of your room. Get inspired.

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Best Professional Development Expert? The Teacher Down the Hall

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There's a whole edu-industry out there featuring guest speakers and seminar leaders who are happy to visit our campuses (for a hefty fee) and tell us what works best for kids. Hands down, though, the best use of my professional development time has been visiting my colleagues' classrooms. When I was a new(ish) teacher, my...

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Elementary Tips for the First Days of School

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Elementary Tips for the First Days of School

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My First 10 Days of School Tips and Lesson Plans for Your Preschool Classroom [ + FREE Lesson Plan]

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With almost 30 years in the middle and high school classroom between the Maneuvering the Middle team, we have many thoughts on the routines and procedures necessary to run a successful classroom.

This list is not exhaustive but will hopefully provide you with a place to start. One recommendation is to think backwards. Start by thinking about how you want your classroom to look and feel when the students are working and you are teaching. Ask yourself, "What did I have to teach my students in order to reach this ideal state?"

I have outlined some essential middle school routines to teach to your students. Some, I have seen effective teachers implement as well as ones that worked wonders in my own classroom. (Sometimes routines are born out of necessity)

Daily Routines

1. How to enter your classroom

This fell into the - surely I don't have to teach students this - category. Turns out, I did. It is better to be proactive than reactive as a teacher or you will have students who take advantage of the ambiguity. I used these posters to guide my students. "Take the most direct route to your seat" was a game-changer for me.

2. Warm up/BELL RINGER

Where do students get the warm up? When should they start on it? Are they allowed to talk during this time?

3. Sharpen pencils

When students need to sharpen their pencils, they raise their hand and make the letter P in sign language, so I can simply nod or tell them to wait. That is one procedure that has worked for me. Students know that they must always ask permission which eliminates any rude interruptions while I am teaching. Some teachers have a trading system so that the pencil is never sharpened during class.

4. "I don't have a pencil"

There is no combination of words strung together that I despise more than these (except perhaps "I don't get it"). Seriously, can someone solve this problem for me? My sister and I joked about buying these for every table in my classroom. What is so hilarious, is that I frequently go to meetings where I have to ask to borrow a pen. #teacherfail

5. Hand Signals

When students raise their hands, you are subjecting yourself to Pandora's box when you call on them. By using hand signals, you are placing a filter on some of this 'spam.' I have a hand signal for needing a tissue, asking to go to the restroom, asking a question, answering a question, and sharing a comment. This will save you so much energy. While working with my small group, I would stop what I was doing to walk across the classroom to address a raised hand, only to be asked to go to the restroom. Stop the madness! Use hand signals!

You can get Hand Signals and so much more in our Classroom Poster Pack.

Check out the When are students allowed to use the restroom in your class? Do they have a certain number of times they are allowed to go in six-weeks? How do you track that? brilliant procedure Noelle used in her classroom.

7. Dismissal procedures
When can students start packing up? Do students just leave when the bell rings? What are they responsible for cleaning up? Do they need to stack chairs?
8. Technology

Learning with technology is a privilege. When you threaten to take away the iPad or computer, make sure to follow through. Have a packet of work copied and ready to hand out to students who are choosing to be off task or treat the technology with disrespect. Another procedure to consider is how the technology gets distributed and put away. Remote learning has created more of a need for technology routines and procedures. Watch for that post - coming soon!

9. Cell phones

My school has a strict policy that if you have your cell phone out or if it goes off, teachers collect them and parents have to come pick them up. Most schools are not like that though. While phones can be tools, they can also serve as a distraction. Be specific about what phones are used for in your classroom, and stick to it. You could try this or try this. Or check out Pocket Points - an app that rewards students for staying off their phone.

10. Calculators

There are many procedures that must be taught regarding this equipment especially if they belong to the school. I found that having calculators on the wall and students picking one up on the way in seemed to work pretty well. Make sure that you have a routine in place when calculators stop working or run out of batteries.

11. Passing in papers

Do students make a pile at their table? Do students get up and turn in the assignment to a tray? What about tests? If you have individual desks, do students pass the paper up, back, or across?

12. Attention getter

When you get students' attention, what are they supposed to do? Get silent? Stop moving? Look at you? They probably need to do all of these things, so be prepared to practice this with your students several times. Make sure that you wait for 100% compliance before making your announcement or giving direction. Many teachers love using this wireless doorbell.

