behavior management Archives

5 Tangible Tips For Highly Effective Classroom Management

November 10, 2023 teachersbrain Classroom Behavior Management, Teacher's Pay Teachers, Teaching Tips

Dreaming of a classroom management plan or classroom management strategies that actually work? You’re not alone! There’s nothing that interrupts the flow of a good day like disruptive behaviors from your students.

The key to smoother, easier, more productive days in elementary, in my opinion, is effective behavior management in the classroom.

If you’re looking for classroom management ideas to help you get started on the path to a classroom that runs like a well oiled machine, you’re in the right place!

Here are 5 tangible tips for a highly effective classroom management:

Create a Visual Schedule

Develop a clear and visual daily schedule that is prominently displayed in the classroom. Use pictures, icons, or color-coding to help younger students understand the routine. A visual schedule helps students anticipate transitions and activities, reducing anxiety and minimizing disruptions.

Utilize Behavior Charts

Implement a behavior chart system (like the one linked below!) to track and reinforce positive behavior. Create a chart with different levels or categories, and move students’ names or markers based on their behavior throughout the day. Recognize and reward students who consistently demonstrate positive behavior. This visual representation provides students with a concrete understanding of their progress.

Implement a Signal System

Establish a set of signals or cues to communicate expectations and transitions. For example, you might use a bell, a hand signal, or a specific phrase to indicate when it’s time to begin an activity, wrap up, or refocus. Consistent signals help create a sense of order and make transitions smoother.

Designate Clear Learning Spaces

Organize your classroom into distinct learning spaces for different activities. Clearly define areas for group work, independent study, and whole-class instruction. This not only helps manage noise levels but also signals to students the type of behavior expected in each area. Consistent use of these spaces establishes a structured environment.

Establish a Classroom Jobs System

Assign specific responsibilities to students by implementing a classroom jobs system. This fosters a sense of ownership and shared responsibility. Rotate jobs regularly to give students the opportunity to take on different roles. Jobs can include line leader, classroom helper, or materials manager. This not only contributes to classroom management but also instills a sense of community and cooperation.

Remember, building a positive and well-managed classroom takes time and ongoing effort. Be patient, be consistent, and be open to adjusting your strategies based on the needs of your students.

Looking for a classroom management resource that you can use to get your classroom on track? Check out my Daily Behavior Charts resource!

This pre-made editable behavior chart for your little ones will help easily manage their behavior goals. Included are editable behavior contracts, data-collecting graphs to chart progress, a poster about Big Problems & Little Problems, and more!

Here’s what’s included:

Chart for one Goal (All editable with text boxes)

Graph for one goal

Graph for second goal (You will use graphs 1 and 2)

Chart for Three Goals

Graph for Third Goal (You will use graphs 1, 2, and 3)

Two Types of Behavior Contracts to Use with the Charts.

Half Page Color the Smilie Face with Contract and “LIFT” Chart to Graph Data for Five Weeks

Big Problem Poster

Big Problem Half Page Chart (You can have them color each square or give stamps or stickers when they react appropriately to a problem.)

Sticker Chart and Graph

Stamp Chart and Graph

Daily Smiley Behavior Chart (pre-made and one editable)

Green, Yellow, and Red Lights (Student colors the type of day they had.)

Various Certificates for Good Work

For more classroom management tips, check out my post here!

What are your favorite classroom management tips? Share with me in the comments!

Why You Need A Visual Schedule In Elementary

December 10, 2021 teachersbrain Back to School, Classroom Behavior Management, Classroom Decor, Teaching Tips

We all know how important it is to get our students in a good routine for a smooth running classroom. Students thrive when they know what to expect for their day.

Studies show that a good routine helps with behavior management issues in the classroom. It also helps your students feel more safe with the consistency that it brings.

When I was in the classroom at the start of the year, I tried to ensure that I go over the schedule and break down the entire day for my students. This included what we do when we come in for the day, what subjects we work on when, when we transition to lunch and specials, how we transition to lunch and specials, and the pickup/ going home procedures.

I found it to be beneficial to have a visual for younger students who may need extra help remembering the daily schedule and procedures.

I created this Classroom Visual Daily Schedule to help smooth out the transitions and give students the peace of mind that comes with knowing what comes next every day.

You can use these cards on a pocket chart, wall, or magnetic board to easily edit and move your schedule around. You can even allow students to take a card to the next task if they have trouble transitioning.

This resource is a digital, editable PowerPoint so you can edit it to fit your needs. You can also personalize it if desired!

Here’s everything I included

42 editable PowerPoint slides (*Make sure you have PowerPoint)
Black and White with Clocks (moveable hands and text boxes provided)
Cursive and print for intermediate or primary classrooms
Blank cards
Directions with suggested fonts
Pictures cards include ( A+, apple, backpack, chalkboard, books, bell, lunch, milk, glue, globe, clock, crayons, owl, grad hat, paint pallet, paintbrush, bookworm, bus, pencil, pen, check, bell, stars, scissors, beaker, music, paper airplane, protractor, data journal, music, magnets, locker, glasses, light bulb, ruler, flask, heart, sun, tent, music notes, tie, flashlight, plant, tie, test tube)

I would put these at the front of the classroom on the board or in our Calendar Time area. I noticed how much of a difference it made in my students when we had a clear, easy-to-understand schedule.

