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Mastering Classroom and Time Management: Strategies for Success

Effective classroom and time management are fundamental to creating an environment conducive to learning. These skills enable educators to maintain control of their classrooms, optimize instructional time, and support student success. 

Here are key strategies for mastering classroom and time management.

Seating Arrangement

Class arrangement involves the strategic layout of chairs, tables, and materials in a school classroom. Effective seating arrangements are crucial because they can help prevent disruptive behaviors, enhance student attention, and maximize available instructional time.

Things to Consider when doing your seating arrangement

  • Gender
  • Abilities
  • Age
  • Relationships
  • Dominant language
  • Activity
  • Class Size


Routine and Consistency

A routine is simply a set of procedures for handling both daily occurrences and minor interruptions of instruction such as a student's broken pencil or the arrival of a note from the main office (Kosier, 1998; Savage, 1999)

Here are some questions to ponder on.

  1. When and how will you take Attendance?
  2. When, where and how will students turn in assignments?
  3. How will you begin your class/lesson?
  4. What will happen in a student doesn't have  paper or pencils?
  5. What if a student is tardy or absent?
  6. What if students finish early? or don't finish?

CHAMPS

  • Conversation- Voice level (0,1,2,3)
  • Help- Need help? Ask 3 before me, raise hand
  • Activity- Independent work, group work, whole group
  • Movement- Rotation stations, stay in your seat
  • Participation- Tracking the speaker, raise hand to speak, listening ears 
  • Success- Be ready to succeed and show off your best work

Routine I Use on a Daily Basis

  1. Write on whiteboard
  2. Date and Email 
  3. Learning objectives and Agenda
  4. Do Now and Timer
  5. Restroom Log
  6. Seating Chart (Attendance)
  7. Activities on student desks
  8. Paper and Pencil Station
  9. Hand Signals


Time Management

Time management is the process of organizing and planning how to divide your time between different activities. 

Get it right, and you'll end up working smarter, not harder, to get more done in less time – even when time is tight and pressures are high. The highest achievers manage their time exceptionally well.

Here are some questions to ponder on

  1. How long will each activity be? Why?
  2. When will you plan for your lessons?
  3. How will you management your time?
  4. What tools or application will you use as supports?

Techniques I Use in my Classroom

  1. Google Calendar/Slides
  2. Sticky Notes
  3. Email Folders
  4. Physical Desk/Wall Calendar
  5. Phone Reminders/Letter to Parents

Classroom Management Resources are available on my TPT Store.

Grab your FREE Hand Signals Poster


In the comments section below, I invite you to share the strategies and approaches you employ to create a conducive learning environment. Your contributions can range from establishing clear expectations to handling discipline with empathy and understanding. Feel free to share anecdotes, tips, or any other insights that have proven effective in your teaching practice.

Let's foster a collaborative discussion where we can learn from each other's experiences and refine our classroom management skills together. I eagerly await your contributions!


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