Classroom Management: Tips from a Kindergarten Teacher

One of the most common questions I've been asked by others is about management and guiding children in the right direction when it comes to discipline. In no way am I an expert, but these are a few things that I have found have make a huge difference in working with little ones! As you are reading, keep in mind that each classroom and teacher is different, and while some of these things may work consistently, others may not depending on the group of students/child you are working with. With that, be open to trying new ideas and find ways to have fun with them; the whole point of classroom management is so you can have a fun and functional classroom. So, keeping these things in mind, let's get into it!

1. KEEP CALM: 

Kids can sense your fear and stress. Keep a calm voice as often as possible, try not to resort to yelling as a quick way to manage.

2. GET TO KNOW YOUR STUDENTS:

I believe the classroom environment contributes greatly to managing a classroom. When you get to know your student's interests and are able to identify with them, you gain so much more respect with your class. This is even more true with older grades. Find out what your students like; read the book they're reading at home; watch the TV shows they told you about; learn the dance that they're all doing. Knowing your students and creating an environment where you celebrate and enjoy what they're into will go a long way.
 

3. CONSISTENCY IS KEY:

Kids will test you, it's inevitable. It’s important to establish expectations and boundaries early on. I’ve found the first month of kinder to be the 'testing' period and boy, oh boy, it can be filled with tears, outbursts and kids staking out and refusing to do what’s asked. In these moments it’s so important to follow through with the rules. If you give in at this point, it’s going to be even harder the next time. 

4. DON'T SAY IT IF YOU DON'T MEAN IT: 

This one goes right along with consistency. Kids can call your bluff! It’s important that you say what you mean and mean what you say when it comes to children. Try REALLY hard to not make statements like, "I’m not going to continue until everyone is quiet," unless you’re ACTUALLY going to wait for every single person to be completely quite before you continue. If you know you won't follow through with something don't use it as a threat. If kids aren’t able to take your word for your word, you're going to lose that authority that you need to maintain a functional classroom. It'll save you a lot of frustration in the long run.
 

5. USE POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT: 

It’s important to have balance. There are times where it is appropriate for students to receive discipline while in turn, it is extremely important for them to receive praise. Find a system that works for you for both! There are 100’s of ideas on Pinterest! In my classroom, I’ve used Class Dojo, brownie points, classroom cash, high fives, big smiles, and so many other tools for positively reinforcing behaviour. 

6. FIND THEIR CURRENCY:

This is probably one of the most important aspects of positive reinforcement. When you are rewarding or praising a child you want to make sure it is something that they value or relate to. If your students don't get excited about stickers, those probably shouldn't be your go-to for a reward system. Find what they are interested in and use that to engage them and reward them.  

7. ESTABLISH ROUTINES: 

Teaching is about being flexible, but kids thrive on routine. Try to get a rhythm going in the classroom where they can anticipate the next step; it’ll save you lots of time and repetition. For example, if you have students do math first thing in the morning, have something readily available every day for them to go to next once they're finished their lesson. After a few days students will stop asking you, "what do you want me to do now?" and it will free up your time to work with the other students.
 

8. NONVERBAL CUES: 

Ever have a kid raise their hand in the middle of a lesson to go to the bathroom and you completely lose your rhythm and train of thought? Use hand signals and non-verbal cues! You can click here to download my free Hand Signals Poster from my TPT store. The fewer interruptions during a lesson, the smoother a class will run.
 

9. HAVE SUPPLIES IN PLACES STUDENTS KNOW AND CAN ACCESS:

A whole classroom rhythm can get thrown off by one student misplacing their pencil. Set a system in place for materials to take out the search and questions. I've seen some really cool ways of doing this on Pinterest. Some of my favourites are having sharp and dull pencil bins and caddies for desks where students share their materials.
 

10. LOVE THEM:

I saved the most important for last... love them! Tell your students often how important they are and how much you care for them. Children respect their teachers so much more when they feel loved and valued. Ask them what they are going to do on the weekend; how their birthday party went; what they thought of the assembly. If they get excited about something, get excited and celebrate with them. The most important thing we can do as teachers is love our students!
 
All that being said, if something’s not working (after you’ve given it a good chance), change it! Every class is different. There are some things that will work with a certain group or child and not others. Don’t be afraid to try something new or scrap an idea that isn’t working. Failure is one of the best ways to learn! Don’t be discouraged, just try something else until you find a strategy that clicks. I wish you well in your classroom this year and hope that your transition into this new school year goes smoothly. If you have ideas I haven't mentioned please feel free to leave them in the comments below!

Sincerely,
The Joy-Filled Classroom