Weekly Procedures

13. Trade and grade papers

After realizing that I only use 'trade and grade' on assignments that weren't actually going to be a grade, I stopped. I allowed students to grade their own assignment to get feedback and ask questions easily. If the assignment was going to be a grade, I would use Google Forms or a bubble sheet.

14. When someone enters

Do your students talk to office aides or other teachers when they enter your classroom? Yep! Mine too. Teach them that only the teacher addresses guests and if they have something they must add, they have to put up the hand signal for comment or question.

15. General group procedures

How do students get into groups? What is the expectation of the group members? Do you have roles? My students sit at tables, so they naturally have a group to work with. When I had desks in pairs, we addressed how to move the desks, where to move them, and what the expectations were of each role. I personally reserved roles for larger assignments/projects.

`16. Small group procedures

Check out this post for some of the routines I practice for small groups.

17. Supply procedures

Routines in place - what to do when my glue stick runs out? What if I need to sharpen my colored pencil? Who picks up trash? I use table bins with just enough supplies to keep things manageable, and I have a student organize them at the end of each day. The table bins are only out on tables when we are using glue, colored pencils, or scissors, so students aren't tempted to play with the materials.

Less Frequent Procedures

18. Emergency Procedures

Most schools are different, but one routine has remained the same during every emergency procedure, students are silent. This is a hard one to execute if your entire school or grade level isn't consistent. I explained to students that teachers need to be able to hear instructions or take attendance and silence helps that move along faster.

19. Band aid/nurse/I have a headache

To get a bandaid in my class, you have to be bleeding, and I keep bandaids in my room so that no class time is missed. . For headaches, I ask them to take some deep breaths and drink some water. I rarely allow students to go to the nurse because then it will never stop. Get into the habit of sympathizing with your student and telling them that they are strong enough to tough it out. Then walk away. Exceptions: vomiting and blood.

20. Quiz and test procedures

This is a procedure that you do not have to teach the first few days of school, but you need to teach the first few times you give a test or quiz, so make sure to allow enough time for that. Teach how you want students to turn in their tests, what they need to do after they have finished, and how to treat testing folders (if you use them).

Need more routines and procedures?

Editor's Note: We have been publishing content for the Maneuvering the Middle blog for over 6 years! This post was originally published in June of 2016 and has been revamped for accuracy and relevancy.

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Must Teach Middle School Routines and Procedures

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20 middle school routines and procedures to keep your students on the right track and out of trouble. Set your classroom up for success!

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Classroom Management Strategies:  Free Resources

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Classroom Management Strategies:  Free Resources

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Do students feel safe in your classroom? Questions like this may evoke images of a school shooting, but there are many other ways that classrooms are not the safe havens they should be for...

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Classroom Management Strategies: Free Resources

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Do students feel safe in your classroom? Questions like this may evoke images of a school shooting, but there are many other ways that classrooms are not the safe havens they should be for...

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Laura  Randazzo – Solutions for the Secondary Classroom

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A few years back, I was grousing with colleagues about an upcoming week of fourth-quarter speech evaluations when a friend in the history department gave me one of those duh-why-didn't-I-think-of-that moments. (Thanks, S.W.!)

Instead of scheduling a full week of student presentations (8 speakers per day x 4 days = all 32 kids done but I'm wrung out), he wisely suggested I spread the speeches over a month. His obvious fix worked like a charm.

Call me weird, but I now enjoy student speech assignments. It's fun to sit in the audience and have a student educate and entertain the class for a few minutes - not to mention, I love not having any prep work on the night before speech days. Just keepin' it real, folks. But, as with that divine pink box from the Donut Shop, there's only so many sweet treats I can consume before I start to feel ill. By sliding to a once-per-week serving of student speeches, I'm now able to enjoy each fresh batch and the audience members, who have sat through more than their share of pained student presentations over the years, also seem to appreciate this rationed approach.

Facing presentation fatigue? Just slide around that calendar until it works for you.

Teach on, everyone!

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A few years back, I was grousing with colleagues about an upcoming week of fourth-quarter speech evaluations when a friend in the history department gave me one of those duh-why-didn't-I-think-of-that moments. (Thanks, S.W.!) Instead of scheduling a full week of student presentations (8 speakers per day x 4 days = all 32 kids done but...

