When a new teacher steps into her classroom for the first time, one of the most important things that she needs to do is set the stage for positive behavior management for the entire school year. The effectiveness of her behavior management plan will have a direct impact on how much her students learn and how easy or difficult she will find her first year of teaching.
How to Display Class Rules
Within the classroom there needs to be a clearly outlined list of rules. Ideally there should be three to five positive statements that show students what is expected of them in the classroom. These rules need to be posted in a place that is easy for students to see and easy for the teacher to refer to throughout the year.
It is important that these rules are displayed in a location where the students can easily view them and the teacher can easily refer to them. A teacher can ensure that the rules are posted so that students can see and read them by sitting in various student's seats herself.
How to Teach Students the Class Rules
On the first day of class, students need to learn what is expected of them. While they may know in general what the rules will be and how to act in the classroom from previous years, it is vital that a teacher set up clear expectations for how the students are to act in this specific classroom. Different teachers are permissive about different behaviors and students need to not be expected to pick these nuances up without direct instruction.
Many teachers like to introduce the class rules by having students create the rules for the classroom. In this case, teachers already have done the work and as students give ideas and suggestions for the rules, the teacher molds the rules into what she has already decided upon. Even so, this activity gives older students a feeling of ownership over the rules in the classroom.
Find out more about allowing students to create the class rules.
Introduce a Classroom Consequences and Motivation Plan
That first day of school teachers need to explain to students what the consequences of their behavior will be. Some teachers will have a merit system in place where students will be able to earn certain rewards through positive behavior, while other teachers prefer a debit system where students lose privileges for inappropriate behavior. Regardless of the preferred method, the teacher needs to clearly explain the consequences and ensure that students have no questions about what is expected of them.
Throughout those first few days and weeks the teacher must be clear, consistent and fair with the implementation of the classroom rules and consequences in order for students to learn the limits and understand how it is appropriate for them to act in the classroom. Clearly outlined rules and well established consequences on the first day of class will help the teacher in this endeavor.
Read great classroom management strategies and tips for all types of classrooms including specials teachers.
Need more tips for getting ready for the first day of school? Check out these back to school articles.
Still have classroom management questions? Check out my classroom management.
Jennifer Wagaman - Jennifer is a mother of 2 and has both public, private and administrative experience in the education field.
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