Classroom Management Teaching Resources
Bring your classroom management strategies to life with resources created for teachers, by teachers, with your classroom in mind!
This collection of digital and printable resources was designed to help elementary and middle school teachers create and implement classroom management plans that are both effective and supportive, building a place where students thrive.
Looking for new strategies to try or ideas to build your classroom routines and establish consistency? Read on for a primer from our teaching team!
What Is Classroom Management?
Maybe you know all this already. Then again, maybe you've got so much information swirling around your head that you could use a quick refresher! That's what we're here for.
Classroom management is the name for all those tools that teachers have in their toolkit that help a classroom run smoothly. It can include everything from your classroom behavior management systems to your instructional techniques, and it helps you hold students accountable for misbehavior. It's the very foundation of your classroom climate.
We like to think of classroom management a bit like we think of the framework for a house — it provides the basic structure for your learning environment and sets you up for success as a teacher while also setting your students up for success as learners.
How to Set Up Effective Classroom Management
Now that we've talked about the what, let's talk about the how!
When you haven't been teaching very long, it can be hard to figure out what's important and what's just loud noise.
There is no one-size-fits-all classroom management plan that will work for every teacher. The age of your students, the year level you're teaching, the needs of your students, and even your personality will all play a role in the way you run your classroom. With that in mind, your classroom management plan may change year after year as your teach new groups of kids.
All that said, you do not have to reinvent the wheel! The teachers at Teach Starter have more than a century of classroom management experience when you put us all together (hey, we're not that old!).
This toolkit draws on that wealth of experience to offer actionable steps and tips to create the classroom management strategies, behavior management plans and more that you'll need to build meaningful relationships with your students.
We've cut out the noise and focused on the most important classroom management tools for your new teacher toolkit. Consider this your favorite new pair of noise-cancelling headphones!
Focus on the Teacher-Student Relationship
A classroom management strategy is only as good as the relationship built between a teacher and their students. Connecting with your students — focusing on their strengths and their efforts — will have an impact on the overall climate of your classroom.
Those connections with your students will also help you tailor your teaching approaches to your students' individual needs, interests and learning styles.
Establish Classroom Rules and Behavior Expectations
Good classroom rules are key to preventing behavior issues and providing a framework for correction.
Your rules and expectations are also tied intrinsically to your teacher-student relationship! When students feel connected to their teacher, they are more likely to internalize the teacher's expectations and classroom rules.
Build Clear Routines and Procedures
Classroom procedures and routines are the core of classroom management in elementary and middle school, and they help keep the school day running smoothly.
The research tells us that kids crave structure, but they also test it — which is where your rules and expectations come into play.
Employ Positive Reinforcement
Being recognized for doing something right or "good" is a powerful motivator for all of us, including our students. Praising your students for their efforts and achievements, as well as their adherence to classroom expectations, reinforces positive behavior and encourages their classmates to follow suit.
Focus on Active Student Engagement
Active learning strategies, such as group work, hands-on activities and interactive discussions help kids learn, but they also play directly into behavior management. Active learning keeps students engaged and reduces the likelihood of disruptive behavior. It also promotes students with a sense of ownership and participation in the learning process.
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Build & Destroy - STEM Building Challenges for Kindergarten
Build, destroy, and promote STEM education with our printable STEM building challenges for Kindergarten.
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Summer Word Search Puzzle
Search and spell your way into summer break with a fun Summer Word Search!
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Science Sparks - 4th Grade Science Activities
Give your students a little science boost with Science Sparks 4 – our newest set of fast finisher science activities for 4th grade!
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Science Sparks - 5th Grade Science Activities for Fast Finishers
Review science standards during classroom downtime with Science Sparks, a set of 5th grade science activities for fast finishers.
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Science Sparks - 3rd Grade Science Activity Cards
Give your students a little science boost with Science Sparks 3 – our newest set of fast finisher science activities for 3rd Grade!
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Spring Word Search Puzzle
Search, find, and celebrate spring in your classroom with a fun Spring Word Search Puzzle.
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Reading Comprehension Question Stems - Anchor Charts
Enhance instruction on the six reading comprehension strategies with our printable Reading Comprehension Question Stems Chart Pack.
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Math Task Cards Grade 1
Engage your 1st grade fast finishers with printable math task cards.
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Subject and Verb Agreement Test
Assess students’ understanding with this two-page subject and verb agreement test designed to reinforce and evaluate correct verb usage.
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Parallel and Perpendicular Lines Test
Administer this parallel and perpendicular lines test to assess your students’ ability to identify types of line pairs in a variety of settings.
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Classroom Noise Monitor Poster
Remind your students of the appropriate noise level within the classroom with our noise monitor poster.
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Weekly Progress Report Template
Use a printable weekly progress report template to keep parents up-to-date on their student's behavior and work habits.
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THINK Strategy - Think Before You Speak Poster
Promote positive communication using the THINK strategy and our printable Think Before You Speak Poster.
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Student-Led Small Group Discussion Strategies Posters
Remind your students of a variety of student-led discussion strategies with this set of 8 posters.
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Fast Finisher Task Cards (3-5)
Keep students engaged and learning with fun fast finisher activity cards.
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Parent-Teacher Conference Planning Templates
Print a teacher planning template for parent teacher conferences that will keep you on top of things!
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Above and Below the Line Behaviors - Sorting Activity
Remind students of behaviors that are "above the line", "below the line", and "bottom-line" with this sorting activity.
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Fluency Assessment Tool
Use our fluency assessment tool to gauge your students’ oral reading fluency, speed, accuracy, and more!
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Blank Board Game Board Printables - Colorful Patterns
Use a blank board game board template to create a variety of classroom review games.
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STEAM Challenges - Task Cards for 1st and 2nd Grade
Use our easy STEAM Challenges to inspire problem solving and creative thinking in your 1st and 2nd Grade classrooms.
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Music Coloring Sheets - Instruments
Encourage mindfulness with a set of printable music coloring sheets.
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Coordinate Plane Pictures
Present these coordinate plane pictures to your students to enhance their skills in plotting points in all four quadrants.
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Subitizing Bingo Games (Numbers 1 - 10)
Play these subitizing bingo games in your small groups to give your students practice subitizing numbers up to 10.
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Genre of the Month - Writing Prompt Grids (Upper)
Introduce your students to a variety of writing genres with our printable genre-specific writing prompt grids.
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Connect the Dots Printable Alphabet Worksheets
Use this set of 3 dot-to-dot worksheets to get your youngest students practicing their recognition of the alphabet.
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Paris Landmarks – Mindfulness Coloring Pages
Use this set of mindfulness coloring pages of Paris landmarks to celebrate the magic of Paris.
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Reciprocal Teaching - Role Cards
Assign roles to your students during guided reading groups with this set of 4 reciprocal teaching role cards.
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Summer Paralympics Word Search - Upper Grades
Teach your students about the Paralympic Games with our summer sports word search for grades 3-6.
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Fast Finisher Task Cards (Lower Elementary)
Keep your fast finishers busy with this set of task cards targeted to lower elementary students.
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Whole Body Listening – Poster and Worksheet
Use this poster and accompanying worksheet to teach your students about whole body listening.
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Smoke Alarm Maintenance Calendar - English and Spanish
Help your students and their families stay safe by reminding them to check their smoke alarms monthly with a printable calendar.
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Picture-Based Sudoku for Kids
Use this set of sudoku for kids to enhance your students’ problem-solving and creative thinking skills.