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The Ultimate List of Classroom Management Strategies

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As a teacher, you continually try to keep your students engaged and on-task. This list of classroom management strategies can help you accomplish this goal! Your classroom management strategy will encourage students to follow your classroom rules and behaviors, all while helping to keep them engaged and learning.

The ultimate list of classroom management strategies for the primary classroom

The Ultimate List of Classroom Management Strategies:

Tips from Dedicated Teachers

There are so many classroom management strategies out there, you simply need to know where to look. This list of classroom management strategies helps you get started as you develop a strategy that works for you and for your class. I interviewed over 300 teachers to find out their favorite tips and tricks for classroom management, and these are a huge chunk of their ideas. Here are some strategies you can start using right away, from games to prizes. And the best part about them is that they are all POSITIVE methods – perfect for positive classroom management.

List of Classroom Management Strategies for Whole Class or Small Groups

Small groups are great for classroom management. Not only do students enjoy working together in small groups,  you also get the chance to observe students more closely. Whether it’s for learning centers or a classroom lesson, this list of classroom management strategies can help you manage your small groups.

team points classroom management strategy

  1. Class Meetings – Hosting a class meeting is the perfect way to start the school day, because it is an informal and unintimidating way to get important points across to students. The conversational style of a class meeting lends itself to open communication and supportive, encouraging talks about expected behavior and rewards/consequences.
  2. Team Points – When your classroom is set up in small groups, give each group a chance to earn points when they complete an activity or exhibit a positive behavior. Your small groups will work hard to earn those points!
  3. Table Wars – Similar to Team Points (above), use a little friendly competition to help manage your classroom. When your students are working in small groups, have them compete against one another, earning points for teamwork, staying focused, cleaning up supplies and more.
  4. Team Names – Another great way to manage your small groups is to give your students a way to take ownership of those groups. Let them work together to come up with a team name.

Visual Classroom Management Strategies

When a student can see how they’re doing, they’re very likely to continue the positive behavior or to change the unwanted behavior. Visuals are perfect for this. Whether it’s a clip on a chart, a color-coded card, or a countdown clock for an activity, visuals give students the opportunity to gauge their behavior at a glance and make positive adjustments.

countdown clocks as a classroom management strategy

  1. Behavior Clips Chart – A clip chart is a great way for students to know how they’re behaving in class. Students can move their clips up for good behavior or down for negative behavior, with appropriate consequences or rewards based on their position at the end of the day.
  2. Class Dojo – Class Dojo is an online student behavior tracker that is perfect for classroom management. You can display Class Dojo on your smart board, using it to give students rewards and tokens. You can even use it to communicate with parents!
  3. Sticker Charts – Sticker charts also help students visually gauge their behavior. Students will love working towards a prize or goal as they fill up their sticker charts.
  4. Yacker Tracker – When students are working in small groups, you can use a yacker tracker to show students if their voice levels are appropriate. A red light would warn students to quiet down, while a green light will encourage them to continue their behaviors.
  5. Color-coded Cards – Instead of using a clip chart, you can also use color cards to help students track their behavior. Students can flip their cards to a different color based on their behavior.
  6. Behavior Punch Cards – While your students are working independently or in small groups, walk around with a fun-shaped hole punch and punch their behavior cards when you noticed positive behavior.
  7. Gold Tags – When you notice a student following classroom rules or complete an activity, give them a gold tag. Gold tags can be exchanged for a classroom prize at the end of the day or week.
  8. Countdown Clock – If students know when to expect an activity to end, they can make sure they complete all of their learning goals before the time is up. That’s why a countdown clock is perfect for your classroom.
  9. Fill A Jar – Every time an individual student, table group, or the whole class does something positive, you can add an item to your jar. It can be anything, from pom-poms to rocks or marbles.

Verbal Classroom Management Strategies

Your voice is a powerful tool when it comes to classroom management. This list of classroom management strategies focuses on verbal cues and transitions you can use to keep your students organized and ready.

  1. Callbacks – Callbacks are a great way for you to get your students’ attention and give them instructions for the next activity. Callbacks can be anything, from saying “Class, class” and having your students answer back with “yes, yes” to saying “1-2-3, eyes on me.” Find a callback that works for your class and make the most of it!
  2. Shushing Pattern – Words aren’t the only thing you can use to get your students’ attention. You can also make a shushing pattern and have your students shush it back to you.
  3. Classroom Transition Songs – When it’s time to move on to the next thing, get students moving with a transition song. You can come up with your own transition song or chant, or you can easily find a class favorite online.
  4. Line Up Chants – A chant can also be used to get your students lined up for leaving the classroom. Not only will this get students in line faster, eliminating long transition times, it will also keep them focused and on good behavior as you take them into the hallway.

