5 Easy Classroom Management Strategies

Whether you’re in the throes of back to school season, or you’re struggling mid-year these classroom management strategies are so easy to add to your day-to-day routine with your students! Check out these classroom management ideas I’ve used in my own classroom!

Classroom Management Tip 1:

One classroom management trick that I first started using during my student teaching has continued to stick with me. You can find the template pictured above in my Freebie Library!

Many teachers assign student jobs like line leader, door holder, caboose, etc. Some teachers even ask students to line up in alphabetical order, birthday order, number order, etc. I’ve done this many times! I was once told by my principal that I ‘must have a line order that I use every day’ to provide consistency. However, I’ve found that when students end up standing next to the same people this often leads to behavior issues while they’re in line. Instead of assigning an order that we follow every day, I assign students days of the week. That way, they are not standing in the same spot each day!

This classroom management strategy will take a few minutes of explaining to your students, but every year my first graders picked it up so quickly!

On Monday, the students in that group line up at the front of the line. The Tuesday students are behind them. Then come the Wednesday students, Thursday, etc. On Tuesday, the Tuesday group lines up first, followed by Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The Monday students are at the back of the line. On Wednesday, the Wednesday group of students line up first, followed by Thursday, Friday, and Monday. The Tuesday students are at the back of the line, and so on.

Initially I’ll use a dry erase marker to write their assigned day on their desk or I’ll post the list of assignments until they remember their day. I also usually call out the days one-by-one so that no one tries to line up outside of their assigned day. If there is a line leader, door holder, or caboose, they maintain their spot all week or they change jobs. Creating these groups allows me to separate students that may get each other into trouble. In the younger grades especially, routines like this are necessary to help students make the best choices.

I really like this management routine because it gives structure and allows for a little bit of student choice because their order within their day of the week can change from day to day. You can also change day assignments if needed!

Classroom Management Tip 2:

Call outs and attention getters are common in primary classrooms but I’ve also used them with older students! I also like to personalize them for my classroom based on what my students are interested in, such as tv shows, music, sports teams, or games. If you are teaching older students, try to make the attention getters relevant to them. For example, if they are all familiar with a Tik Tok dance, use part of that dance as a call out. For younger students, call outs are my go-to for getting their attention.

For older students, using a doorbell like the one above is an easy way to call attention. I’ve also used a bell when I’ve had particularly loud classes. With the doorbell and ring bell, I typically establish that if I have to ring the bell a second time to get their attention, there is a consequence of some kind.

Classroom Management Tip 3:

When you’re working on your classroom management plan, make sure you plan for positive reinforcement! One simple way to do this is to use special supplies as a reward for positive behavior. My first graders loved using smelly crayons and smelly markers. My fourth graders also loved the markers!

I randomly choose a student who showed exceptional progress that gets to use the Special Supplies all day. When I announce the student that has earned this reward, I always tell the class what specifically he/she/they did to earn it. If you choose a Secret Student, this could also be their reward! I’ve also incorporated special flexible seating as a reward too.

Classroom Management Tip 4:

Another very effective classroom management is to create a competition. This can be a competition among table groups or between you and the class. This doesn’t have to be implemented at the start of the year – you can begin the competition whenever! My students always majorly buy in to this.

Whether it’s a teacher vs. class competition or a table group competition, I talk with the class about what kind of behaviors I expect to see. The competition runs for one week at a time. When I see that behavior exhibited, the class or table earns a point, depending on which system you use.

The display above is from Elementary in the Mitten, who created a much prettier display than I could! One important aspect of this management strategy is that your students know what they are working toward. Let them help you choose what their reward will be. Whoever wins the competition at the end of the week earns the pre-determined reward. You can read more about these two classroom management strategies and how I use them in this blog post.

Classroom Management Tip 5:

As you get to know your students and their abilities, keeping early finishers engaged can sometimes be a challenge. I also find that mid-year I have even more early finishers becuase my students have grown and learned so much! Make a plan for when those students ask ‘what do I do now?’

Whether they choose an independent activity from a set of drawers, like the one above, or they choose a task from the lighted display like the one below, make sure that you give them clear options for tasks if they finish early.

You can read more about ideas for early finisher organization and set up in this blog post!

I hope these ideas help you freshen up your classroom management game!