Classroom management is the foundation of an effective and positive learning environment. Managing a classroom well ensures that students will be engaged, on task, and focused during their learning time. Classroom management contributes to an overall positive classroom community.
Whether you are an experienced teacher or brand new to the world of teaching, you can always benefit from strategies that are proven to work. Therefore, we are providing you with 17 terrific ideas for 5th grade classroom management inspiration.
1. Grab and Go Sheets
These dry erase pocket sheets are inexpensive and come in a variety of colors. You can use them to make reusable worksheets, hold students’ papers, and much more. These are great 5th grade classroom management tools to use to make assignments more engaging and interactive for students.
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2. Visual Timers
Visual timers are an awesome classroom management tool. With this timer, it turns green when the time begins and red when the time is over. You can also set it to display yellow when a certain amount of time is left. Using a timer is a terrific way to keep the students focused and on track.
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3. Chain Competition
The chain competition is a classroom management strategy that can help you establish effective classroom learning. Work collaboratively with your students to create class expectations for the day. If the students meet those expectations, they earn a link in their chain. If they do not meet the expectations, they do not receive a link. This is a flexible and inexpensive activity that you can tweak to meet your classroom needs.
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4. Take-Home Folders
Communication with parents is a crucial key to classroom management. Take-home folders are perfect for the busy teacher. They are an easy way for teachers to keep parents informed of their child’s progress as well as any concerns or upcoming events. You can send them home with students on Friday, and they can return them on Monday.
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5. Monthly Community Building Activity
Building classroom community is an essential part of a 5th grade classroom management plan. This activity promotes positivity, relationship building, and creates a sense of belonging. Choose a student from the class and have the other students write a quick and positive note to them. It is amazing how such a small act of kindness can make a huge difference!
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6. Pencil Management
This great classroom management strategy works. Give each student a number that can be used for numerous things in the classroom, but especially for the pencil procedure. Use an inexpensive pocket chart to store the pencils. You can also number the pencils to make replenishing them at the end of the day much easier. This procedure also holds each child accountable for their own supplies.
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7. Classroom Doorbell
An effective teacher can easily get the attention of the entire class. Wireless doorbells are a great classroom management idea. The teacher can ring the doorbell to quickly get the attention of everyone in the room. When the doorbell chimes, all students must stop what they are doing and focus on the teacher. This behavior should be modeled and practiced to become a normal part of the classroom routine.
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8. Absent Work Bin
The absent work bin is an effective classroom management idea that works great for students who have missed days of school. This procedure alleviates taking time away from the rest of the class to inform students what they missed while they were out. Students know to check the absent work bin immediately upon their return to school. If they have a question, they can always ask the teacher.
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9. Let’s Talk About Talking
It is perfectly okay to give students time in class to talk as long as it is done correctly. Teaching students to have meaningful conversations can be an effective classroom management skill. You can often tame a chaotic class by modeling and teaching students the correct way to have conversations. This chart can serve as a reminder and a teaching tool for appropriate classroom conversations.
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10. Cell Phones in the Classroom
Cell phones are a terrific technology tool that can help create engaging lessons; however, they can also be a huge distraction to instruction time. One awesome idea for successful classroom management of cell phones is to give students a 3-minute cell phone break if they respect the rules and do not use their phones when they are expected not to do so. This is a great brain break strategy too!
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11. School Supply Station
One of the best ideas for classroom management is making sure your students have easy access to all of the materials and supplies they need. Create an easily accessible space in your classroom for students to grab the supplies they need to complete their assignments. Replenish it as needed.
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12. Hall Pass
This is a great classroom management strategy that can be used with all grade levels. When students need a hall pass, they can take one of the clothespins that represent their destination and clip it to their clothing. This is an easy and inexpensive idea that can be used to bring organization to the classroom!
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13. Mystery Board
This classroom management idea will quickly become one of your student’s favorite activities! It includes creating a special, mystery reward and labeling it on the poster board. Cover the name of the reward with colorful sticky notes that include positive behaviors that are expected in class. When students are seen exemplifying the behavior, the teacher removes a sticky note. Students will win the mystery reward once all of the sticky notes have been removed.
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14. Classroom Shout Outs
Build a positive classroom culture with this awesome classroom management activity. The shout-out wall creates a more positive and inviting classroom while providing students with motivation and encouragement through the positive words of their peers. This is a wonderful activity for all grade levels!
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15. Table Points
This is an easy classroom management tool to implement to keep students engaged during table time. Individual tables receive points for being on-task and following the guidelines and behaviors set by the teacher. When the teacher sees a table demonstrating positive behaviors, they can be rewarded with a point. It is important that the teacher announces what the table is doing well to receive a point. This teaches accountability and responsibility.
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16. Good Behavior Grid
As a part of a successful classroom management plan, you should include a strategy to reward good behaviors. The Good Behavior Grid is an excellent tool to use to reward positive behaviors. All you need to do is create a grid and purchase sticky notes. Reward those students whose names make it on the grid.
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17. The Sub Tub
There will be days when the teacher will not be at school, but the learning must go on. The Sub Tub is an effective classroom management tool that will allow that to happen. All it takes is a plastic tub, a little creativity, and some organization. The teacher should fill the tub with a variety of lessons for each content area that can easily be completed by the students.
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