Non-Verbal Classroom Management Strategies

There are also plenty of non-verbal ways for you to keep your classroom under control. This list of classroom management strategies gives you a way to keep your students on task and learning.

kids using sign language as a classroom management strategy

  1. Raise Your Hand – If it’s time for your students to transition to another activity or to simply work more quietly, then simply raise your hand and wait for students to quiet down and raise their own hands.
  2. Sign Language – When you’re in the middle of an engaging lesson, the last thing you want to do is stop teaching the whole class to tell a student that they can grab a kleenex. That’s why sign language can be such an important classroom management strategy. Teach students simple signs such as bathroom, tissue, sit, stand, or I have a question. This will eliminate plenty of interruptions!
  3. Routines – Kids thrive on routine, which is why you should make routines a part of your classroom management strategy. Decide what works best for your class and use that throughout the year, remaining consistent with routines and expectations.
  4. Proximity – If you have a student that is not on task, it’s amazing how focused they can become as soon as you walk near them. Use your proximity to help manage students, encouraging them to be well-behaved and on task.

Classroom Management Games

Games are a great way to get students excited to learn! You can use these classroom management games to help encourage the behaviors you want and discourage the behaviors you don’t want.

kindness chain out of paper as a classroom management strategy

  1. Porky the Pig Classroom Blurters – When you have a student that blurts, it’s time to play the Porky the Pig game! Have a pig mounted on your whiteboard, along with a collection of coins attached to magnets. When a student blurts, they have to put a coin in Porky’s mouth. At the end of the week, if Porky has collected too many coins, the class does not earn a reward. If they meat their goal, then the whole class can enjoy something fun.
  2. Candy Land Behavior Game – Mount a candy land board for your class to see. Each student gets 5 moves a day, but can earn extra moves forward or backward based on behavior.
  3. Kindness Chain – Challenge your class to build a kindness chain. Each time your students are kind or follow classroom expectations, they can fill out a paper link and add it to the chain. Once you reach a certain number of links or length, the whole class can earn a reward!
  4. Brownie Points – Give your students a chance to earn brownie points! These points can be displayed on a baking sheet at the front of the room so that they can see how close they are to earning their classroom prize. The reward could be a brownie dessert!
  5. Classroom Puzzle – Mount magnets to the back of each puzzle piece and then give your students a chance to earn those puzzle pieces throughout the day. At the end of the day or week, students can put the puzzle together on the dry erase board, displaying a beautiful picture that represents their classroom behavior.

Brain Breaks for Classroom Management

When students have been working hard on an intense lesson, a brain break can work wonders for your classroom management. Give students a constructive way to work out their energy, such as playing a moving game or fidgeting with a stress ball.

classroom management brain break cards

  1. Go Noodle – Go Noodle is an online resource that is a must-have for any classroom. Simply play a fun video and watch as students dance, jiggle and wiggle their energy out. They’ll be more prepared to learn after taking a Go Noodle Break
  2. Fidget Toys – Some students need to fidget to help focus. Give students what they need by providing fidget toys, stress balls, or even notebooks to help keep them focused.
  3. Calm Down Zone – Students also need a chance to calm down when they’re upset or hyper. Create a safe zone for students to calm down, such as a corner of the room with a cozy chair. During a break, students can use this area to calm down and get focused until the next activity. Make a calm down kit with a few special items that a child can use when needed.
  4. Brain Break Activities – Have a set of brain break cards ready with simple activities that kids can do easily and quickly when they need a break. Great for the whole class to get up and moving!

Prizes & Rewards for Classroom Management

You can use prizes and rewards to keep your students on their best behavior! In small groups or as a whole class, students can work towards a goal by demonstrating the desired classroom behavior. Here’s a list of fun ways you can reward students for good behavior.

fill a jar of marbles as a classroom management strategy

  1. Prizes – Get some small prizes online or grab some items from a garage sale. Students will love earning little prizes.
  2. Coupons – If you’re looking for reward ideas that don’t cost a thing, print off some coupons for students to earn. This can be anything, from picking their seat for the day or sitting by a friend.
  3. Classroom Economy – Print some fake dollar bills and let students earn money to buy prizes. Not only is this a great classroom management skill, it also gives your students practice counting money, as well as spending it.
  4. Raffles – You can also use raffle tickets for your classroom management strategy. Hand out tickets to students following directions and draw a few names at the end of the week. Whoever wins the raffle, will get a special prize.
  5. Holiday-Themed Prizes – Students can be extra energetic before a holiday. Use that to your advantage and have a holiday-themed prize box. This can be anything, from a Boo Bucket for Halloween to a Pot of Gold for St. Patrick’s Day.
  6. Fun Friday – Another free prize your students can earn each week is Fun Friday. If students meet their class goal for behavior, you can save the last 20 minutes of class as their Fun Friday time. Students will be able to play educational board games, centers, iPad apps and more!

Parent Communication

Parent communication is an important piece of your classroom management strategy. Enlist parents’ assistance by keeping them informed of their child’s behavior, both positive and negative.

parent communication with positive notes home as classroom management strategy

  1. Positive Notes Home – When a student does an exceptional job, make sure you send a positive note home. This will endear yourself to the child’s parents, letting them know that you love and care for their child. This will also make it easier to talk to the parents if you start to notice negative behavior.
  2. Daily Folders – Use daily folders to communicate with parents. Each day, write a note to parents with the behaviors you’ve noticed, including both the good and the bad. Parents can also write back to you, keeping you informed of any personal issues that you should be aware of.
  3. Thinking Sheet – When a student has displayed negative behavior multiple times, it’s time to do a little bit of thinking. Send home a thinking sheet with the student, giving them a chance to reflect on what went wrong for the day. This will also make the parents’ aware of any issues you’ve noticed.

