Classroom Management for NEW Teachers




My school asked me to help with New Teacher Orientation happening in a few weeks, so I thought I'd post my thoughts here as well.  In thinking about what new teachers should know about classroom management, here are my hacks and words of advice:


Classroom Management Hacks and Advice:
1.         Have a daily bellringer assignment.  Every. Single. Day.  Establish procedures for how to enter your class, how to leave your class, what to do when you first arrive, how to turn in work, how I will get your attention, and how to borrow supplies.  (there are many more also…)

2.   Be approachable and respectful and friendly…but not their friend.

3.   Over plan and it’s ok if you don’t get to something.

4.        Have someone for your questions and actually ASK the questions! I think new teachers are afraid they will “look dumb” if they ask questions so they just try to figure out everything themselves.  Please ask questions!  

5.       Focus on classroom management at the beginning of the year---this should be at least the first 2 weeks, not just the first day or two.

6.       If you can, get to school early.  It’s quiet so you can think (and the copier is free…)

7.         Remember:  Small things to us are BIG to them.  If a kid is unsure how he is getting home that day, he won’t be able to focus on anything else.  If a kid is in an argument with their best friend, they won’t be focused in math class.  Now I am NOT saying to stop your teaching to handle every little thing by any means, but I am saying to be cognizant of things that bother them and the things that you CAN help with, do.

8.         Have a stash of snacks in the classroom that you can eat at break or plan time.  Hungry teachers are mean teachers. J

9.        Walk around your room as much as possible.  It’s amazing how much more work that group will do when you are just three feet away instead of ten feet away.

10.    When “that student” is great, send a note home or call.

11.      Let them move around!  No one wants to sit still forever.   Give opportunities to move around the room by having questions taped to the walls or using the 4 corners as answer choices A, B, C, D and they move to their answer choice.  There are lots of ways to include movement in your class.

12.    Ask yourself:  Would I want to be in this classroom as a student?  

13.     Show how to and how NOT to do something.  I demonstrate how to raise your hand and how NOT to raise your hand.  I demonstrate how to correctly leave class and how to NOT correctly leave class.  Seeing both makes your expectations much more visible to the students

14.       I read the next tip online (not trying to take credit for someone else's words, but  I don't remember where I got it from to give them credit---but it is GREAT!!!)  "It’s helpful to imagine the first day of teaching as an airport.  When students first walk in, for example, teachers should think of themselves as airport security. This means lots of firm repetition of simple instructions that sound something like this: “Good morning. Your seat is here. Your first assignment is here.” Later in the day, teachers become flight attendants, and then pilots, with different duties and demeanors throughout the day. The first few minutes of class, however, are not the best time to have individual, personal conversations with students. Your job at this point is to get everyone on board quickly and efficiently. Greet. Seat. Repeat. If you’re worried that this might make you seem unfriendly, just remember that everyone on that plane wants airport security to be able to do their jobs."

15.      You can laugh.  You need to laugh.  They need to see you enjoy being in
        their presence and that you do enjoy your job.  I'm always saddened by
        students who think teachers don't like kids.  Ummmm, why go into teaching? 
        So yes, by all means, go ahead and smile and laugh.  



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