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Teaching Procedures, Rules, and Respect During the First Days of Seventh Grade

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For classroom management success, it is essential for teachers to establish effective classroom management routines, procedures and learning structures in their classrooms starting the first week of school.

During our weekly #2ndaryELA Twitter chat teachers shared that these routines were critical to a successful school year:

washroom/drink sign out

bell ringers or warm-up activities

school supplies easily accessible by students

proper use of the classroom library

how to ask for help

attention-getting signals (I use a clapping rhythm or I count down from 5)

how to turn in work for grading

technology storage/use guidelines

Q1: Which routines or procedures are most important for keeping your class running smoothly?

Bell ringers/warm ups and having a supply center and boxes so students self serve during class students talking to group and not being allowed to say I don't know when called upon randomly

How to use class library, how to ask for help, how to work in small groups/independently

Beginning of class routines are key. Agenda/Homework on screen, copied in planner first thing. Also, an attention getting signal!

Retrieving supplies, bell ringer, packing up, asking for help, turning in work

A binder with dividers for each class has make up work, notes, etc. with students' names on papers

All routines are important - handing in work, independent work expectations, accessing class materials

Yes, attention getting is so important in my chatty Pre-AP classes

Bell ringer at the beginning of class

Designated days for specific skill focus gives structure but leaves room for creativity; every kid speaks everyday policy

Attention signal, "When finished" list, assigned numbers that correspond with student materials, SSR/DEAR, bell ringers, transitions

Clearly labelled areas for supplies/materials/handing in work/absence folders & what to do when someone walks into room

My students have a sheet of 8 passes per semester. Pass is filled out, torn off, taken with student, given to me

All graded work is handed back to students to file in file folders that stay in my file cabinet. Great for keeping track of papers

Use student selected music as students enter & settle. I use fun call backs/signals for attention. Say thank you for answers rather than right

Most imp routines are bell ringers, focused work time, and clearly labeled materials in room

Q2: What routines need to change for this year?

Something needs changed about submitting papers in Google classroom. I haven't decided how/what yet

I need to implement a few class jobs and some student librarians to take some automated tasks off of my shoulders. I'm thinking table captains, supply managers, paper sorters, librarians, desk wranglers

Working on better class jobs and portfolio system to manage returning papers but still accessing them later in quarter

I need to work on dealing with absences/owed work. Major area of weakness for me

Try @SignUpGenius for jobs! I made one and put the link right into Google Classroom for my kiddos

I need to help my kids stay more organized by being more explicit with where I expect them to keep work

Still trying to best tweak independent learning/choice reading with structure and schedules

I've been using Classroom for a couple years but it hasn't helped me to control the chaos yet

I was struggling with Chromebook plugs. Labeled each cord with tape/computer number = problem solved!

With new curriculum making learning targets and assignments connect for students. Will post pic tomorrow of my board

Streamlining digital submission process with only one platform. Last year, I spent a lot of time looking for digital work

As a literacy coach, I'll be helping classroom teachers implement better classroom routines, having a warm up is a priority if class starts smoothly, it will usually continue smoothly

I need to change homework checking routines - it takes too long. Also assignment submission routines. Also too long

I also want to work on students submitting work to digital portfolios all through the year instead of just at end

I have a shelf for each class where they store reading notebook and novel (if they want). Crate for writing notebook underneath

I have a bin for each class, colour coded duotangs with list & as they hand in their work, they initial

Classroom is a big help for keeping my students organized with their materials but hasn't helped me with turned in work yet

Q3: Share any ideas or photos of physical spaces in the classroom that help with routine and procedures.

I keep an absence binder of handouts. Students responsible to get missed work http://goo.gl/avSKkC

Missing Work QR code - no more class lists and teacher check marks. Going digital this year

Thanks to many of your ideas: absent folders with missing work, clipboards, library sign out, In & Out sheet, colour coding is HUGE

I label and number each student's binder which they keep in numbered cubbies. Saves time from searching for their binders

Shelf designated for class group to store binders and textbooks. Students responsible for keeping them organized!

Late Lisa from FL uses a make-up work file folder case with folders no. 1-31. You miss Sept. 1, you check folder 1 for missed work

Q4: What routines do you use to manage your work/life balance?