A strong classroom management strategy is important for your students and for you, which is why this list of ideas is vital. Not only will classroom management help keep your students behaving, it will also keep them on-task and learning, a goal every teacher has!

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The ultimate list of classroom management strategies for the primary classroom directly from teachers in the classroom. Their ideas are organized into verbal and non-verbal strategies, parent communication tips, ideas for rewards and prizes, games, brain breaks, and visual classroom management strategies. #classroommanagement #timemanagement #backtoschool #classroomorganization #brainbreaks #classroom ideas

Awesome Classroom Management Resources

The Ultimate Classroom Management Toolkit

Find all your classroom management essentials with the Class Management bundle. It includes 8 engaging resources that kids will love!

classroom management resources for the primary classroom

mind+heart Social Emotional Learning Bundles

Build the hearts and minds of our children through engaging lessons and activities that build important social and emotional skills.

mind+heart social emotional learning bundle

mind+heart SEL curriculum

Read More about Classroom Management

Are you a teacher looking for classroom management ideas that will make your classroom run smoother? Check out these 10 positive classroom management tips and tricks that have been tried, tested, and WORK in elementary classrooms! PLUS kids love these activities!

10 Positive Classroom Management Ideas

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Effective Classroom Management Tools That Work!

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Teach Kids How to be Responsible with the Best Books and Videos

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Teach kids how to be responsible in fun and interesting ways. These 15 responsibility books and videos do an excellent job of teaching this important characteristic in a way that kids can understand and connect to.

teach kids how to be responsible with books and videos for the classroom

Responsibility is an important characteristic that all students need to learn. When you teach children ways of being responsible in the classroom, you’re teaching them something they’ll use for the rest of their lives. Here are great examples of books and videos you can use to teach responsibility for the classroom.

Responsibility Books and Videos for the Classroom

One of the best ways to teach responsibility is to use both books and videos to supplement your lessons. This will help kids learn how to be responsible in a way they can understand. Responsibility looks different for children than it does for adults, making books and videos a great teaching tool in your classroom or home.

Books That Teach Kids How to be Responsible

You can use books to build responsible kids. The great thing about using books is that children will enjoy hearing a story, all while learning about the important characteristic they need to know. Here are 10 books that will help you teach ways of being responsible in the classroom.

how to be responsible book example But It's Not My Fault by Julia Cook

1. But It’s Not My Fault by Julia Cook

Part of learning responsibility is accepting responsibility for your actions. Your students will learn this important skill when they read this book. In it, the character always says it’s not his fault, including when he doesn’t finish his homework. Eventually, he learns that he needs to accept responsibility for his actions.

how to be responsible book example Someday by Eileen Spinelli

2. Someday by Eileen Spinelli

This book on responsibility does a wonderful job of showing responsibilities for today and in the future. It gives students the chance to see what they should be doing currently when it comes to responsibility, as well as what they might expect from the future.

ways to be responsible book example Peace Week in Miss Fox's Class by Anne Kennedy

3. Peace Week in Miss Fox’s Class by Eileen Spinelli

Peace Week is all about accepting responsibility for your actions. In it, characters learn that they are responsible for their own actions, that they don’t need to respond when someone else is mean to them.

teach kids how to be responsible writing template

Brainstorm ways that people can be responsible together as a group. Have children choose 5 ways they are responsible at school or at home and write them down. Record them on a “Things That I Am Responsible For” printable. Click here to here to check it out. 

ways to be responsible book example The Juice Box Bully by Bob Somson

4. The Juice Box Bully by Bob Sornson

If another student is being bullied, the responsible thing to do is to stand up to the bully instead of simply sitting back and doing nothing. In this book, the students at a school learn this, finding out that it’s better to be responsible and kind than it is to do nothing.

anti-bullying responsibility book example Tease Monster by Julia Cook

5. Tease Monster by Julia Cook

This book will teach kids the difference between teasing and bullying. They’ll learn that friendly teasing is ok, but mean teasing is not. This will help students learn how to differentiate the two when they’re being teased, as well as when they’re teasing their friends.

taking responsibility book example by Brian Moses

6. “I’ll Do It” Taking Responsibility by Brian Moses and Mike Gordon

If you want to encourage students to take responsibility for their actions, this is the book for your classroom. This could be anything, from taking responsibility for chores they need to do to helping out around the house or classroom. It could even be helping with a sibling!

class tasks and job cards to teach kids how to be responsible

Offer “special” jobs for kids when they want it or when they are bored and looking for something to do. These cards work great in the classroom as extra tasks that teach kids how to be responsible. Click here to check them out.

Kids book on responsibility book example Do I Have To?

