3 Ways to Shake Up Classroom Management

Sometimes teachers are looking for a magic wand that we can wave and make our classroom management problems just go away! But after 24 years, I don’t think any magic tricks exist. Instead, I think what makes good classroom management is pretty simple, though not always easy. Want to know my 3 ways to shake up classroom management? Maybe you haven’t tried these, and are ready for something new to you!

1. Shake Up Classroom Management With Notes

I write notes to my students….. as frequently as I can! I buy a big pack of blank cards, usually at Michael’s, and I find reasons to write notes. I am most intent with this at the beginning of the year. I quickly identify the students who might be needy in some way. This includes the ones that I can tell will fly under the radar and are used to not being seen. But it also includes the students who I think will be leaders or derailers.

I use the information I get from their first day questionnaire as a starting point. Here are some examples of for the 3 kinds of students I mentioned before:

Under the radar: I noticed that you wrote that you said that you go home after school to watch your little sister. What’s that like for you?

Leader: I can tell that you are outgoing and I was hoping that you might help me when I need someone to model how to do X. Would that be ok with you?

Derailer: I saw that you wrote that you didn’t like Spanish last year and that you don’t think you’re good at it. I would love to prove you wrong. What is something about Spanish that you found really difficult last year?

And then I ask them to write back! Most do, and from here, we start building a relationship. Students who know you care about them as people are more likely to be respectful of you and your rules, and you are more likely to be able to catch them doing the right things!

2. Call Home Often

One of my favorite things for my students to discover is that I call home a lot! I try to make Friday the day I make a few phone calls before I leave for the day to say something positive about my students. This can be a great way to acknowledge the kids that don’t often get a lot of your attention because they’re doing fine. They’re not superstars, but they’re not disruptive or doing poorly. It starts my weekend off right too!

I also call or email home to let families know about things I’m concerned about. There is a finesse to how to say or write about what’s going on with the student in order to get parents on your side. (Let me know if you would like examples of my emails!) But once you convince them that you are reaching out to solve the problem, and that you are sure that they can help you do that, word spreads in class. It’s so funny to hear them say things like.. “Yo! She called my mom!”

It’s the perfect time to remind students that you do what you say you will do and that they matter to you. “Yes, I told you I would call home if X situation was still an issue. Your mom cares about your success as much as I do, and I’m really excited that we’re working together on this!” The rest of the class takes note!

3. Another Way To Shake Up Classroom Management

Most of you reading this blog are high school teachers, so keep an open mind with this one…. One of my most popular ways to win kids over to “my side” is to make learning fun. I’m not a champion for standing on our heads. There are only so many hours in the day. It would be great if every day could be a game, but that’s not realistic. Instead, I have a Prize Box.

Yes, a prize box. My students LOVE LOVE LOVE the prize box! I invent reasons to use it, especially at the beginning of the year. I give out prizes for all kinds of things, like quickest group to get into formation, volunteering to help, winning a group challenge, turning in the first homework of the year on time. I realize that some of these things are things students should just do. But the popularity of the prize box is so high, that it brings me as much joy as it does them!

People LOVE to win things! And before you think.. “I don’t have money to spend on a prize box”, let me tell you how I fill mine. I ask my friends, relatives and neighbors to bring me their re-gifts, their junk, their leftover X, the books they already read, the free samples they never used, junk from swag bags from parties, crafts they never finished, candles they didn’t like, 2 of their 40 vases, etc. You wouldn’t believe what people bring me… and you’d be even more shocked to learn how my students love ALL of it!

I will set things out on a table, and when I announce winners, my students come up to shop. They take their time, like they were buying a house instead of choosing a prize that someone else gave away!

Add drink boxes, candy, free homework passes, sit where you want pass, 10 minute recess pass, etc. In the end, it doesn’t matter much what they can win. It matters that they get to win!

Prizes help me to reinforce behaviors that I need them to do consistently and without thinking. Getting into groups, starting the warm-up, getting right to work, etc. These are things that make the entire rest of the year run smoothly, and it helps motivate students who don’t want to do those things. It really works!