Classroom Management

Hello Friends!

​Welcome to my very first blog post. As an elementary school counselor with over six years of experience, I have had plenty of teacher colleagues approach me concerning classroom management. Some had resorted to raising their voices and others completely withdrew, allowing the class to take over- and not in a fun way! Classroom management for 4th and 5th grade students is definitely doable (that's a word right?!). Take a look at the resources listed below for practical and developmentally appropriate strategies that can help create a positive classroom environment and strengthen student engagement. 

1. Build Positive Relationships
**I know...I know...it sounds cliche, BUT...It WORKS! 
It is so crucial to have a connection with students before correcting, but how?
- Give high-fives or fist bumps at the door in the morning 
- Encourage more than correct
- Get to know your student's interests, hobbies, and strengths
- Check in with them on a regular basis

2. Teach Social-Emotional Skills
- Demonstrate empathy
- Teach students to identify their feelings
- Teach to manage conflicts and frustration appropriately
- Conduct daily morning meetings
- Create a classroom calm down corner

3. Teach Clear Expectations
- Collectively create 3-5 positively stated classroom  expectations  such as: "Be respectful" or "Listen" or maybe even "Do your BEST"

4. Use Logical Consequences (My fave!)
Consequences should be connected to student's behavior and designed to teach rather than "punish"
- If I break it, I fix it (Feelings, pencils, etc.)
- Reflection form completion
- Make amends

5. Keep Students Actively Engaged
- Turn and talk activities
- Hands on projects
- Interactive activities

6. Maintain Routines Consistently
Predictable classrooms reduce behavior problems
Review and practice:
-Entering the classroom 
-Transitions
-Dismissal
-Group and Independent work
-Technology use 

7. Use Restorative Practices
Focus on repairing relationships versus punishment alone
-What happened and who was affected?
- How can this situations be repaired?
- What can be done different next time?

8. Teach and Develop Self-Regulation Skills 
* Help students monitor and manage their own behavior
- Self-monitoring checklist
- Progress tracking
- Mindfulness practices
- Goal setting

9. Encourage Student Voice and Choice
- Allow students to select project topics
- Delegate student leadership roles
- Have students help create classroom norms and display them creatively 
- Allow choice boards

10. Use Positive Reinforcement (Acknowledge desired behavior)
- Be genuine
- Focus on what students are doing correct versus solely focusing on the mistakes. 
- "I REALLY appreciated how you helped Johnny with that problem."

Are there anymore that you would add? Add them in the comments below.

References:
​American Academy of Pediatrics. (2024). Media and children communication toolkit.         
           https://www.aap.org 

CASEL. (2023).What is the CASEL framework? Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning. https://casel.org.  

Wilkins, N.J., Verlenden, J.M., Szucs, L.E., Johns, M.M., (2023). Classroom management and facilitation approaches that promote school connectedness. Journal of School Health, 93(7), 582-593. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10935603/