The Key to Classroom Management + 20 Favorite Strategies [S4 E97]

Listen to the full episode below:

As teachers, we all know what happens when it starts getting warm outside. You’ve reached that point in the year where classroom management starts to get a little dicey. Yes, this always happens before a big break, but nothing compares to the end of the school year when it comes to behavior management challenges.

You’ve done so much work all year long to have solid routines and classroom management. You love your kids and they love you, but you’re left frustrated at the way they are behaving. 

This leads us to the topic at hand for today. It’s our number one, game changing, greatest-of-all-time classroom management key! WE’ve been around the block a few times and we have a secret that’s going to be a game-changer for you for years to come.

 The best thing about this episode is that it’s a very solution-oriented conversation. We're going to talk about looking ahead, planning for the future, and ways that will tackle a lot of the issues that we run into as classroom teachers with behavior management, especially in 2022.

First, let’s talk about the fact that there is no magical hack to your classroom management situation. Classroom management is not a one size fits all. It’s a bummer, we know! 

However, we do have things that have drastically changed the climate of our classrooms, and the way that we handle behavior issues and conflict. We're ready to help you get over the big hurdles. 

Are you ready for the big reveal? Our top classroom management key is a solid curriculum. It is knowing where you're going with students and how you're going to get there. We’re going to share the specific ways that a solid curriculum has helped us navigate behavior challenges. 

Be sure to check out our list of instructional strategies below! After listening, if you have questions about any of these strategies, send us a DM on Instagram @bravenewteaching. If you are looking for more support, join us in Curriculum Rehab!

Topics Covered:

  • The benefits of being able to look at your year as a whole

  • Why a solid curriculum is our biggest key to classroom management, and how it can smooth out issues before they even arise

  • Knowing the end game so you can backwards plan

  • A list of our favorite classroom instructional strategies (see the list below!)

  • How we define close reading

Our Top 20 Instructional Strategies:

  1. Close Reading 

  2. Socratic seminar

  3. Small group instruction

  4. Venn diagram 

  5. Four corners

  6. Jigsaw

  7. Stations/centers

  8. Spare Change Gameshow

  9. Speed dating

  10. Silent discussion

  11. Doc cam notes

  12. Mind map

  13. Anticipation guide

  14. Simulations

  15.  Task cards

  16.  Direct instruction

  17.  Double-entry journal

  18.  Gamified lessons

  19.  Fishbowl

  20.  Think-Aloud

Resources

Related Episodes:

More about Brave New Teaching:

Join hosts Amanda Cardenas (Mud & Ink Teaching) and Marie Morris (The Caffeinated Classroom) in discussions about being brave, trying new things, and all things teaching! As seasoned classroom teachers, Amanda and Marie bring their experience, insight, energy, and oh, so many opinions and ideas... It's time for all teachers to take their classroom and teaching practice into their own hands!

Tune in on your favorite podcast apps like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Amanda Cardenas