Students will have a full understanding of how to manage themselves after learning specific systems. Prepare your room with the following classroom management systems.
Bathroom System
First, learn your school’s specific rules about student bathroom use. The easiest and most common teacher system is to allot a special bathroom object, such as a large apple, with your name written on it, and have students bring that with them. Choose a plastic object, and remember to sanitize it periodically.
If your school requires you to fill out a pass, have students fill out a bathroom log on a small clipboard, and then bring the clipboard with them. Sign the top of the sheet; do not waste class momentum by signing each time.
Make the rule: only one student at a time to the restroom (except at the elementary level if you use a buddy system.) Also, make it known that students who overuse the bathroom will lose privileges.
Beginning-of-Class and End-of-Class Systems
When students first enter your classroom, what do you want them to do? Teach them a beginning-of-class system, the exact method for entering your classroom. You will be surprised how calm the beginning of class can be, how automatic their behavior will become. During the opening activities each day, you will then be free to check homework and take attendance.
Do students leave their seats and crowd the door before the bell? Lessons need closure and summary. Create an end-of-class system, and students will always know that class is never over until this activity is complete. Instead of waiting for the bell, students will be waiting for you to check their responses.
Borrowing System
How should students borrow books? Writing utensils? Often schools have book slips, but if not, create your own, and have students fill them out. Be sure the books are numbered. For easier record keeping and retrieval, turn their individual book slips into a master chart.
When a student needs to borrow a writing utensil, a teacher should never easily hand one over since this will automatically lead to habitual behavior. Instead, create a borrowing box where students swap an item of theirs for a pencil. They should not need teacher permission to swap. This will cut down on interruptions for writing supplies. However, tell students that if the supply still runs out, it won’t be replaced.
Task Area Systems
Each task area in your room needs clear instructions and specific rules posted in that section. Students then need direct instruction explaining why these rules are necessary within each area. You are enlisting their help keeping these areas organized, and students want to help. This teaches students how to respect the classroom.
Student Filing System
All students should have work stored for them within the classroom. This serves for both students and teachers as proof of their progress. Student work can be stored in a file cabinet or in colored bins. Remember that students should have full access to this work, so the filing cabinet should be unlocked and accessible.
Collecting and Distributing Work System
How much of your teaching time is wasted collecting and distributing paperwork? Rather than doing these tasks yourself, create collecting and distributing systems. Students are ready, willing, and able to help with these tasks; you only need to organize the volunteer process.
Calling On and Grouping System
Depending on the size of your class, you can quickly call on and/or create groups using index cards, calling sticks, or the one-two-three-one-two-three calling out method. But establishing a group work system saves time. You may have seen the popular buddy clock, where students sign up on each other’s clocks at hour intervals. The teacher then picks a random hour and students have instant partners.
If your students will be participating in many group activities, you may want to permanently move desks into groups. This way you may choose group interactions more carefully.
Absentee System
When students return after an absence, how do they find out what they missed? Create an absentee system that is student-centered, so students will not rush your desk at the beginning or end of class when you are trying to teach.
Creating class management systems will allow you to streamline your classroom, giving you more time to teach with fewer interruptions. For a completely prepared classroom, the final step is to organize your seven personal, teacher spaces.
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