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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Quick + Simple Mindfulness Activities for Kids in the Classroom
Check out these mindfulness activities for kids that can work in a classroom setting. They take just 5 to 10 minutes a day for social and emotional learning!
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17 Must-Try Classroom Routines for Elementary Teachers
Developing set classroom routines in elementary school helps to prevent distractions that waste time and interfere with learning.
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17 Classroom Management Strategies & Examples That Really Work
Explore classroom management strategies and ideas from other teachers to keep the classroom running smoothly and meet the 3 C's.
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10 Calming Activities for Kids to Try After Lunch or Recess
How do you settle a class after lunch? These calming activities for kids can help!
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29 Teacher Jokes That Will Crack You (And Your Students) Up!
Teacher jokes are good for the soul, and these jokes for kids can help build community plus help your students with long-term memory!
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13 Quick and Fun Daily Classroom Fitness Activities
Quick, easy, and fun classroom fitness activities you can do with your students as brain breaks or to get them exercising!
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How to Stop Tattling in the Classroom: 10 Expert Teacher Tips to End This Behavior
Get teacher tips on how to stop tattling in the classroom and how to help kids tell the difference between tattling and telling.
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How to Talk to Students About Cheating (And Prevent It in the First Place)
Get expert tips on how to talk to students about cheating and how to prevent cheating in your classroom!
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Why Montessori Peace Tables and Peace Corners Have Jumped to Public Schools
Montessori-style peace tables are being adopted by mainstream classroom teachers to effectively teach young children conflict resolution skills!
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9 Brilliant Ways Tap Lights Can Be Used in the Classroom
Tap lights, puck lights, push lights: Whatever you call them, here are great ways to use them in your classroom!
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How to Build A Parent Teacher Relationship That Will Help Students Succeed
Build a positive parent-teacher relationship with these teacher-tested tips for getting parents more involved in their kids' education.
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13 Easy End-of-Year Student Gifts That Teachers Love + Kids Do Too
Looking for great end-of-year student gifts? Here are some teacher-approved and easy ideas that are free or inexpensive!
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Marble Jar Reward System for the Classroom: How to Keep Things Positive
Find out how to use the marble jar reward system as a positive behavior reinforcement tool in your classroom.
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What Are Equity Sticks? How to Implement Them in Your Classroom
What are equity sticks or pick sticks? Find out if this tool is right for your classroom.
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Supporting Shy Students: 10 Ways Elementary Teachers Can Help
Don't let shy students fall under the radar in your classroom. Here are some strategies you can use to support and encourage them.
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9 Creative Ways to Celebrate Student Success in Your Classroom
Celebrating Student Success is the key to motivating students, building self-esteem and creating a positive classroom culture. Find out how with these brilliant ways to make your students shine.
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25 Fun Indoor Recess Games & Activities That Can Save Teachers' Day (And Their Sanity)
Need indoor recess games and activities that will let the kids get a real break? Try these fun games for kids from kindergarten through middle school, including activities that will get them up and moving around.
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5 Secrets to Classroom Transitions That Actually Work
What are classroom transitions, and why are they important? Try these classroom transition strategies to save time during the school day!
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16 Inventive Desk Name Plate Ideas for Teachers
These desk name plate ideas are a hit with teachers! Your students won't pick and peel at their desks with these creative and quirky decorating ideas.
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Independent Learning Strategies to Implement in Your Classroom
Learn strategies to encourage independent learning in your classroom plus get printable checklists and more teacher resources!
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14 Ways to Improve Student Concentration That Really Work
How can you get students to focus and concentrate on the lesson at hand? Here are some research-backed tips for teachers to help students concentrate.
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Separation Anxiety Tips for Teachers: How to Make School Drop-Off Go Smoothly
Separation anxiety at school drop-off is common for young children. Here's how teachers can help their students manage the transition.
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Blurt Buttons | A Fun Way to Curb Calling Out in the Classroom
Blurt Buttons are a bright, fun classroom management strategy to help curb calling out and manage impulsiveness and noise at school.
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How to Create a Positive Learning Environment Where Students Thrive
How do we encourage a positive learning environment with help from our students? Your students will become engaged and motivated learners with these simple ideas.
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Classroom Jobs for Students — How to Assign Roles in Your Class
Find out how to successfully assign classroom jobs for students plus get a classroom jobs list to get you started!
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How to Create a Student-Led Classroom Social Contract in Elementary School
Learn how to create a classroom social contract that's truly got student buy-in and will enhance your classroom management.
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How to Set Up Brag Tags in the Classroom
Are you looking for a different way to manage behavior in your classroom?