Are you ready to embark on an exciting journey toward becoming a classroom management master? If you’re nodding your head enthusiastically (or even if you’re just mildly curious), you’ve come to the right place! In this blog post, we’re going to dive headfirst into the wonderful world of classroom management, exploring three steps that will transform your teaching experience and create a positive learning environment for you and your students.
We know that teaching isn’t just about delivering engaging lessons and sharing knowledge—it also involves fostering a positive atmosphere where students can thrive and grow. That’s where classroom management comes in. It’s the art of creating and maintaining an organized, structured, and engaging classroom environment. It encompasses various strategies, techniques, and approaches designed to nurture positive behaviors, address challenging ones, and keep the classroom humming like a well-oiled machine.
Easier said than done? Well, buckle up and get ready to discover my secrets behind effective classroom management and behavior management. It’s all about focusing on three key steps that will help you master the art of classroom management. And hey, who says it has to be all serious and daunting? Promoting a positive learning environment and putting the ownership on students is actually fun!
Step 1: Introduce the 5 P’s
First, you’ll introduce The 5 P’s. These are your classroom norms. They serve to create a common language around your classroom culture. The 5 P’s are the way we conduct ourselves, and students should know them like the back of their hands. They are comprehensive and cover necessary student expectations for successful and productive school days.
The 5 P’s can be an extension of your classroom rules, or they can BE your classroom rules! For example, if one of your classroom rules is usually “Don’t call out”, you’ve already got it covered with “Patient”. A patient student waits his/her turn.
-Introduce them one at a time.
-Give students opportunities to demonstrate examples and non-examples (have some fun with acting them out!)
-Notice and note when a character in a book shows one of the P’s. OR, if the character doesn’t show one of the P’s, what should they have done differently?
-Use these words everyday, call it out when you see it, make it a big deal when someone exhibits one of the P’s
Step 2: The Behavior Expectations Scale
So, your students know the classroom norms and have a common language around them. Now, let’s apply those norms to daily classroom expectations.
Effectively manage student behavior with the Behavior Expectations Scale. This scale, ranging from 1 to 4, outlines expected behaviors for the day, providing a clear framework for behavior management in your classroom.
Students strive to achieve a “3” on the scale everyday, representing “Meets Expectations.” Some days, students exceed expectations, earning a “4,” while other days provide opportunities for reflection and growth, resulting in a “2.” At the end of each day, I record these numbers on students’ recording sheets, along with their own self-reflection.
The resource includes the Behavior Scale 1-4, title options, 4 mini-posters, mini Behavior Scale for student desks, monthly recording sheet options, teacher tips for use, and a sample recording sheet.
Quick note: this is not a clip chart. The behavior expectations scale is a guide and a tool for self-reflection. It shouldn’t be used as a way to publicly display student’s “level” or “score” for the day. Please don’t do that 🙂
Step 3: Behavior Focus Meetings
Bring it all together with Behavior Focus Meetings. This is a time for teachers and students to discuss ways they can positively impact the classroom community. It’s a quick meeting at the start of the week that boosts morale, fosters friendship, and holds students accountable for making good choices. It is a time for students to focus their efforts on building character and developing good habits that can reach beyond the classroom.
By using read alouds to foster a sense of classroom community through good choices and positive behaviors, these meetings are the key to creating an engaging and accepting learning environment.
Here’s How it Works:
1. Select a focus prompt (there are 16 weeks of meetings and can be used in any order)
2. Determine if you want to provide behavior options for students to choose from or brainstorm collectively on the spot, then input them into the editable bubbles.
3. Introduce the behavior focus for the week by reading one of the suggested stories aloud. Utilize the story events and suggested discussion points from the Teacher Guide to help students choose their focus.
4. Check in with students throughout the week to monitor their progress. Seize teachable moments to reinforce opportunities for goal achievement. Consider additional read-aloud sessions.
5. Wrap up the week with a Friday reflection. Commend students for their good choices and hold a mini-celebration. Encourage sharing of successes, emphasizing increased mindfulness in daily decision-making and lessons learned from the experience.
This 3-part behavior management system builds classroom community and empowers students to make good choices in the classroom. It establishes clear expectations, creates a common language and sets the tone for your entire school year. As an added plus, it keeps parents in the loop so everyone is on the same page. Say goodbye to your typical behavior management strategies, and hello to something much better!
Cover all your bases with the Positive Communication Binder. This yearlong tool closes the loop between the classroom and home. It makes it easy to share the good things that happen, so you’re not always reaching out to parents with bad news. Additionally, it includes ways to celebrate your students, easy report card comment cheat sheets, positive email templates and more! Read the blog post here.
These resources come in 2 different style to fit your classroom! Click your favorite below.
★ Teachers like you are saying ★
★★★★★ “GENIUS. I saw this on Instagram and had to get it. I am not disappointed. I am so impressed with it, and my students are really connecting to the behavior focus wall, and the weekly stories. I use it with my morning meetings.” -Iris
★★★★★ “Truly love this and it has helped my students build a classroom community! It is nice to have a large display dedicated to just this so it is present, easy to read, and always a reminder.” -Patricia
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