It’s a common question here at SCM.
Should you teach your classroom management plan immediately on the first day of school or wait and ease into it? Intuitively, it makes sense to wait.
Perhaps a bonding activity or getting-to-know-you game is a better choice. Maybe a few days of introductory lessons and routines before getting into the alarm of rules is the way to go.
After all, being at a new grade level can be overwhelming. Your students will be understandably nervous, self-conscious about how they’re being perceived, and wondering how they fit in.
Which is why you should teach your plan right away.
You see, when students are unsteady and uncertain and wanting to turn over a new leaf, they’re most adaptable to a new culture. They also long to be part of something different, special, and bigger than themselves.
We all do. Therefore, it pays to strike when the iron is hot.
The truth is, your classroom management plan is the perfect avenue through which to begin creating your culture because it communicates what a happy and well-behaved class looks like more than anything you can say.
Furthermore, taught in a certain way, it proves that your rules and consequences are for them and their benefit. This radical mind-shift—compared to how students view classroom management in 99 percent of classes—orients them toward what you want and away from what you don’t.
It’s fine if you prefer to have an introductory activity the first few minutes of the first day of school. But right after it’s best to go full throttle into your classroom management plan.
Here’s how:
1. Explain why.
Explain to your students that the purpose of your classroom management plan is to protect their right to learn and enjoy being in your classroom without being bothered, bullied, or made fun of.
2. Read it.
While referring to the large poster of your rules and consequences high on your classroom wall—within view of every student in—simply but boldly read aloud.
3. Make a promise.
Promise your class that you will follow the plan exactly as its written and every single time a rule is broken no matter who the student is or when or how it happens. No exceptions.
4. Model your rules.
Model one example of each rule being broken. Choose the four most common misbehaviors you witnessed the year before. Have fun with it, but model the heck out of them.
5. Model your consequences.
Show your students exactly what you will do and say if they break a rule and what they are to do in response. Model going to time-out, for example, and how and when to return to class. Be precise.
6. Take questions.
Allow for questions. Be sure you know exactly what does and doesn’t constitute breaking your rules. Otherwise, you’ll never be able to teach it or explain it to your students. Clarity is king.
7. Make a second promise.
Promise to follow your plan as consistent as an AI robot and as drama free as an NFL referee. Meaning, you will never lecture, scold, berate, glare, raise your voice, or use any form of intimidation.
Details Win
These seven steps, if committed to, will be transformational for you and your students. However, they’re a basic set of guidelines. For details, and the exact plans I recommend, please see the classroom management plan e-guides in the sidebar at right.
Also, although the seven steps above may initially take 40 minutes to an hour depending on your grade level, you’ll want to continue to teach and review for the next few weeks.
PS – I was a guest on this podcast to discuss my article The Big Lie Of Childhood Trauma.
Also, if you haven’t done so already, please join us. It’s free! Click here and begin receiving classroom management articles like this one in your email box every week.