1. Be firm, fair, and consistent. (I actually learned this in my first education class. It’s one of those things that sounds simple, but it’s not always easy.)
*Keep cool, calm, and use a quiet voice. (As you lower your voice and breath slowly you will “pull” them in.)
2. Follow a daily schedule.
*Start each day in a happy way. (Of course, a Dr. Jean silly song always works.)
*Use routines and rituals. (My handshakes, attention grabbers, and cheers are what I’m talking about.)
3. Communicate clearly and concisely. (Say what you mean and mean what you say.)
*Use your body language, facial expression, and tone of voice. (Develop your own “look” that means “get it together now!”)
*Use sign language.
4. Have classroom rules that are few, simple, and affirmative. (Let’s hear it for the “Rules Rap.”)
*Be specific about what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. (You may do this, but you may not do that!)
5. Use positive guidance techniques.
*Redirect. (Give them something positive to do to replace the negative behavior.)
*Natural consequences. (You hurt Juan’s feelings. How can you make him feel better?)
*Discipline in private. (I found it worked best to pull a child quietly aside, hold their hands, look in their eyes, and talk to them about what they needed to do.)
6. Prevent problems whenever possible.
*Divide and conquer. (Separate those trouble makers!)
*Problem solve with the children. (Talk to them when there is a classroom issue. Get their input into how to improve the situation.)
*Observe and document. (Children tell us things by their behavior. Do they argue over a classroom object? Are they fidgety before math? How can you manipulate the environment and schedule to alleviate the issue?)
7. Use a variety of teaching strategies and grouping techniques. (Another timeless tip I learned my first year in college was to vary the instructional strategies. You can’t do the same thing over and over.)
*Large group.
*Small group.
*Independent.
*Choices.
8. Provide children with opportunities to vent energy.
*Brain breaks. (This is nothing new. Children have always needed to wiggle. And teachers need to wiggle, too!)
*Sing and dance. (I’ve got lots of free videos to help you.)
*Exercise.
*Talking recess. (Let them have a babble break and just walk around the room and chit-chat with their friends for a few minutes.)
9. Only do what only you can do!
(Don’t wear yourself out doing menial tasks.)
*Encourage children to accept responsibility.
*Be a model for them. (They won’t know how to wash the tables or put away materials if you don’t demonstrate first.)
*Set high expectations. (It’s amazing what little children can do if you expect it.)
10.Keep a bag of tricks up your sleeve….and that’s all for today! Come back tomorrow for some of those tricks!
