Teacher’s Brain

5 Classroom Management Tips for Back To School Time

It’s that exciting time of the year again – back to school! 

Are you ready? 

I know we’re all eager to create a warm and productive classroom environment where our young learners can thrive, and one way to make that happen is with an effective classroom management system. 

classroom management

What is a classroom management system? 

A classroom management system is a set of strategies and techniques that we can  use to create a positive and organized learning environment. It encompasses a range of practices, from setting clear behavioral expectations and routines to fostering strong teacher-student relationships. 

This system empowers us teachers to effectively manage student behavior, encourage active engagement, and promote a conducive atmosphere for learning and growth.

If you’re looking for some rockin’ classroom management system tips for elementary, you’re in the right place! 

So, let’s dive into some tips and ideas for effective classroom management that have worked wonders for me over the years.

Tip 1: Set Clear Expectations

Start the school year by discussing and establishing clear expectations with your students. Let them know what behaviors are acceptable in the classroom and what the consequences might be for breaking those rules. Keep these expectations simple, age-appropriate, and positively framed. It’s like setting the compass for your class journey!

Tip 2: Create a Fun and Organized Physical Environment

A classroom that’s inviting and organized can do wonders for managing behavior. Use colorful decorations, student artwork, and interactive displays to make the space engaging. Arrange desks and seating to minimize distractions and encourage interaction. Don’t forget to designate specific areas for materials and supplies – it helps keep chaos at bay.

Tip 3: Use Positive Reinforcement

Celebrate your students’ achievements and good behavior with praise, rewards, or simple gestures like stickers or high-fives. Positive reinforcement can go a long way in motivating them to follow your classroom rules. It’s like sprinkling a bit of magic encouragement to keep their spirits high!

Tip 4: Implement Routines and Procedures

Kids thrive on routine, so establish consistent daily routines and procedures. From entering the classroom to transitioning between subjects, having predictable steps can help minimize disruptions. Remember, routines aren’t about rigidity; they’re like the rhythm that keeps your classroom orchestra in tune!

Tip 5: Foster a Strong Teacher-Student Relationship

Building a positive rapport with your students can make a world of difference in classroom management. Get to know them, show genuine interest in their lives, and listen actively when they talk. When students feel valued and understood, they’re more likely to respect and cooperate with you. Think of it as nurturing a garden of trust and connection.

Looking for the perfect classroom management system? I have you covered with this free Desk Pet Starter Pack Resource!

Need a great way to help your class improve daily behavior? Desk Pets are great for helping with classroom management! Try these FREE printables to help you begin your Desk Pet Pal Positive Behavior System Journey!

classroom management system

What is in this download?

Pg. 1 Cover

Pg. 2 Link Page to Full Resource

Pg. 3 What is a desk pet?

Pg. 4 Adoption Application EDITABLE PowerPoint

Pg. 5 Labels (Adoption Center and Hotel)

Pg. 6 Editable Page to create Writing Prompt or other Idea

Pg. 7 Zoo Habitat for a Pet

Pg. 8 How to Fold the Habitat

Pg. 9 Other Resources

Pg. 10 Credits

Get it for free here!

Looking for more classroom management tips? Check out my post here!

Open House That Is Sure To Open Eyes

Summer is quickly coming to an end which means it’s time to start preparing for back-to-school night or back-to-school open house. This night is a great time to get to know your new students and their parents and kick off an amazing year. 

This is likely going to be your first time meeting your new students and their parents and it’s natural to want to make a good impression. If you are looking for some school open house tips, you’re in the right place! 

open house ideas

How do you prepare for a school open house? 

Open house or back-to-school night is going to be different for each teacher depending on the school you’re at. So first things first, you’ll want to see what the school expects of you. Generally, parents and students will filter in and out of your classroom to meet you and get acquainted with the new classroom.  

Think about things you want to make sure parents and students know before the first day of school. You can create a short presentation on Google Slides or put together a short “About me” document that covers all of the basics. 

Some things to include in your presentation: 

  • Fun facts about you
  • What they can expect from you and your classroom
  • Any fun plans for the school year
  • Daily Schedule
  • Class rules and behavior management basics 
  • Contact information

You can make the most of this time by setting out important forms that parents need to fill out, volunteer forms, and other important hand-outs. While parents are occupied, students can take this time to do a quick little “about me” activity themselves so that you can learn a little about them as well. 