7. Do I Have To? by Nancy Loewen

If you say you’re going to do something, then you’re responsible for actually doing it. This book will teach students this important characteristic, helping them know that taking responsibility is important, both inside and outside the classroom.

Kids book on responsibility and blaming others - Berenstain Bears

8. Berenstain Bears and The Blame Game by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Our favorite bear family is back and ready to teach kids how to be responsible. In this, the Berenstain Bears learn that there is enough blame to go around, so it’s pointless to blame someone else. By accepting responsibility, you can work towards solving the problem rather than trying to blame someone else.

Teach responsibility with Dog In Charge by K.L Going

9. Dog in Charge by K.L. Going

Can this special dog be responsible for keeping some cats in line? In this book, Dog has to take responsibility for some cats. Can he do it? Your students will love the silly story as they learn about responsibility.

Teach responsibility book example Stanley and the Class Pet by Barney Saltberg

10. Stanley and the Class Pet by Barney Saltzberg

What will happen when Stanley brings the class pet home? Stanley quickly learns that taking responsibility for another being is tough. It means being responsible all the time, even when trouble hits.

responsible super kid tie to teach them how to be responsible

Empower kids when they act responsibly! Get them to make their own “super kid” responsibility tie that they can wear to show others how they are responsible. Click here to check it out.

Videos That Teach Kids How to be Responsible

Did you know that you can also use videos to teach kids how to be responsible? These 5 videos really help your students understand what responsibility is, whether it’s singing a song or watching a story.

1. Being Responsible | Little Mandy Manners

This kid-friendly video sings through what responsibility really is, including giving examples of what responsibility looks like. This is great for kids because it gives them real-life examples of age-appropriate responsibilities, such as taking care of pets or brushing teeth. Your students will quickly catch on with this catchy tune.

2. Sesame Street: Bruno Mars: Don’t Give Up

Bruno Mars joins Sesame Street to sing all about responsibility and not giving up. This video will show some of your students’ favorite Sesame Street characters, such as Elmo and Cookie Monster. Add in the fact that Bruno Mars sings this melodious responsibility song, and it’ll quickly become a classroom favorite.

3. Classroom Responsibility

The students in this video are here to share what their responsibilities are in the classroom. This is a great video to show students, especially if you want them to take responsibility for some classroom jobs. This video will make a huge impact on your students since it’s made by kids their age and includes responsibilities that are age-appropriate.

teach kids how to be responsible with scenario cards

If you’re looking for more examples to share with kids on how to be responsible, try using these scenario cards. They work great as a class game and for role-playing different responsible kid moments. Click here to check them out.

4. Mr. Responsible

Mr. Responsible is a sock puppet and is the star of the show in this video. The students in this video sing about what it means to be responsible. This includes wonderful examples about picking up trash, cleaning off a lunch tray, and playing nicely with friends at recess. Your students will enjoy learning about responsibility with this video.

5. Responsibility Song

If you want your students to have a good grasp of which responsibilities are great for kids and which ones are typically for adults, this song will help. In it, they sing about responsibilities that the child has, including making their bed or cleaning up toys. It also goes through some responsibilities that parents might have, such as going to work.

Make learning fun and interesting with these books and videos that teach kids how to be responsible. These examples provide excellent illustrations kids need to learn and grasp the concept of responsiblity. From here, encourage them to take on responsibilities in the classroom, school, or home.

Read More about Building Responsible Kids

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Teaching Responsibility in the Classroom

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Conflict Resolution Activities for the Classroom

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Bucket Filler Activities for the Classroom

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bucket filler activities for the classroom on bulletin boards and anchor charts

Do you want to encourage your students to act with kindness and encouragement? Then you need to teach them to be bucket fillers! You can use the bucket filler books and fun activities to teach your students why they should always encourage others and treat others with respect.

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Respect Books and Videos for the Classroom

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15 respect books and videos for kids

You can help your students develop a sense of respect, teaching them how to respect others. This is such an important skill for kids to learn, shaping the way they treat others as they grow up into adults. Here are 10 books and 5 videos you can use in the classroom to teach respect.

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Empathy Books and Videos for the Classroom

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Help students develop empathy and social awareness at school using books and videos. Children will relate to the characters in these stories and movies, making it easier for them to learn how they can be more empathetic. Here are 10 books and 5 videos that will highlight these characteristics for students.

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Teaching Conflict Resolution in the Classroom

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Group of kids giving each other a high five at school

Conflict resolution is an important skill that students need to learn – beneficial to them within the classroom as well as in everyday life. Not only will kids use conflict resolution in the classroom, they will also continue to use these skills as they grow. The conflict resolution skills they learn in elementary school will help them solve problems as adults. So how do we teach conflict resolution in the classroom?

Teaching Conflict Resolution in the Classroom

Children learn social-emotional skills by watching, practicing, and eventually adopting the behaviors for themselves. Below you will find ideas about what conflict and conflict resolution is, and how to teach students the various aspects of this important life skill.

What is Conflict?