Check out these Teacher Life Hacks

I don't grade papers all night. New rule this year. Sleep is a necessity

I have a list system I learned from @Angela_Watson that has helped so much!! And I meal plan.

BOUNDARES. That's it. Email goes off at 4. No checking from home. Stay late on Friday and prep for upcoming week

I meal plan and prep on Sundays for the week. I also pick out my clothes the night before

I use music once bell rings to indicate planner/bell work time. When song is done, students should be too

Right now, with a 3-month-old & a husband working long hours I leave school work at work. Get in early and maximize lunch, prep time

I don't take work home; 3 kids under 4 would lose/color/rip them anyway. Makes me more purposeful at work too. Prep the agenda, date, and warm up day before so even if I'm behind, the kids won't know and I get time to catch up

I am working towards having set work hours, though it's tough to just walk away at 5 PM at the beginning of the year!

(For real this time) I do not take work home unless it's progress report/report card time. I also try to plan a week ahead for my meals at home like I do for lesson plans.

Nothing "routine" yet, but working on creating firmer boundaries between work and home

I schedule jobs on certain days of week. I know I need to start lesson plans on Wed. Grade Mon/Thurs. Update gradebook Tues

I am working on this! I am aiming for 48-50 hours/week by October once I streamline my systems!

I have a farther commute this year, so I am still working on making succinct lists of what tasks I can finish at home

Q5: Share a classroom management resource that you find invaluable (book, article, blog post, technology, reward system, etc.).

I love using these Flexible Seating cards in my classroom

Best resource I have is this amazing group

My reward system uses tickets and by golly 6th graders will do just about anything for them! Weekly drawings on Fridays

Old school, but I love Jane Nelson's Positive Discipline book

I use a Google form for checking out classroom library books & added a column for date checked in to the sheet

My students love stickers - the jump in discussion participation is amazing!

This group, the 40 Hour Teacher Work Week group, saving webpages to PDF in specific files, @pernilleripp 's posts for focus

http://stressrelief4teachers.net & podcast One Teaching Tip. . Always short Always helpful! Love them!!! Great for all teachers!

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Classroom Management Routines and Procedures For Middle and High School Classrooms

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For classroom management success, it is essential for teachers to establish effective classroom management routines, procedures and learning structures in their classrooms starting the first week of school.

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Being an effective teacher begins by providing structure in the classroom. Most students respond positively to structure, especially those who have little structure and stability in their home life. A structured classroom often translates to a safe classroom, one where students can enjoy themselves and focus on learning. In a structured learning environment, students are more likely to thrive and experience personal and academic growth.

Too often teachers provide students with freedoms that they can abuse. A lack of structure can destroy a learning environment and undermine a teacher's authority, leading to misbehavior and wasted time.

Keeping a classroom structured does take a strong commitment from the teacher, but the rewards are well worth the time, effort, and planning required. Teachers who build a structured classroom will find that they enjoy their jobs more, see more growth in their students, and experience more positivity. It all starts with a few simple steps.

Start on Day One

It is essential to recognize that the first few days of the school year often dictate the tone for the remainder of the year. Once you lose a class, you rarely get them back. Structure starts on day one. Rules and expectations should be laid out immediately, and possible consequences should be discussed in depth. Provide students with specific scenarios and walk them through your expectations as well as your plan for dealing with issues in the classroom.

Set Expectations High

As a teacher, you should naturally come in with high expectations for your students. Convey your expectations to them, but set goals that are realistic and reachable. These goals should challenge your students both individually and as a class. Have a set of expectations for everything including preparation, academic success, and student behavior inside and outside your classroom.

Hold Students Accountable

Hold every student accountable for their actions in all areas of life. Do not allow them to be mediocre. Encourage them to be great and do not let them settle for less than that. Deal with issues immediately. Do not allow students to get away with something simply because it is a small issue, as small issues can easily develop into more serious issues over time. Be fair but tough. Always listen to your students and take what they have to say to heart. Use their feedback to build the best classroom you can.

Keep It Simple

Providing structure does not have to be difficult as you do not want to overwhelm your students. Pick a handful of the most fundamental rules and expectations as well as the most effective consequences. Spend a couple of minutes discussing or practicing them each day.

