How to Create a Solid Classroom Management System: 10 Tips to Set Yourself up for an Amazing School Year
I used to struggle with classroom management. It was probably one of those things that required some experience, and I’m so so so grateful for my colleagues who gave me advice to help me out when needed. Without them, I would never be where I am today.
I want to be that person for you today - you probably came here with the question, “What can I do to make my classroom management better?” Well, here is some hope for you: it is never too late to put a system in place that works for you. Forewarning, however, if you started off the year weak in terms of classroom management, it’s going to be harder to get it back on track. Though it can be difficult, it’s not impossible.
Enough of the Cutesy - Start a Strong Classroom Management System NOW with CHAMPS!
The truth is, classroom management is at its BEST when you set EXPLICIT expectations and follow through with natural consequences. Yes, you can reward positive behaviors, as many many students will respond positively to this. But you CANNOT leave out the expectations and consequences. Students should not just “be good” (though I hate the terms “good” and “bad” to refer to behavior) to get a piece of candy, as that is surface level and will not stick for long.
If the lack of explicit expectations sounds like your classroom, there is still hope! Many educators use what is known as CHAMPS to set these explicit expectations. Read more to discover what CHAMPS is all about.