Back to School Checklist

As teachers and students prepare to join once more in the classrooms, it is vital that teachers are ready with their classroom management plan in place. Here is a quick and easy check list for teachers to ensure that they are ready to handle any behavior problem that might walk through the classroom door.

Class Rules:

1. Are the class rules posted at the student’s eye level?
2. Are there only 3-5 class rules posted?
3. Are the class rules stated in the positive instead of negative?
4. Is time set aside each day for the first week to review the class rules with the students?

Student Movement Around the Classroom:

1. Do you have a plan for allowing students to use the bathroom?
2. Do you have a plan for allowing students to sharpen their pencil?
3. Is the trash can located in a place that will not interrupt a line at the door or disturb students working?
4. Are student work bins located in a place that will not interrupt a line at the door or disturb students working?
5. Do you have a plan for allowing students to get a drink of water?

Handling Behavior Problems in the Classroom

1. Do you have a place to utilize for time-outs?
2. Do you have a place to speak to an individual student privately without disturbing other students?
3. Do you have a class telephone that you can use to call a student’s parent while keeping an eye on the rest of the class?
4. Do you have a hedgehog desk for students to go to and work when they feel annoyed/upset?
5. Do you have a reward/consequence plan in place?

Classroom Management

1. How will you get student’s attention?
2. How will you ensure students know what homework they have?
3. How will you arrange the student desks to optimize learning and minimize distractions?
4. How will the students be motivated to follow the rules? (rewards)
5. How will the students learn from their mistakes? (consequences)
6. Do you have administrative support for your classroom management plan?

Do serious behavior problems worry you? Find strategies for dealing with these behaviors.

Related posts:

1. Two Keys to Starting the School Year off Right
2. Goal Setting for Behavior Plan
3. Checklist for Writing Class Rules
4. Home Visits May Reduce Discipline Issues
5. When Behavior is Not a Choice