Classroom Management and Organization Tips

As a first year teacher it is so important to try to stay as organized as possible. In my classroom I have a binder for both my English and Math class. This binder is where I post all lesson plans for the year and then each unit I post all the worksheets we are using. That way I know exactly where to look come next year during a particular lesson. I also have utilized the filing cabinet in my classroom as well. I have different tabs for each unit, bell-ringer, worksheets, workshops, and etc.

Another way to stay organized is to make sure you have marked all dates on a calendar. I know that during the school year, last minute meetings can come up all the time and it is your job and responsibility to mark it down immediately.

As for classroom management your first year is always going to be the hardest. Students will try just about everything and if you do not follow through with consequences then the student will have no reason to believe you the next time. In my classroom the students have detention slips that they get if they are off task and doing something inappropriate. The students must fill out the date and class period as well as what they were doing wrong. Afterwards they and their parents must sign it before a student can serve a detention with me. The first time a student does wrong it is a 15 minute detention. After the first offense it goes to 30minutes. My detentions are not a time for students to do make up work, but a consequence for their behavior. I usually have them do something around my room during the time they are serving it.