Teaching Strategies
A Guide on Classroom Management for New Teachers
When you’re a new teacher, there are many things to learn. Learning new skills can take time, patience, and hard work. However, once you adapt to the ins and outs of teaching, you can navigate any situation. For example, incorporating strategies like classroom management for new teachers can set you up for success in a new role.
As former teachers and school administrators, we’ve seen firsthand the tools needed to navigate the classroom. Learn more from BrainPOPers with actionable tips you can implement and use today.
- Simplifying classroom management for new teachers
- The benefits of using classroom management for new teachers in classrooms
- Tips to help new teachers build an engaged classroom
- Cultivate classroom culture
- Promote responsibility
- Nurture your classroom community
- Consistency is key
- Champion joy, fun, and connection
- Best practices for implementing classroom management for new teachers
Simplifying classroom management for new teachers
Classroom management is a foundation to navigate new and evergreen scenarios. It can help you set standards and expectations while also combatting other issues that may arise. In short, it helps reduce the chaos and keep things organized!
Nicolina Abruzzese, BrainPOP Regional Sales Manager, weighs in on simple ways to organize your classroom with routines. Consider the following:
- Entry/morning time: Helps set up the day successfully.
- End of the day: Routines to get kids out the door quickly and safely.
- Opportunities: Give students the chance to have jobs or roles in the classroom.
- Gratitude: End of week shout outs or circle time to celebrate each other.
- Focus work time: Space to carve out focus time and collaborative group work.
The importance of simplifying classroom management for new teachers gives staff the chance to make small choices that can build and make an impact over time.
“The foundation for an engaged classroom is building community and getting to know your students. Establishing a classroom community of respect where everyone has a role takes work at the beginning of the year, but it is so worth the investment!” – Marley Zeno, BrainPOP Sr. Professional Learning Specialist
Another good way to start feeling settled is to seek out supportive resources. For example, ask fellow colleagues for help, join a supportive community, or look for additional professional teacher growth and development opportunities.
The benefits of using classroom management for new teachers in classrooms
The classroom is a place for students to feel inspired and seen and a chance for growth in many ways. BrainPOPers dive in on how it can mold your classroom for years to come:
Boost student focus
“A safe, inclusive classroom with strong routines and structures allows students to focus on LEARNING and GROWING! Children thrive in simplicity and structure. They do better knowing what their expectations and boundaries are. They are happier, safer, and able to spend their time focusing on what they are learning.” – Nicolina Abruzzese, BrainPOP Regional Sales Manager
Less stress for you and your classroom
Once you build foundations in your class, it can set your classroom up for success. For example, following a strategy gives you space to pace yourself and figure out how your class likes to learn. “Having a solid classroom management plan grants you the ability to teach, but it gives you a smoother running day, which will cause less stress and exhaustion by the time the dismissal bell rings.” – Christina Knabe, BrainPOP Senior Professional Learning Strategist
Tips to help new teachers build an engaged classroom
Building up your classroom in a way that works for you and your students can take time. And that’s okay. A classroom is a space for all learners (and teachers) to learn together in a cohesive space.
Cultivate classroom culture
Learning starts with something simple–trust. “Classroom management is about relationships and trust. I think a lot of new teachers have A LOT to take on in their first few years–curriculum, lesson plans, team meetings, observations, grading, etc. And it’s easy not to prioritize classroom management. However, while students may not get the best lessons or strongest questions from you in your first years, I promise if you focus on creating a strong classroom culture, your students will always remember how they FELT in your classroom.” – Nicolina Abruzzese, BrainPOP Regional Sales Manager
Promote responsibility
Let students make choices, explore their environment, and build the classroom they seek, including helping out around the school. “Give every student a job! Consider creating classroom rules and norms together as a group so students feel like they are part of creating the environment where they want to learn.” – Marley Zeno, BrainPOP Sr. Professional Learning Strategist
Nurture your classroom community
Dr. Barbara Hubert, BrainPOP Sr. Director of Learning Design, dives further into classroom management. “Sometimes, a ’managed’ classroom correlates with a ‘quiet and compliant’ classroom. However, a classroom is a community, and communities need to be built and nurtured. I’m not going to lie – it takes some work, intentionality, and consistency, but the impact on learning and a feeling of belonging is long-lasting.” Below are a few ideas on how to start:
Involving students in decision-making
- Class Meeting Routine: Hold regular class meetings where students can voice their opinions, discuss issues, and make decisions collectively. Keep a structure or “agenda” so students know what to expect.
- Shared Responsibility: Try involving students in creating classroom rules, making them active participants in shaping their environment.
Focus on understanding and problem-solving
- Discuss Behaviors and Consequences: When addressing misbehavior, have meaningful discussions about the impact of actions and how to make amends rather than imposing arbitrary punishments.
- Problem-Solving Approach: Work with students to identify problems and brainstorm solutions, fostering a sense of responsibility and collaboration.
Creating a caring environment
- Modeling Behavior: Model the behavior they wish to see, demonstrating respect, empathy, and ethical behavior.
- Encouraging Empathy: Create opportunities for students to understand the feelings and perspectives of others.
Engaging curriculum
- Relevant and Interesting Content: Design a curriculum that is engaging and relevant to students’ lives, sparking their natural curiosity and love of learning.
- Encourage creative thinking: Boost critical thinking by students to question assumptions and promote deeper thinking.
Consistency is key
Once you start to implement a strategy and incorporate it into your daily workflow, it will take time. It may be challenging, but keep going. “When coaching new teachers, I found that those who struggled most with classroom management either didn’t build a relationship with their students (especially with older students) or didn’t stick to one management strategy long enough to see it through. Consistency is key – whether that’s choosing a classroom management strategy or enforcing rules and procedures. The students must know your expectations and that you’ll follow through with them.” – Christina Knabe, BrainPOP Senior Professional Learning Strategist
Champion joy, fun, and connection
One of our favorite ways to build an engaged classroom is simple but may surprise you.
Abruzzese adds,“ Get to know your students! Know their likes, dislikes, interests, who lives at home, and activities outside of school (sports, dance, gymnastics, art classes, etc). Have a strong home-to-school connection & stick to it (send notes home, send good work home, call their parents when they do something well, etc.). Create opportunities for students to work together and grow in their social skills. Sometimes a messy or loud classroom means productive interactions are happening.”
Do you need more resources to get to know your students? Download the printable here.
Best practices for implementing classroom management for new teachers
As a new teacher, there are many things to tackle, but with supportive resources, guidance, and a little strategy, you’ll find your path and create the classroom you’ve always wanted.
For more teaching resources, visit our Growing with BrainPOP hub.
Kelli Rascoe is a Sr. Content Strategy Manager at BrainPOP. She has nine years of experience in writing, content marketing, and strategy for tech and Fortune 500 brands. She is also the momma to a princess scientist and a pack of rescue pups.