Keep goal-setting simple. Do not give your students fifteen goals to meet at once. Provide them with a couple of reachable goals at a time and then add new ones once those are reached. Start the year off by providing goals that are easily attainable so that your students will build confidence through success. As the year moves along, provide them with goals that are increasingly more difficult to achieve.

Be Prepared to Adjust

Always set expectations high, but it is essential to understand that every class and every student is different. Be prepared to adjust your expectations if a student or group of students is not academically capable of meeting them. It is important that you are always realistic. By setting expectations too high, your risk making your students so frustrated that they just give up. Always temper your expectations to meet individual learning needs. Likewise, you will also encounter students who easily exceed your expectations. You should reevaluate your approach in differentiating their instruction as well.

Do Not Be Hypocritical

Kids will identify a phony rather quickly. It is critical that you live by the same set of rules and expectations that you expect your students to follow. If you do not allow your students to have their cell phones in your classroom, then you should not either. You should be the primary role model for your students when it comes to structure. A key component with structure is preparation and organization. How can you expect your students to be prepared for class each day if you are rarely prepared yourself? Is your classroom clean and organized? Be real with your students and practice what you preach. Hold yourself to a higher level of accountability and students will follow your lead.

Build a Reputation

First-year teachers in particular often struggle with providing an adequate level of structure in their classrooms. This becomes easier with experience. After a few years, your reputation will either become a tremendous asset or a significant burden. Students will always talk about what they can or cannot get away within a particular teacher's class. Veteran teachers who are structured find it increasingly easier over the years to continue to be structured because they have that reputation. Students come into their classrooms knowing what to expect, making the teachers' work much easier.

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Basic Strategies for Providing Structure in the Classroom

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Providing structure in the classroom is one of the best ways for teachers to build a positive environment for learning.

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Consequences are an important part of the behavior management plan for your classroom, whether it is a self-contained special education classroom, a resource room or a partnership in a full inclusion classroom. Behaviorist research has clearly shown that punishment does not work. It makes a behavior disappear as long as the punisher is not around, but will reappear. With disabled children, especially children on the autistic spectrum, punishment may only reinforce aggression, self-injurious behavior and aggression sublimated as self-urination or even fecal smearing. Punishment includes inflicting pain, removal of preferred food and isolation.

Consequences are the positive or negative results of the behavior choices a person makes.

Natural Versus Logical Consequences

According to Adlerian psychology, as well as Jim Fay an author of Teaching with Love and Logic, there are natural consequences, and there are logical consequences:

Natural consequences are the consequences that naturally come from choices, even bad choices. If a child plays with fire, he or she will get burned. If a child runs into the street, the child will get hurt. Obviously, some natural consequences are dangerous and we want to avoid them.

Logical consequences are consequences that teach because they are related to the behavior. If you ride your bike into the street when you are three, the bike gets put away for 3 days because it is not safe for you to ride your bicycle. If you throw your food on the floor, you will finish your meal at the kitchen counter, because you don't eat nicely enough for the dining room.

Classroom Routines and Consequences

Why would you punish for failure to follow a classroom routine? Isn't your goal for the child to follow the classroom routine? Have him or her do it again until he or she does it right. This is not actually a consequence: it is over-teaching, and it is also truly negative reinforcement. Negative reinforcement is not punishment. Negative reinforcement makes the likelihood of a behavior to appear by removing the reinforcer. Kids will remember the routine rather than have to practice it over and over again, especially in front of peers. When over-teaching a routine be sure to stay objective and non-emotional. For example:

"Jon, would you please walk back to your seat? Thank you. When you're ready, I'd like you to line up quietly, and keep your hands and feet to yourself. Thank you. That was much better."

Be sure you practice your routines ad nauseum. Be sure your students understand that you expect them to follow the routines properly for the good of the class and because your class is the best, brightest and is learning more than anyone else on the planet.

Consequences for Breaking School Rules

In most situations, the principal is responsible for enforcing school-wide rules, and in a well-managed building, consequences will be spelled out clearly. Consequences may include:

After school detention under the principal or dean of student's supervision.

Conference with parents.

Loss of recess privileges.