Conflict is a disagreement or problem that happens between two or more people. It can happen to anyone, from best friends to enemies. Most conflicts start small, but they continue to grow, snowballing into major problems. As teachers, we can explain what conflict is, in order to effectively teach how to keep conflicts from becoming major problems in the classroom.

What is Conflict Resolution?

When there’s a problem, it’s important to address the problem in a peaceful way, understanding both sides of the situation. This is conflict resolution or peaceful problem solving as I like to call it in my classroom. Conflict resolution is an important skill to have, both in the classroom and in life. By helping our students practice and adopt healthy ways of solving interpersonal problems, we help them succeed in other areas of their education and life as well.

How Do You Teach Conflict Resolution?

There are many steps to teaching conflict resolution. To truly teach conflict resolution, you’ll need to teach your students how to analyze the conflict. They’ll need to be able to identify the problem and try to understand what’s causing it.

  • Teach Understanding – Students need to understand what conflict is and how it can have a negative effect on a person. This type of understanding will help them know why conflict resolution is so important.
  • Teach Empathy – After understanding comes empathy. Once students understand conflict, they should learn to empathize with all other students involved. Conflict affects more than one person, so to resolve it, it’s important to empathize with the other person’s feelings
  • Teach Responsibility – Conflict involves more than one person. The students involved need to know how to take responsibility for their own part in the conflict. Whether they caused the problem or simply exasperated the situation, they need to admit that they were wrong and be willing to do their part to make amends.
  • Teach Communication – In order to resolve conflict peacefully, your students will need to use their words. Communication is vital to conflict resolution, so teach them how to talk about the issue and come to a mutually beneficial solution.
  • Teach Choice – Children need more than one strategy to solve a conflict independently. Talk about these different ways during a classroom meeting and have them practice different types with a friend. The ‘Wheel of Choice’ below offers many strategies that are simple and effective for kids.

wheel of choice ways to solve problems conflict resolution activity

How Can Conflict Resolution Be Used in the Classroom?

Kids will always have some sort of conflict, whether big or small. The conflict between kids can be anything, whether they’re fighting over a toy or pushing another student down at recess. Conflict resolution can be used in the classroom to help keep the peace between kids. When a small problem arises, such as a friend cutting them in line, your students can use what you’ve taught them about conflict resolution to fix the problem before it becomes more of an issue.

ways to solve problems posters on table

Teach kids a peaceful problem-solving method that they can practice and use with growing independence at school. The process involves the children following 4 simple steps to solve their conflict.

Activities to Teach Conflict Resolution

Kids learn best when they practice. This is especially true for conflict resolution. When you give your students fun ways to learn conflict resolution, they’ll have a blast practicing it. The more they practice, the more it becomes second nature. If you’re looking forward to teaching conflict resolution in your classroom, here are a few activities you can use to make it fun.

  • Role Play – A great way to teach conflict resolution is to role-play various scenarios. By acting out tough situations that might require conflict resolution, your kids have a safe place to work through the issue. You can discuss the process with them after, going through what they could do better next time. Great scenarios to role-play include resolving conflict with a bully, fixing a friendship after a fight, or getting along with a sibling.
  • Play a Game – Playing games with peers involves learning to get along and figuring out rules together. If issues arise during a game, they can work together calming to solve the problem and continue playing. “What the Solution?” is a fun card game to play that involves kids coming up with solutions to solve common problems.

what's the solution card game on table with hands

  • Creative Writing – Encourage kids to write down or draw a picture to depict a story that includes a problem and a solution. This can be done as a short story or as a script. Encourage students to read or share their story with the class and allow students to talk about what they would do to resolve the same conflict.
  • Puppet Show – This is a wonderful activity if you have some students too shy to stand in front of the entire class. Have students work in groups to put on a puppet show. Students will have fun designing puppets, all while working together to learn how conflicts can be resolved peacefully.
  • Peace Maker Promise – Have children learn and sort differences between a peacemaker and peace breaker. Have them take an oath to be a peacemaker in the classroom.

peace makers and peace breakers sorting cards on chart

Books that Teach Conflict Resolution

Reading books to your students can help you teach them about conflict resolution in a safe but fun way. The problems the characters face are oftentimes ones that your students have faced as well. As the characters journey through their problems towards resolution, children will get the chance to see a healthy way to handle conflict. Here are just a few books you can read to you students to teach conflict resolution.

  • Talk and Work It Out – This book, written by Cheri J. Meiners, is a great way to teach conflict resolution to students. This book focuses on using your words to solve problems instead of acting out. By teaching students to use their words, you’re teaching them how to peacefully solve their problems instead of using anger and aggression.
  • Let’s Be Enemies – Janice May Udry is the author of this book on conflict resolution. In this story, two friends become enemies due to unresolved conflict. Your students will love listening to the story as James and John work out their issues.
  • Give It Back! – Conflict happens at home as well as in the classroom. This conflict resolution book teaches kids how to resolve conflict with their siblings. These conflict resolution skills can be used in the classroom and on the playground as well.
  • Enemy Pie – One of the best outcomes you can hope for is turning an enemy into a friend. This book, written by Derek Munson, helps kids understand more about resolving problems and making friends in a creative way.
  • Confessions of a Former Bully – True conflict resolution requires understanding. Trudy Ludwig uses this book to help kids understand what a bully might be going through. This can help them look deeper so they can figure out why a bully might be acting out, helping them to better resolve the conflict.

