Classroom Management Tips
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CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT ESSENTIALS
Practical strategies for a positive learning environment
Free resource from Zaza Teach
🏗️ BUILDING CLASSROOM CULTURE
First Week Foundations
- • Co-create classroom rules with students (3-5 simple, positive rules)
- • Establish consistent routines for entry, transitions, and dismissal
- • Teach and practice procedures explicitly (bathroom, pencil sharpener, etc.)
- • Create a welcoming physical environment with student work displayed
Building Relationships
- • Learn every student's name by day 3
- • Greet students individually as they enter
- • Share something personal about yourself each week
- • Use "2x10" strategy: 2 minutes of personal conversation for 10 days
⚡ PREVENTING PROBLEMS
Environmental Strategies
- • Arrange desks to minimize distractions
- • Create clear pathways for movement
- • Post visual schedules and expectations
- • Have materials organized and accessible
- • Use proximity - teach from all areas
Instructional Strategies
- • Keep lessons moving with quick pace
- • Use "think-pair-share" for engagement
- • Incorporate movement breaks
- • Provide clear instructions and check understanding
- • Have backup activities ready
🎯 POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORTS
Recognition Systems
- • Specific praise: "I love how you waited patiently for help"
- • Class-wide rewards for group goals
- • Individual behavior charts for struggling students
- • "Caught being good" tickets
- • Peer recognition opportunities
Quick Engagement Tools
- • "Give me 5" attention signal
- • Call and response chants
- • Hand signals for common needs
- • "Brain breaks" every 15-20 minutes
- • Choice boards for early finishers
🚨 ADDRESSING DISRUPTIONS
De-escalation Techniques
- • Stay calm and keep voice low
- • Use non-verbal cues first (eye contact, proximity)
- • Give private redirect rather than public correction
- • Offer choices: "You can work here quietly or move to the back table"
- • Use "when/then" statements: "When you're ready, then we can continue"
Progressive Consequences
- 1. Nonverbal warning (look, proximity, gesture)
- 2. Verbal redirect (private, quiet)
- 3. Choice given with consequence
- 4. Logical consequence implemented
- 5. Problem-solving conference
🔄 TRANSITIONS & ROUTINES
Smooth Transitions
- • Use countdown timers (3-2-1)
- • Play "transition music"
- • Give specific instructions
- • Practice transitions regularly
- • Have materials ready to go
Daily Routines
- • Morning greeting and warm-up
- • Clear dismissal procedures
- • Bathroom/water procedures
- • Turn-in basket systems
- • End-of-day cleanup roles
📞 DIFFICULT SITUATIONS
When a Student Refuses to Work
- • Don't take it personally - investigate the why
- • Offer modified assignments or break tasks into smaller steps
- • Check if they need help or don't understand
- • Provide wait time and space
- • Follow up privately later
Parent Communication
- • Call home about positive behaviors first
- • Document incidents objectively
- • Focus on solutions, not blame
- • Involve parents in behavior plan development
- • Schedule regular check-ins
💡 REMEMBER
- Consistency is key: Follow through on expectations every time
- Relationships first: Students don't care how much you know until they know how much you care
- Reflect and adjust: What works for one class may not work for another
- Take care of yourself: You can't pour from an empty cup
- Ask for help: Experienced colleagues are usually happy to share strategies
Free resource from Zaza Teach • Visit zazateach.com for more teaching resources