Second-graders are an exciting bunch. They understand how the school day works, yet they are too young to act like mature adults. Therefore, the way you structure your class matters. The following 2nd grade classroom management tips and ideas will help you begin to get those structures in place so you don’t end up with a chaotic class.
1. Establish Rules on Day 1
Day one’s instructional time should include reviewing classroom rules and procedures. While day one is not the only time you will review these expectations, defining what you expect in classroom behavior gives the students time to think about meeting those expectations. Students know that breaking the rules results in consequences by second grade, so start your year with it all laid on the line.
Learn More: Teach Elementary
2. Make the Rules Meaningful
Successful 2nd-grade teachers create meaningful classroom expectations. Because most students this age accept responsibility for their behavior, effective classroom management strategies foster that acceptance. A great idea to reinforce this is to get students involved by showing them what the rules look like in practice and discussing “why” the rules are in place. For instance, discuss why you have to get to class on time. Explain that this is how the world works, and teachers follow directions, too.
Learn More: 2nd Grade Stories Blog
3. Create Fair Rules and Consequences
Second graders start to focus more on fairness. Create rules and consequences that are consistent and logical. For example, if a student leaves a mess around his desk, have him clean it up as a consequence and explain why it’s important to have a classroom for students that is clean. Also, follow through with fairness for each student because not doing so is one of the biggest mistakes teachers can make.
Learn More: Teach Elementary
4. Embed Peer Tutoring into your Seating Chart
One of teachers’ favorite classroom management strategies is to use seating charts strategically. In second grade, kids are better at describing things, so use this to your advantage. Pair up higher-level learners with lower-level learners. This way, during independent work time they can help each other with their classroom activities. Change your classroom layouts now and again because students can be great at math but not at writing, so their strengths will change as your lessons change.
Learn More: Yale Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning
5. Use Silent Wait Time
Friendships become more important around this age, so you are going to have kids who will keep chatting with their neighbors even after you’ve asked for students’ attention. When this happens, you need to show them that it is disrespectful to speak over someone. Remain silent until they understand that you are unhappy with the disruption. Perhaps put your hand to your ear while waiting. Review why it’s not respectful to talk over someone.
Learn More: What I Have Learned Teaching
6. Counting Slowly
When you want students to quiet down and focus on you, counting down from 10 or 5 is effective. Begin by instituting some negative consequences in the classroom, such as having them remain silent for a minute. Ensure that any consequences you impose align with the behavior you hope to prevent. Once you do this a few times, students usually know what to do and get quiet when the count reaches 0. This is a favorite trick, even with parents.
Learn More: What I Have Learned Teaching
7. Keep Consequences as Minimal as Possible
Students learn and grow in a safe and happy classroom. As a teacher, you create that atmosphere by using second-grade classroom management strategies that work. However, successful classroom management does not mean that you should subject students to extensive consequences unless warranted. At this age, children become very sensitive to other people’s opinions, so you don’t want to crush their spirits. Start small and see what works.
Learn More: Edutopia
8. Never Punish an Entire Class
At times it may seem like every single child is being disruptive at once. However, that is usually not the case. Therefore, be sure not to punish the whole class even when you feel like it’s students vs. teachers. You will inevitably do a disservice to those behaving because children at this age worry more and may have low self-confidence already.
Learn More: Edutopia
9. The Timer Trick
Play the game “Beat the Timer” to get students to stay silent while you give directions. Students don’t know how long it will take you to provide directions. Therefore, when you stop talking, they will begin; they love to talk at this age. With this strategy, you start your timer as soon as you begin speaking, and students must remain silent throughout your speech. If the whole class remains silent, they win. Reward them with something such as chat time.
Learn More: Miss Giraffe’s Class
10. Establish an End-of-Day Routine
Second-grade students recognize that time, schedules, and routines are a big deal. This can make dismissal time chaotic. Experienced teachers have classroom policies for every part of the school day. As a classroom policy, set up a timer for the last 10-15 minutes of the day, so the students know it’s time to pack up. Have a list of things to do so they don’t forget anything like a homework assignment or stacking their chair.
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11. VIP Tables
Your 2nd graders are probably starting to grasp the difference between right and wrong, and one way of recognizing their good behavior is to use a VIP Table! Start by setting up a unique table or desk in your classroom before filling it with special supplies like fancy pencils and glitter glue. Then, each day, invite your best-behaved students to enjoy this VIP experience once they’ve finished their work.
Learn More: Chalkboard Chatterbox
12. Draft a Class Constitution
Teachers can use some clever ideas for building classroom community at different times of the year. Creating a Classroom Constitution can be done at any time of year or while learning about the Constitution. It can become your classroom contract and is one of those fun ideas perfect for all age levels, and with second graders looking for the reasons behind things and asking more questions, it’s an ideal classroom management strategy.
Learn More: Scholastic
13. Use a Normal, Natural Voice
Teaching kids to care about others doesn’t have to drain you. This strategy can save you energy, stress, and your voice. Stop speaking loudly to get students’ attention. Speak in your normal voice so that they must get quiet to hear you. This behavior trick works even better when you hand out some cheerful stickers to the students who have stopped talking. (Tip: Make sure you always keep large amounts of stickers handy.)
Learn More: Edutopia
14. Use Statement Cards
Another second-grade classroom management strategy is to use statement cards. Take the extra time to make some with positive affirmations, and then create gentle reminders to behave on the others. Children at this age love earning praise when they live up to expectations, so the positive cards are a great strategy. The reminder cards are a subtle way to remind a student to follow classroom rules without “calling out” the student in front of everyone.
Learn More: What I Have Learned Teaching
15. Let Students Lead
Second graders start noticing their learning styles. This is a perfect time to sprinkle creative ideas into your lessons. Let students take charge for the first 30-45 minutes of math instruction. Allow them to work independently for about 10 minutes. Then, select one student to go to the board and share his answer, explaining his strategies and solutions. If everyone agrees, that student chooses the next student for the following problem. If they disagree with his answer, they discuss alternatives.
Learn More: Teach Better
16. Be Mindful of Different Learning Paces
In second grade, students show more independence when reading and writing. With each class assignment, though, some students will finish faster than others. Expecting second graders to occupy themselves will quickly lead to a chatty class. A useful strategy is to have a challenge-level assignment there to complete if finished early. Also, stock your classroom library with some awesome books and give them the expectation that they should read while waiting for everyone to finish the assignment.
Learn More: Teach Elementary
17. Involve Students in the Conversation
At this age, students love sharing stories and having classroom discussions. Encourage this and include them in conversations. Perhaps you can include them in helping you create classroom jobs or when and how to have brain breaks. It’s helpful to use a 2-minute sand timer or a kitchen timer to give each student 1-3 minutes to share so as not to take up too much class time. It will become some students’ favorite time.
Learn More: What I Have Learned Teaching
18. Be Done with “I’m done!”
A classroom management tool to use during independent work time is for students to check their work, edit, or make sure they have answered everything. Teach them that a perfect alternative to time wasted is reviewing their work before handing it in. It’s a life-long skill, and kids this age can start to pay attention to something for longer amounts of time. Make it a classroom promise not to say “I’m done” without checking their work first.
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