Suspension

Consequences for Classroom Rules

If you have successfully established routines through modeling, practice and relearning, you should have little need for consequences. Consequences should be kept for serious rule-breaking, and children with a history of disruptive behavior need to have a Functional Behavior Analysis administered, either by the special educator, a psychologist or a behavior specialist. In those situations, you need to think seriously about the purpose of the behavior and the replacement behavior you wish to see take its place, or replacement behavior.

In most cases, post stepped consequences for infractions. Start every student at zero, and find a way to move children up the hierarchy of consequences due to the number of infractions. A hierarchy may go like this:

One infraction: Warning

Two infractions: Loss of 15 minutes of recess.

Three infractions: Loss of recess, a note home to be signed by the parent.

Four infractions: After school detention, note home to be signed by the parent.

Two consecutive days with 4 or more infractions: Conference with parents to discuss a plan of action, contract, or loss of privileges at home.

Loss of Privileges

Loss of privileges is perhaps the best consequence for infractions of rules, especially privileges related to the rules. If a child fools around in the bathroom, swinging on the stall doors or peeing on the floor. The child should lose independent bathroom privileges, and only be allowed to use the restroom when supervised.

It is helpful to have a class agreement to cover the rules and consequences. Publish the rules and the consequence hierarchy, and send it home with a receipt to be signed by the parents. That way, if you use detentions, you can let parents know that it is a consequence. You may especially have problems with after-school detention depending on whether parents have transportation, or are free to walk their child home after school. It is always good to have alternate consequences

Consequences should always be related to what is important to the children in your class. A teacher should take care that a child does not use the consequence system to get attention, for then it is counterproductive. For those children, a behavior contract might be a successful step before pursuing a Behavior Intervention Plan.

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Consequences vs Punishment in Classroom Discipline

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Consequences are an important part of the behavior management plan for your classroom, whether it is a self-contained special education classroom, a resource room or a partnership in a full inclusion classroom. Behaviorist research has clearly shown that punishment does not work. It makes a behavior disappear as long as the punisher is not around, but will reappear.

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The First 9 Months: First Year Teacher Full Documentary

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Good classroom management goes hand-in-hand with student discipline. Educators from the novice to the experienced need to consistently practice good classroom management to reduce student behavioral problems.

To achieve good classroom management, educators must understand how social and emotional learning (SEL) influences the quality of teacher-student relationships and how that relationship influences classroom management design. The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning describes SEL as "the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions."

Classrooms with management that meets academic and SEL goals require less disciplinary action. However, even the best classroom manager can use a few tips at times to compare his or her process with evidence-based examples of success.

These seven classroom management tactics reduce misbehavior so teachers can focus their energy on making effective use of their instructional time.

In their book, The Key Elements of Classroom Management, Joyce McLeod, Jan Fisher, and Ginny Hoover explain that good classroom management begins with planning the time available.

Discipline problems generally occur when students become disengaged. To keep them focused, teachers need to plan different blocks of time in the classroom.

Allocated time accounts for the total span of teacher instruction and student learning.

Instructional time covers the time teachers spend actively teaching.

During engaged time, students work on tasks on their own.

And in academic learning time, teachers prove that students learned the content or mastered a particular skill.

Each block of time in the classroom, no matter how short, should be planned. Predictable routines help structure blocks of time in the classroom. Predictable teacher routines include opening activities, which ease transitions into class; routine checks for understanding and routine closing activities. Predictable student routines work with partner practice, group work, and independent work.

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7 Ways to Take Control of Your Classroom to Reduce Student Misbehavior

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Good classroom management goes hand-in-hand with student discipline. Educators from the novice to the experienced need to consistently practice good classroom management to reduce student behavioral problems. To achieve good classroom management, educators must understand how social and emotional learning (SEL) influences the quality of teacher-student relationships and how that relationship influences classroom management design.

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Module - Developing a Comprehensive Classroom Management Plan 

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Module - Developing a Comprehensive Classroom Management Plan 

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IRIS | Page 8: Develop a Comprehensive Classroom Behavior Management Plan

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Finally, teachers can prevent or minimize disruptive behaviors by creating a comprehensive classroom behavior management plan. Such a plan explicitly communicates to students (and their families) both how students are expected to behave and the consequences for not doing so. It also serves as a guid…

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Page 8: Develop a Comprehensive Classroom Behavior Management Plan

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Top 10 CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT Tips in 10 Minutes