What should teachers do at an open house? 

Open houses are generally very busy and you will have a lot of people wanting to chat with you. This means that you likely won’t have a lot of time to talk to each parent. Having everything important set out ahead of time along with your preferred method of contact information will give families everything they need regardless of how much face-to-face time they are able to get. 

Remember, the best thing you can do is be yourself! Parents and students will love seeing your personality shine and they will feel more comfortable when they feel like they know a little about you. 

Looking for some back-to-school open house activities for your students? 

I have you covered! This cute, personalized people Mini-Me Craft is the perfect activity to keep students occupied! These printables will help personalize a little mini-me for your students just in time for school.

back to school open house activities

You can also use them for measurement or All About Me Projects. Students can design their own shirt, use their own colors, cut, paste together, and add yarn or doll hair to help make their Mini Me special.

What is this download?

Heads 

Boy Shirt

Pants

Girl Shirt

Skirt

Girl legs (pants) and arms

Boy legs shoes and arms

Accessories (hat, glasses, bows)

Shirt Choices

Girl legs with shoes (for the skirt and dress)

back to school open house craft

I hope you love these back-to-school open house ideas! What are your favorite open house tips? Let me know in the comments! 

For more open house tips, check out my post here!

Teachers Pay Teachers Freebies for Back to School

Back to School Freebies for Teachers

Back to school time is the BEST time to grab some freebies! We have spent our summer money, so spending is tight. There is a feeling of excitement to go back to school and the dread of not wanting to go back and give up our summer. What better time to grab some back-to-school freebies to save you time and money?

If you are an elementary school teacher or a homeschool mom, we have some amazing back-to-school resources for you that are FREE! I teamed up with a few other teacher-authors to bring you some favorites! All you have to do is click the images of the resources you want below and DOWNLOAD from TpT.

This is our way of saying thank you for all you do!

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May be a cartoon of text that says 'Name speak your Mind! Share What you have learned during this lesson. Share What questions you still have. Name Speak your Mind! Share What you have learned during this lesson. Share What questions you still have.'  No photo description available.

 

Read all about Classroom Transformations that students LOVE

 

How To Set Up Your Virtual Classroom

The end of summer is rapidly approaching! With the pandemic ongoing, many teachers may be preparing for another year in a virtual classroom instead of in person. For teachers used to teaching face to face in the classroom, things are different and you have to come up with new ways to do pretty much everything. This could either be exciting, or overwhelming. If you are feeling overwhelmed about it, don’t worry! I am here to help. 

While teaching virtually is a learning curve at first, you will soon learn that it can actually be fun! Going digital gives you so many more teaching resources to choose from. You can use Boom Cards, videos, audio, Google Slides, games, and last but most certainly not least, self-grading resources! 

Teaching virtually saves you valuable time grading, prepping, printing, and more. Furthermore, Google Slides make it so easier than ever to personalize your teaching resources and make them your own. What’s not to love! 

If you are just getting started with virtual learning and need some help getting your virtual classroom set up, I have you covered! 

My Virtual Classroom Templates will have you set for distance learning. 

virtual classroom

These editable templates are made with Google Slides so they are quick and so easy to use. They make it simple to decide which slides you want to use with your class, and delete what you don’t want. You can add clickable links, forms, images, a quiz, or videos of you to personalize your classroom.

Feeling nervous about how to use them? Don’t worry! I created a YouTube video instructing you on how to use it and make it your own. 

Included with this virtual classroom resource, you’ll get: 

  • 15 Google Slide Templates for Home Room, Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, PE, Centers and a Brain Break. These include home buttons of the slides so students can use presentation mode and easily find their schedule on the Home Room slide.
  • 18 Google Slides with links for a DEMO. There are extra slides from my own digital resources for you to use as a demo or in your own presentation or if you are K-2, you can use the demo for an emergency sub plan if needed.
  • 3 Page PDF with Directions

Slides are 11 x 8.5 so you can add other slides that can be printed out by the students at home if needed.

virtual classroom

This will make teaching in a virtual classroom a breeze, guaranteed! 

virtual classroom

If you are looking for more digital resources, check out my post here on how to create a virtual All About Me presentation for Back To School night. Or, if you are looking for a way to do calendar time virtually, check out my virtual calendar resource here!  

Are you teaching in person or virtually this year? Let me know in the comments!

virtual classroom