There are so many fun ways to teach conflict resolution to your students. Which of these activities do you plan to use in your classroom?

Conflict Resolution Resources

FREE Responsibility Punch Cards

Catch kids when they are being independent and responsible problem solvers with a hole punch in the “Caught Being Responsible” punch cards. Click the image below to download the FREE Responsible Punch Cards.

Responsibility & Conflict Resolution Curriculum

The Responsibility SEL Curriculum includes 5 lessons and many activities that teach children about responsibility, goal setting, conflict resolution, and anti-bullying.

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mind+heart Social Emotional Learning Curriculum

The mind + heart Social Emotional Learning Curriculum includes 8 units with 5+ detailed, character education, research-based LESSONS filled with TONS of hands-on and mindful ACTIVITIES that encourage children to express themselves and build important emotional and social skills. Click HERE for more details on the program.

collage of educational resources for social emotional learning

Read more about Empowering Kids to be Responsible

teach kids how to be responsible with books and videos for the classroom

Teach Kids How to be Responsible with the Best Books and Videos

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Teaching Responsibility in the Classroom

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Teaching Responsibility in the Classroom

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papers on table in shape of a heart with kid hands

As a classroom teacher, you are responsible for preparing your students. You need to prepare them for the next school year, giving them a strong educational foundation. You should also prepare them to be responsible and act responsibly in the classroom. Here are strategies for teaching responsibility in the classroom.

Teaching Responsibility in the Classroom

Teaching responsibility in the classroom is important. By teaching your students to be responsible in the classroom, you’re also teaching them to be responsible at home and in their communities. This is a life skill that they will need to practice throughout their lives.

What is Responsibility?

  • Teach the Meaning – Before your students can learn how to be responsible, they need to understand what responsibility is. To teach your students this important skill, lead a discussion on the meaning of responsibility. Discuss the meaning of it, as well as what responsibility might look like and sound like in real life.
  • Discuss Student Responsibilities – Since you’ve discussed what responsibility might mean, your students should start making connections to responsibilities they already have. Start talking with students about what kind of responsibilities they already have at home and at school.

things that I am responsible sheet of paper on table with three pens

  • Don’t Play the “Blame Game” – Kids should understand that each person has responsibilities and that they need to take responsibility for their actions. It can be easy to blame others when you forget something or do something wrong, but part of being responsible is taking responsibility for yourself. You can help teach children this concept by reading the story, But It’s Not My Fault by Julia Cook. In this story, the main character continues to blame others for everything that goes wrong with his day. He has to learn that he needs to accept responsibility rather than playing the blame game. Your students will enjoy the humor in the book as they learn more about being responsible.

Taking on Responsibilities

  • Brainstorm Ways to be Responsible – Since students have a solid understanding of what responsibility means, as well as ways that they’re already responsible, it’s time to take on new responsibilities. Gather students together to brainstorm ways that they can be responsible. This should include responsibilities for the home, the classroom, and their community.
  • Be a Responsible “Super Kid” – Making connections is a great way to help kids remember what they’ve learned. One way to do this is to do a fun activity or craft such as this Responsible “Super Kid” tie. Kids will love personalizing their ties and will feel proud when they wear them.

boy with paper tie around his neck

  • Role-Play Different Scenarios – Another way for kids to learn responsibility is to have them act out different scenarios. By role-playing, you’re giving kids a chance to see what responsibility looks like in action. You can help guide students during these role-play scenarios, helping them understand the true meaning of responsibility in all types of situations.

hand holding up card with being responsible scenarios

  • Rewards System – Good work deserves rewards. When your students actively practice responsibility, you should acknowledge them. When you notice a child being responsible, point out how wonderful of a job they’re doing. Catch them being responsible and reward them with a hold punch in a card (free resources below). If you have a classroom rewards system, you can make “being responsible” a way for them to earn their reward.
  • Create Classroom Jobs – Responsibilities for adults include going to work and having a job. This can be true for your students as well! Create classroom jobs that students are responsible for throughout the week. Each child can be assigned a job, whether it’s sharpening pencils at the end of the day or turning off the lights when everyone leaves the classroom.
  • Use Responsibility Cards – If you want to make things interesting, you can offer kids extra responsibilities. Have cards ready with different responsibilities on them. Encourage kids to pick and complete one every day or week.

plastic zip pocket with cards inside and on a table

Goal Setting

  • What is a goal? – Since your students know what responsibility means, they can now work on setting goals. Discuss with students what the word “goal” means so that they understand a goal is something you work towards.
  • Different Types of Goals – There are many different kinds of goals. One goal a student might have is to get a 100% on a spelling test. Another might be to run a 5k in an hour. These could be anything, from getting their homework done on time to completing their chores without being asked. Brainstorm school-related goals (academic or social-emotional) together to help focus their efforts in class.
  • Follow a Goal Setting Plan – Once students know what a responsibility goal is and you’ve created a list together, it’s time for them to come up with their own goal. Encourage them to reflect, set a goal, make a plan, and then practice.
  • Create a Bucket List – A fun way to set goals for the future is to make a bucket list of goals. They can get creative here and record their dream adventures and goals for their life.

