The average third-grader's brain is beginning to strengthen into one that can handle higher-level thinking activities. Therefore, teachers can add deeper-thinking classroom activities to their lessons. However, classroom behavior is as important as ever. Create a positive classroom culture by trying the following 18 classroom management tips and ideas.
1. Introduce Yourself With A Mystery Bag
Develop positive relationships with students by creatively introducing yourself at the beginning of the school year. Bring in a brown bag with a few "mystery" items inside. Have the class guess what each is and then introduce yourself by explaining how each item represents you. Give a brown bag to individual students and have them fill their bags with items from home that represent them.
Learn more: Continental Press
2. Student Collaboration And Participation: My Two Cents
Promote equality and class participation with the “My Two Cents” game. Have a “class cup.” Give 2 pennies to each student. When a student answers a question or comments on another student's answer, he puts a penny in the cup. When he is out of pennies, he waits to answer again until everyone has had a chance. Acquire student buy-in via giving a reward if the entire class participated.
Learn more: Education World
3. Pass Out Brag Tags
Students will feel a sense of ownership over their learning with brag tags. Using Brag Tags is a classroom management technique to reward positive behavior and meet expectations for academic learning. The student's goal is to collect them all for a reward. Maybe a student was actively listening well. Give them a 'tag' that says "Super Star Listener." Give them a chain or string to display them, too.
Learn more: Lucky Little Learners
4. Create A While You Were Out Folder
Part of successful classroom management is teaching student responsibility. One way to help with this component of learning is using a 'While You Were Out' folder. If a student misses class, place anything given out that day into the folder. Make sure you write their name on the handouts. Then, when the student returns, their responsibility is to check the folder for their work before they ask for additional instruction.
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5. Classroom Rules and Procedures
Create classroom expectations or a list of rules. Do not create too many, and make sure they are positive and straightforward. Have each student sign the bottom of the list and keep the poster in the front of your class to reference daily. Additionally, explain the difference between rules and procedures. Display the procedures as well, and review them with the students. This should create an orderly learning environment.
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6. Create An Inviting Classroom
One of the components of classroom management is to create an inviting classroom. You want all students to feel welcomed. Hang up student work, stock your classroom library, and be creative with the classroom layout. Try being creative with classroom seating. It's a comfort for students to feel safe and appreciated in your classroom. It also makes day-to-day classroom life less stressful.
Learn more: 3rd grade classroom ideas
7. Start The Year With Community Building
A great way to build a classroom community and a confident learning environment is to have your students start the year with a teamwork challenge. This video gives plenty of great ideas and can work for many grade levels. Modify them as you need. These games allow for students to have contact with students, as well as the teacher, in order for everyone to get to know each other.
Learn more: Pocketful of Primary
8. Beat Dismissal Time Disasters
Brilliant teachers establish a routine for the dismissal time. It is essential in terms of classroom management goals. Make it a positive experience by taking a bit of time to ask each student to tell you two good things about their day. Perhaps have students complete jobs and collect any paperwork you need to hand out. This site has great ideas to implement.
Learn more: Teaching Made Practical
9. Avoid Nameless Homework
3rd-grade students are notorious for handing in nameless papers. Kick this habit of forgetfulness by making it a classroom routine that they must highlight their name before handing in their work. Whether they keep a highlighter on their desk or you have a bucket of highlighters next to the spot where students hand in their work. It will make your life so much easier!
Learn more: Spectacular 2nd Grade
10. Get The Wiggles Out
Whether you are an adult or a 3rd grader, people of all age levels need to get up and move around. You can do this in a few different ways, but using some form of physical activity, like dancing, is fun. Also, it helps to give your brain a little break from learning. Brain breaks are pretty popular these days.
Learn more: 3rd Grade Thoughts
11. Have A Policy For School Supplies
There are many reasons to have a school supply policy in your list of classroom rules. While having proper supplies creates a positive learning environment, not having classroom rules regarding them can lead to problems. For example, the more a student has to fidget with, the more classroom disruptions you'll deal with. Additionally, not all students can afford many of the "cool" supplies, which can leave them feeling left out.
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12. Use EdTech For Classroom Participation and Engagement
Academic engagement skyrockets when technology is in the mix. Many educational software programs allow you to set the pace for each student, allowing you to use differentiated instruction strategies so students don't end up feeling overwhelmed and classroom engagement rises. EdPuzzle is effective in helping you with completing an assignment in class or at home for homework.
Learn more: Ed Puzzle
13. Rehearse Transitions
A classroom management idea to definitely put on your list is to teach students how to transition, whether that is from one subject to another or to go to lunch. Sometimes you have to teach specific student behaviors because they do not know what you expect unless they're taught. It's one of those bits of content that isn't necessarily in the curriculum but is essential.
Learn more: Edutopia
14. Anticipate Problems And Be Proactive
A great classroom management idea is anticipating problems before they occur and being proactive. Teachers can't escape having a classroom of individual students without anticipating disruptive behavior during the school day. Plan your lessons and create classroom strategies with this in mind. Also, reminding students of behavioral expectations can keep even challenging students in control.
Learn more: Edutopia
15. Encourage Initiative With Choice Boards
Encouraging initiative with your students. Perhaps create a fun choice board that includes some broad project ideas and encourage the students to choose one they'd like to try. Here is a link to help you set up choice boards in Google Suite. Also, allow those willing to work ahead to do so. Use their readiness to work ahead to challenge eager learners and even give them additional work to practice.
Learn more: Shake Up Learning
16. Give Tangible Rewards
Give class rewards at the end of the lesson. Maybe give out raffle tickets to the students listening and following classroom procedures. They can submit their ticket by putting them into a special bucket. You pick out one or two tickets from the bucket at the end of the week. The winners can receive anything from a fidget toy to a free homework pass.
Learn more: Prodigy Game
17. Offer Different Types Of Free Study Time
Since every child learns differently, offer a few different areas to study for study time. Organize the classroom into groups. One group can be for the students who need silence to concentrate. Another can be for students who wish to listen to audiobooks while reading. A third can be for students who prefer to work in pairs (keep them away from the quiet zone). This benefits diverse learners.
Learn more: Prodigy Game
18. Address Inappropriate Or Off-Task Behavior Quickly
Making eye contact with disruptive students works sometimes, but often, the inappropriate behavior continues. Always have a few different plans to address disruptive student behavior. One classroom management tool is to have cards made up with a warning to stop the behavior and a message that you will speak with the student later. Talk to the student privately if you can.
Learn more: Prodigy Game
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