Dear New Teacher... A Letter on Classroom Management

Dear New Teacher,

Congratulations for embarking on one of the most challenging yet rewarding careers! Teaching is hard, but there are certainly best practices and tools to make your teaching experiences, and your students' learning experience better! Let's talk about classroom management.

New Teacher, I am writing this too you because many educators and educational experts agree that "what you do on the first days of school will determine your success or failure for the rest of the school year. You will either win or lose your class on the first days of school." So... New Teacher, make sure to keep these items in mind as the school year approaches!!!!

New Teacher, classroom management is ESSENTIAL for an efficient, safe, and effective classroom! My biggest advice for you is start out stricter!... you can get "looser" with students, but it's very difficult to get tighter. Now please don't misunderstand me, I am not saying that you absolutely can't smile or joke until the second week of school, but be careful.  Students will start testing your limits right from day one, be prepared. This means having procedures, or guidelines! ROUTINE is key here! If students know what you expect of them, this whole classroom management thing becomes so much easier.

There is a difference between 

being friendly and being friends. 

As a new or young teacher, this is a 

distinction that MUST be solidified.

Now don't freak out New Teacher... this isn't all rocket science I promise! Here are Ms. Royer's top 5 suggestions for managing your classroom:

1) HAVE SET PROCEDURES

- New Teacher, you should definitely ave pre-established guidelines, procedures, and consequences. Students need to know what they should be doing when they enter the classroom etc. As creatures of habit, students like a routine and schedule. While it's nice to change things up every now and then, having a routine schedule is helpful for students who are anxious or don't like change. Additionally, students who know what to expect will get to work faster in the classroom, etc. 

2) HAVE PROCEDURES POSTED
- You will definitely want your procedures, classroom expectations, and consequences posted in your classroom. This should be visible so that students can be reminded of them. 

- Have students and parents/guardians sign a contract or agreement, confirming that they have read and accept your classroom procedures, expectations, and consequences. This shows students that you take your classroom atmosphere very seriously, and demonstrates to parents/guardians that you have a protocol for classroom management. There should be no surprises as to what would warrant a consequence, etc. 

3) NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION IS EFFECTIVE

- New Teacher, please know that you don't have to always be talking to manage your classroom

- You can

         - look at students who are talk

         - walk near or stand near students who are misbehaving, etc

         - wait until students are quiet to talk

         - motioning to be quiet with your fingers to your lips, etc.

4) BE ORGANIZED

- This can help in so many different ways. Organized teachers have set places for their colored pencils and safety glasses and notebooks etc. If you want your students to respect your classroom and tools etc. ensure that you are respecting them as well. You cannot expect your students to clean up after a lab or class if the room started out unorganized. By providing bins and designated spots for items in the classroom, students will know where items are supposed to be placed etc. 

- Additionally, organized teachers are better able to help students. Instead of frantically searching for that extra vocab sheet for the student who missed yesterdays class, you know exactly where it is. 

New teacher, I know that organization is tough, but it's worth it!

5) USE POSITIVE LANGUAGE

Foster a positive environment for your classroom. Ensure that all students feel appreciated, respected and safe. This can be done by using positive language with your students, and also encouraging other students to do this as well. Let's "catch good behavior!" and show students that you notice their good work, etc. 

No pressure or anything, but New Teacher, please take this letter seriously. Wong et Wong (2009) state that "student achievement at the end of the year is directly related to the degree to which the teacher establishes good control of the classroom procedures in the very first week of the school year."

--------------------------------------------------------------

So PLAN

Set Routines

Outline Procedures, Expectations, and Consequences

Ensure an effective, efficient, and safe classroom by managing your classroom with a strong yet friendly hand. Best of luck New Teacher, you will do great things. Don't hesitate to ask other teachers and educators for help, you are not alone!

Best

-Ms. Royer 

PS... check out this site http://www.edutopia.org/blog/classroom-management-tips-novice-teachers-rebecca-alber Lot's of awesome ideas about classroom management