bucket list craft and pencil crayons

  • 3 Stars & a Wish – Another way to record goals is to use the 3 stars and a wish strategy. Kids will share a few things they are good at and do well (stars) and something they want to work on and get better at (a wish). This simple technique is ideal for our younger students who are just starting out with goal setting. It also works well when you want kids to reflect on an activity they did or make a new goal each season or term. Grab the FREE templates to use below!

Responsibility Resources

FREE Stars & a Wish Goal Setting Templates

Teach children to set goals and record them to make a plan using the 3 stars and a wish technique. Click the image below to download the FREE Stars & a Wish templates to get those goals on paper.

FREE Responsibility Punch Cards

Encourage and “catch” kids in the act of being responsible, while giving them a hole punch on their card. You could then reward them after their whole card is punched. Click the image below to grab your own ‘Caught Being Responsible’ punch cards!

Responsibility Curriculum

The Responsibility SEL Curriculum includes 5 lessons and many activities that teach children about responsibility, goal setting, conflict resolution, and anti-bullying.

teaching kids to be responsible collage of pictures in action

mind+heart Social Emotional Learning Curriculum

The mind + heart Social Emotional Learning Curriculum includes 8 units with 5+ detailed, character education, research-based LESSONS filled with TONS of hands-on and mindful ACTIVITIES that encourage children to express themselves and build important emotional and social skills. Click HERE for more details on the program.

collage of educational resources for social emotional learning

Read more about Encouraging Responsibility in Children

teach kids how to be responsible with books and videos for the classroom

Teach Kids How to be Responsible with the Best Books and Videos

Group of kids giving each other a high five at school

Encourage Kids to Solve Problems with these Conflict Resolution Activities

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Ideas for teaching responsibility in the classroom. Effective social responsibility strategies to teach kids to be responsible, make good choices and set goals. #responsibility #classroommanagement #charactereducation #socialskills #socialresponsibility #socialemotionallearning #teachingresponsibility #responsibilityactivities #teacherfreebie

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Kindness Books and Videos for the Classroom

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kindness books and videos for the classroom

Make your classroom a happier place with the use of kindness videos and books. These kindness books and videos for the classroom will help children learn many positive character traits. The hope is they will grow up to make the world a better place. Here are 10 books and 5 videos that will help you bring the topic of kindness to light in your classroom. [Read more…]

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Teaching Respect in the Classroom

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hands on top of hands of children in the sunlight

Teaching respect in the classroom is a task that teachers must do almost daily. There are many ways educators can tie these social skills lessons into daily tasks. Here are a number of ways to teach children what respect means and how to be respectful in the classroom and beyond.

Teaching Respect in the Classroom

Teaching respect in the classroom helps students succeed. When children are able to treat each other respectfully and respond to direction and instruction in a positive way, they are more likely to succeed in academics. Distractions and behavioral disruptions are lessened. Communication lines open and are more relaxed. This makes for a more conducive learning environment. Try the following ideas to encourage respectfulness.

Teach What Respect Actually Means

  • Explicit Teaching: Teach kids what respect is. Define it for them and with them. Brainstorm as a class what respect looks like, sounds like, and feels like. Give them the vocabulary needed to express respect.
  • Vocabulary Sort: Write words and actions describing respect and disrespect on cards. Have children sort them into categories: “Respectful” versus “Disrespectful.”
  • Teach the “Golden Rule.” Most children learn this term in their families. You can bring this familiarity into the classroom. Define the “Golden Rule” and read books about it such as The Golden Rule by Ilene Cooper and Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller. You can post a sign in the classroom as a visual reminder. Grab this poster for FREE below!
  • Draw & Write: A simple activity is to have children draw or write what respect means to them. Have them share it with the class or in small groups.

Provide Opportunities to Show Respect

  • Scenario Cards: Respect is something that has to be seen and experienced to understand. Role-playing with scenario cards can help. With the cards, kids act out behaviors associated with treating others with respect. Discuss if it demonstrated respect and offer suggestions if it didn’t.

respect card being held

  • Acts of Service: Children can learn a great deal from serving others. Putting the needs of others first is one way to show respect. Participating in a community clean-up project, helping out with younger students (reading buddies), or volunteering in another classroom to help clean tables are all ways to work as a class to serve others and show respect.
  • Personal connections: Give children the opportunity to share about ways in which they show respect every day. Perhaps writing about ways they are respectful will help them realize that they can and do! You can give them a “respect hat” and let them draw or write their ideas on it.

