It’s time to head back to the classroom and you may be thinking about classroom management strategies. We all dream of having a classroom that runs smoothly and all students have great behavior and feel comfortable and cared for, right? While that may not be possible 100% of the time, (we can dream though, right?) you can still take steps to structure your classroom in a way that supports it.
When a new school year begins, students generally feel a little nervous to be with a new teacher in a new classroom. That is totally normal! It will take time for them to be comfortable you and feel comfortable in their new school routine. There are some things you can do to help them become more relaxed and ready to learn.
My favorite way to do that is to focus on building a classroom community.
What is classroom community? It is when you create a classroom atmosphere where students feel that they are valued and empowered. They are given responsibilities in the classroom so they feel a sense of importance. Research shows that this type of classroom environment increases student outcomes, increases social skills, and fosters a sense of belonging.
Wondering how you can create a classroom community? Here are some ideas to get you started!
- Have students work together towards an enticing reward. They can work together by following rules, hitting their educational goals, or by simply being kind to others. This builds them build friendships and trust in each other.
- Focus on relationships. Building relationships with you and each other will go a long way in helping students feel like they belong. If possible, group desks together, greet each student as they come in for the day, pair students up for work, play games, share stories during calendar time, etc.
- Assign classroom jobs. This is one of the best ways to boost confidence and a sense of importance or belonging with your students. Assign them a simple job! These can be things like line leader, paper passer, librarian, messenger, etc. Students will love feeling needed, and you’ll love all of the help you get! It’s a win-win.
If you are looking for a way to incorporate classroom jobs in your classroom this year, check out my Classroom Jobs resource. It is an editable, printable resource for you to create jobs for your students.
Included you’ll get a classroom job log, classroom job descriptions, classroom job labels, and even a classroom jobs application! Such a fun way to get students excited for their new responsibilities!
You can rotate jobs throughout the year or keep the jobs the same for the whole year to for students to build confidence or pride in their work.
Check them out here!
What are your favorite ways to create a classroom community? Let me know in the comments!
Looking for more teacher tips? Check out my post here on how to use STEM soft starts in your classroom this year!
