In gearing up for back to school, everyone is concerned about finding the best classroom management ideas. This post covers tons of positive classroom management tips and tricks for teachers.
Positive Classroom Management Ideas
Let’s get our thoughts out into the open about classroom management ideas. Put your hand up if you’ve been like me and had these thoughts before school started…
- “What will I say when I want my students to listen?”
- “How will I get them to do what I want?”
- “What should I do when {gasp} they DON’T behave or listen to me?!”
- Perhaps you’ve also had these thoughts…
- “What should I do when they are behaving?”
- “How can I teach my students to be good classroom citizens?”
- “Can I praise them and reward them?”
If you put your hand up for one or more of these thoughts, then you were like me and you realize that having good classroom management ideas is extremely important. I’m sure you can agree that having a classroom management plan is an absolute 100% must for any classroom.
We are given a large group of children and are expected to teach them. We are expected to not only teach them content, but how to be good citizens, good friends to others, and good students. Being ready with a plan is key!
Today, I will share some tried and true management strategies, tips, and tricks that I have come to love. They work for me and my beliefs in the classroom. I hope you find something you can use in your classroom as well.
Classroom Management Ideas: Tip #1 TEAM POINTS & DESK TROPHY
Classroom Management Ideas: Tip #2 COUPONS
Classroom Management Ideas: Tip #3: CLASSROOM JOBS
Classroom Management Ideas: Tip #4 OSCAR AWARD
Classroom Management Ideas: Tip #5 TRANSITIONS
Classroom Management Ideas: Tip #6 RULES
I like to use a variety of classroom management techniques in my classroom that works for me and my teaching style. Classroom rules touch on important skills to help build social responsibility in your classroom. I prefer rules that are worded in positive ways to encourage good behavior and being your best self. My students love, remember, and work hard to follow the classroom rules.
Whole Brain Learning is another great system that incorporates the brain by having students actively engaged in activities. My favorite part of Whole Brain Learning are the classroom rules. I have been using them in my classroom for a few years now with a lot of success. They are fun to learn, easy to remember with actions, and effective at getting students to remember the rules.
To read more about this system, click HERE.
To grab your own, Whole Brain Rules posters for FREE click the image below.
Classroom Management Ideas: Tip #7 GIVE ME “FIVE”
- Legs criss-cross or still.
- Eyes watching.
- Listening.
- Hands & Feet to Yourself.
- Quiet.
You can grab this FREE Give Me Five poster by clicking the image below!
Classroom Management Ideas: Tip #8 BUCKET FILLING
Classroom Management Ideas: Tip #9 CLASS SCHEDULE
Classroom Management Ideas: Tip #10 NOISE CONTROL
If you would like to grab a copy of this FREE chart for your classroom, click the image below!
Check out the great products that I use in my classroom below
See Some Positive Classroom Management Ideas in Action
The Ultimate Classroom Management Resource
I have joined forces with One Sharp Bunch to bring you our classroom management tips & tricks. Head to her post HERE to read how she sets up her strategies!
More Classroom Management Ideas
Ultimate Guide to Classroom Management
Effective Classroom Management Tools for the Clever Elementary Teacher
Coupons for Kids as a Classroom Management Strategy
Table Groups as a Classroom Behavior Strategy
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Love all of these classroom management tips, especially the Oscar award! I bet the kiddos are so excited for that one! And that No Yell Bell… I need to order one of those! Thanks for the tip!
Ashley
This jas taught me a lot, i ve liked the noise control part
Hello! I love all of your tips and cannot wait to put them into practice in August!! I am currently subbing for a teacher on maternity leave and I have a very chatty class. I have used the traffic light method but my problem is coming up with a consequence when they continue to talk too loudly. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or advice as to what to do when this happens! Thank you!
I would like to know more information on how your students fill each other’s buckets.
We spend a few weeks at the start of every school year learning about what a bucket filler is, reading books about it, and practicing. The bucket filling station doesn’t open up until this all happens. We brainstorm ways to can show this to others (i.e. compliments, helping, kindness, smiling, etc.) and we practice acting them out together.
I like the pom pom idea, but I’m not completely clear on how it works. What happens when all 6 dots are filled with pom poms? If a student does something kind for another, which student fills the bucket? Thank you
Hi Carolyn! When they are filled up we work on filling the buckets of our friends. It is less about gaining more but working towards filling up others. Once most of the kids are full, we empty them and start again. It is really not a strict thing!
I love using a bell (just a regular one, unfortunately) in my classroom. It seems so much less aggressive than clapping all the time, and it cuts through all general noise better than anything else I’ve found (even when my little ones are playing!) My little ones like it, especially when I let them ring it for me!
I can’t wait to get this bundle and put it to use! 🙂
Bells are great to avoid always having to use our voices 😉 Best of luck with the new strategies.
Thank you so much for these 10 tips, I´ll improve some I already use and will definitely give a try to others! Love the books, hope I can get them.
I’m really liking your Classroom Management ideas! And, Décor suggestions!
With your Bucket Filling, what do you do when all 6 spaces are filled with the pom-poms? I was looking to print the Table identification signs but didn’t get the free-tab that you mentioned? Is this a part of another set you have for sale? Looking forward to using next year!
Hi Kathleen! Every day or two we take off all the pom poms (I do this after school) and we start over again. You could ask the kids to remove them when it’s full. Email me at elyse@proudtobeprimary.com and I will send you the table signs. 🙂
I was wondering where you found your clocks for schedule. It looks like you printed them. Can you point me in that direction?
Hello! Quick question about the Oscar award. You mentioned that you award it to a new student every day for doing something kind, working hard, etc. and then talk about it at morning meeting. What if you notice something nice later in the day? Do you hold the trophy till the following morning? Usually praise is given at the time you see it… (that’s where I’m a little confused). I LOVE the thought of this but just want to understand it before trying to implement. Thank you! Absolutely WONDERFUl tips!!!
Hi Jaime! I actually award it to the student after the day is done but they don’t see it until they get to school the next morning. That way I’ve seen an entire day’s worth of behavior, etc. Hope that makes sense! Best of luck!
Let me just say I am so thankful you shared your ideas! I have a tough group this year and I have found over the years what works for one class may not work for another. I was beginning to run out of ideas that would be Kinder friendly and effective. Thank you for sharing!
I love the classroom management bundle! I have use for almost everything! I have tried the idea with the student of the day/student trophy? My only question is whether you let the kids hold on to it or whether they need to leave it on the table and just look at it? I have tried it with no rules but many of the kids have been fidgeting with it or putting it near their face (eww germs). I also tried modeling how it has to stay flat on the table and that only the student who earned it can touch it to move it. I told students its a reward but if it becomes a distraction, it will have to be moved. I have had problems with other kids touching it and the student that earned the reward, occasionally gets distracted with it or is touching it when Im doing a lesson. Any tips please?
Hi,
I am a new teacher about to start with a class of 9yr olds. My training class were very chatty and I felt like I was constantly battling an ever-rising background noise. I like the idea of the traffic lights but have a couple of questions. 1) would it be suitable for 9yr olds? 2) what do you do to ensure that they stick to the ‘lights’? Do you reward them for keeping the noise level low? Do you sanction them for not? What have you found most effective? Love your ideas – I’m so going to be trying them! Thank you
Hi! I am looking for classroom management for a TK classroom please