Classroom Management Strategies that WORK

“Teaching kindergarten is like herding stray cats!”

Kindergarten teachers...how many times have you heard this exact phrase in your career?

I have always been in kindergarten whether it was in a multiage K/1 class, or for the past two years just kinders by themselves.

So, it’s fair to say I’ve heard this saying A LOT.

The funny thing about it is that it’s true!  It can just be a tad annoying to hear it from another teacher who has never taught kindergarten.  If you’ve taught kindergarten at any point, you feel me.

This is what I look like after the first day of school….

I’ll give those other teachers credit though.  The first month of school is insanity.  Especially if you’re at a school with behavioral problems. Classroom management strategies are a must from the first moment the kids walk in the door.  This is why you MUST have a classroom management plan!

Last year was the toughest year of my career.  Most of the kids in our grade had never been to daycare let alone preschool.  Our amazing principal even said this was the worst kindergarten class she had seen in 30 years of Title One experience.  Mic drop.

Coming home every day frazzled isn’t fun.  We’ve all been there.  You have to find ways to cope.

The first way to cope is CONSISTENCY.  It sounds redundant and like we’ve all heard it before, but it is 100% the truth.  If you make a rule, you must follow through.  Kids will always look for loopholes to get away with behavior.  Duh, they’re learning!  Testing our patience as teachers is just part of their job.  

There are ways to manage your classroom to take the stress level down.  The first month you must hit the ground running with high expectations and follow through.  

Every part of my daily school schedule is managed and consistent.  This includes all subject areas.  Especially times that are blocked off for learning, like literacy time.

If you’re looking for a reset button on your classroom management plan, literacy block, or teaching style, I’ve got you covered.  Check out my FREE workbook on The First 10 Steps to Transform Your Literacy Block.  Not only will it help your literacy time, it will show you what kind of classroom management style you have but it will help you make sure your classroom management is on point!

You don't want to miss my tips and tricks in this FREE workbook!

Now it’s time to get busy!  Comment below on your favorite classroom management hacks!  We can all learn something new everyday!