Classroom Management
Classroom management entails more than just discipline throughout the school year. It involves established routines, a set of classroom rules where students are aware of what the expected behaviour is right from the start of the school year. Having a set of classroom rules that all the students have agreed upon, allow the students to be aware of what behaviours are tolerable within the classroom and which are not. Students will then be able to discover on their own what behaviour they are to demonstrate in the classroom. If the proper steps are taken before the year begins and are consistent throughout, then managing a class should run fairly smoothly.
Before the First Day
- Become acquainted with the school staff.
- Familiarize myself with the school area.
- Attend meetings regarding important school procedures and information about the start of the New Year.
- Clean up and decorate classroom.
- Color code all note books according to subject.
- Prepare name tags on students’ desk and lockers.
- Prepare homework bins.
- Arrange the students’ desk.
- Create a daily student schedule.
- Review previous IEPs.
- Speak with previous year’s teachers, aides and resource teachers.
First Day of School
- Greet students and welcome them to their new classroom.
- Go over information sheets that parents need to sign.
- Go over school supply list.
- Hand out school agendas.
- Collectively decide upon classroom rules - ensure that there is a visual list so students can refer to them).
- Have students take part in decorating the classroom.
- Tell students what is expected of them (student jobs, reward system, consequences, quiet signal).
- Explain to student’s year goals/classroom projects and themes.
- Have student participate in classroom ice breakers- all about me projects.
First Days/ Weeks
- Decorate the classroom with the students.
- Encourage students to participate.
- Collect forms and fees on daily basis.
- Work on learning students names.
- Reinforce class rules and expectations and be consistent.