What do you do to teach students your daily schedule? Let me know in the comments!

Desk Pets: A Classroom Management System Students Will Love!

November 5, 2021 teachersbrain Classroom Behavior Management, Teaching Tips

Among the many academic subjects we teach our students, we also teach them so much more that goes beyond that. They learn how to follow rules, make friends, be kind, be responsible, respectful, make good choices, and so much more.

Positive reinforcement is a great way to celebrate this behavior. It will encourage the behavior to continue when students are doing a good job. This can be done in many ways but a good classroom management strategy is a fantastic place to start. You can read about one of my favorite strategies, Blurt Beans, here.

With a good classroom management system, you will not only show students the consequences of their actions when they don’t make the right choice but also encourage and celebrate them when they show that they are responsible, respectful, kind, etc.

If you are looking for the perfect system for your classroom that will get your students excited and motivated to continue to do well, you have to try out Desk Pets.

Desk Pets are a unique classroom management system that will reward students for their good behavior by giving them “desk pets” to keep on their desks and accessories to go along with them.

The desk pet is an animal eraser. You can read with it, write with it, or even play with it at designated times of the day.

Here’s how to implement the Desk Pet system into your classroom

To start, students will earn Desk Pet Dollars from your classroom when they are doing a good job, following the rules, helping others, staying on task, showing respect, being responsible, etc. After they earn their dollars, they then get to spend it to adopt a desk pet of their choosing!

The desk pet gets to hang out with them at their desk. In order to buy habitats, supplies, and other accessories that will keep the desk pet “happy”, students will need to continue to earn more Desk Pet Dollars. This provides the incentive for them to continue making good choices even after they got to pick out a pet.

Later on in the year, students can even have the option to give their desk pets a permanent home by taking them home (if you choose to).

When students are not following rules, they may be charged a Desk Pet fee that they have to pay using their earned dollars or their pet may be taken back to the adoption center.

Students love this system! They can share with their friends what animal they received and what accessories they have to go along with it. This inspires more good behavior because students will want what their friends have.

If you want to get started with Desk Pets, you can do that free with my starter kit here.

It comes with the rules you need to get started. You’ll get an adoption application, a zoo habitat along with instructions on how to set it up, Desk Pet signs, and an editable page for writing prompts.

If you want the full resource, you can check that out here. It comes with all of the printables you need. You’ll get behavior contracts, Venn diagrams, pet store price lists, Desk Pet journals, and more!

This will definitely be a hit for your students, and it will definitely make you a memorable teacher!

The Best Classroom Management Ideas

October 29, 2021 teachersbrain Classroom Behavior Management

Let’s talk about behavior management systems! These are obviously vital in any elementary classroom for various reasons. When our students first start school, they don’t know much about what to expect and what is expected of them.

Without behavior management strategies, what would the average elementary classroom look like? We would probably see a lot of interruptions, crying, jumping, playing, messes, etc.

We have to teach students how to behave in school like everything else we do. With elementary kids, you need to explain it, show it, and reinforce it for them to catch on.

The lack of a solid classroom management system will add dramatically to your stress levels. A solid classroom management system will yield amazing results if done consistently.

So how do you set up a good classroom management system?

There are some general things that any teacher should be doing. The basics include modeling the behavior you want to see, listing your rules in an easy to find location, praising your students for doing well, and setting classroom goals to work towards.

There are also more specific classroom management systems.

These include color coded systems, clipping up or down, sticker charts, etc.

My favorite, hands down, is the Blurt Beans Strategy!

This one is particularly great for students who like to blurt out during lessons. This helps students understand why they shouldn’t interrupt class and gives them a visual for how they are doing.

You just need some clear jars (so students can see inside), beans (any type!), and my blurt beans printables.

There are two options for using this system

Option 1: Put 5 blurt beans on each student’s desk. If they have a name tag, I tell them to keep them on their name tag or in the pencil groove. In addition, they are responsible for their beans. Beans found on the floor get added to the Blurt Bean Jar. When students blurt out you, another student or the student must put a bean back in the Blurt Bean Jar.

Option 2: This one is a more sanitary option. You control the beans. Provide a small cup or container to hold 5 beans for each student and you or one student who will be the Bean Monitor will remove beans when a student blurts out.

At the end of the day, students will get to empty leftover beans into the second jar. You will label it (like in the photo above) with class rewards. When they reach the line, they get the reward!

This is a great visual for students to see how they are doing. You can also add extra Cool Beans when the whole class does well on something.

Distance learning this year? You can still use Blurt Beans! The resource includes Google Slides that make doing this virtually easy.

This resource also comes with extras like the Daily Blurt Chart, No Blurt Certificate, A Blurt Hurt Red Alert, writing prompts, a Blurt Journal, and more!

For more information on how to use Blurt Beans in your classroom, check out my post here.

This is such a fun and unique classroom management system. Your students will love it!