I show respect hat craft with examples on head of child

Encourage Honesty

  • Discussion and Understanding: Discuss what honesty means and what happens when one lies. Help children to understand how honesty is an important part of being respectful. Try reading Lying Up a Storm by Julia Cook.
  • Games: Playing games in small groups or as a class helps students to be honest and forthright with others. They must follow specific rules, giving them the opportunity to choose to be a respectful player or to cheat and be disrespectful. Games can bring about wonderful learning opportunities and discussion.
  • Draw & Write: It’s always beneficial for kids to have a written or artistically expressed representation of what they’ve learned. Try having children write or draw about ways they are honest at home and school.
  • Tower or Trust: Honesty breeds trust. Talks about what trust is and build a “tower of trust” using blocks. This activity creates a powerful visual for children. Practice building and taking blocks down as you give positive and negative examples of honesty. What does it take to knock it down (break someone’s trust) and what does it take to build it up (develop trustworthiness)?

colored blocks stacked up with a child taking one away

Express Gratitude

  • Define and Describe: Children need to have a good understanding of the concept of gratitude in order to be respectful to others. Take time to discuss what gratitude means. Brainstorm things they are thankful for and have children draw and write about them. The Thankful Book by Todd Parr is a great book to help in this.
  • Share: During classroom meetings or times of discussion, ask children to share when they felt grateful for something. Expressing their gratitude verbally and listening to others share what they are thankful for will help them form a habit of being grateful.
  • Thankful Jar: Set out a special jar or container in your classroom in which children can place notes or reminders of things they are grateful for. The “Thankful Jar” can be a positive reminder to them of the good things they have, and help them to express gratitude to others. You can periodically read them aloud.

thankful note cards on table with jar

  • Thank You Letters: Show children how to write a letter of thanks to someone who has done something for them. This is another good way to get children to practice the habit of being grateful and expressing gratitude as an extension of respect.
  • The Gratitude Game: Games are a great way to practice skills. Thankfulness is practiced in the Gratitude Game – where a child gives an example of something they are thankful for based on what color of snap cube they randomly pick.

gratitude game printable with colored snap cubes on table

  • Gratitude Journal: Give students a place to write down the many things they are thankful for. This is a great practice in life, as there are even adults who enjoy writing a gratitude journal daily. It’s a practice that encourages a positive attitude and contentment. Grab a FREE gratitude journal below!
  • Gratitude Wall: Dedicate a wall or a bulletin board in your classroom to decorate with notes and words depicting gratitude.The visual reminder will be a great way to lead discussion and encourage thankfulness at any time.

Appreciate Differences

  • Discuss Equality: With your class, you can address the fact that everyone deserves to receive respect, despite differences. To lead a discussion on this topic, these books are helping: Whoever You Are by Mem Fox and Good People Everywhere by Lynea Gillen.
  • Classroom Puzzle: One way to express differences and acceptance of them is to create a class puzzle. Each child decorates a piece of the puzzle according to his/her interests and individuality. While piecing it together, explain to the children that like the puzzle pieces, “we fit together” as well.
  • Self Portraits: Give children some time to brainstorm ways they are unique by drawing (or writing). Let them compare and contrast their similarities and differences with a peer. Read The Crayon Box That Talked by Shane Derolf and have kids decorate a crayon with a self-portrait and personal facts about them. Use these to display on a classroom bulletin board.

child holding a crayon cut out from paper with self-portrait

When learning about respect, honesty, gratitude, and appreciating differences are important topics to cover. Teaching respect in the classroom is not always a simple task. But when you cover all the topics above, you can begin to see a marked improvement in respectfulness all around.

Resources for Teaching Respect

Free Gratitude Journal

Encourage children to express gratitude through words and pictures with a gratitude journal. Click the image below to download the FREE gratitude journal templates.

Free Respect Poster

Teach children what respect really means by learning the “Golden Rule” together. Post the poster or have children color their own to hang. Click the image below to download the FREE respect poster.

Respect Curriculum

The Respect SEL Curriculum includes 5 lessons and many activities that teach children about respect, acceptance, honesty, and gratitude.

hat craft that says "I show respect", coloring respect quote posters on table, I will show respect posters, and the golden rule poster

mind+heart Social Emotional Learning Curriculum

The mind + heart Social Emotional Learning Curriculum includes 8 units with 5+ detailed, character education, research-based LESSONS filled with TONS of hands-on and mindful ACTIVITIES that encourage children to express themselves and build important emotional and social skills. Click HERE for more details on the program.

collage of educational resources for social emotional learning

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Friendship Books and Videos for the Classroom

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Teachers can use these 15 friendship books and videos for the classroom to teach kids friendship skills: how to make friends and how to be a good friend. These resources work well during social-emotional learning lessons and activities. #friendshipactivities #friendshipbooks #socialemotionallearning #charactereducation #booksforkids #friendshipskills #friendactivities

Building positive relationships and practicing social etiquette can be a challenge for children. To foster these social-emotional skills in your students,  give them examples and plenty of opportunities to practice. These 10 friendship books and 5 videos are perfect for classroom use. Share some to help you introduce concepts such as friendly conversation, sharing, forgiveness, and cooperation. [Read more…]

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