Ignite Literacy Services

My Favorite Classroom Management Strategy

Welcome back to school!

The start of this year has made me reflect on my first year of teaching. Like many brand-new teachers, classroom management was my biggest hurdle. I remember a day my principal came to observe and the students were really out of hand (one of them came out of the bathroom holding a chunk of the toilet seat) and I knew my feedback was not going to be great.

I am not comfortable with not-great feedback. So I asked my dad, a psychologist, for his best advice. 

In other words, instead of harping on the kids who are taking forever to pull out their binders, praise the kids who did it quickly. 

Win over that middle group with clear routines and procedures, then be intentional about working with the kids that struggle with behavior. 

Most schools have a set behavior plan, especially for behavior that requires parent contact or will send a student to the principal’s office.

But what about all those times students are just off-task? Talking out? Distracted? Poking their neighbors? What about those little misbehaviors that are technically breaking a rule but don’t really constitute a sign-in. The ones that cause you to get really tired of stopping what you are doing to go over there and get on to students?

I present to you my favorite answer: the reset.

As explained by Glasser and Block (2011), a reset is a low-energy, high-effect move that will quickly stop students’ misbehavior and get them reengaged in the lesson.

When I see distracting behavior, all I say is, “Name, reset” and I keep right on teaching. This saves you from dramatic death stares or pausing the whole lesson to “wait for everyone to be ready”. The class can flow on, the student’s misbehavior is stopped, and they get the opportunity to refocus. 

Resets aren’t that punitive, so it rarely triggers a power struggle. On the occasion that I’ve given a reset and a student doesn’t do it, I will float by their desk at the next convenient chance and say something to the effect of, “You can reset now or you can reset at recess.” This has worked every time. I don’t have suggestions for what to do next because I have not yet met a kid who didn’t see the benefit in compliance at this point. 

Like any routine, you have to spend time teaching this. I introduce the idea to the students and explain when I see them off-task, talking, etc., I am going to simply call their names and say, “Reset.” That’s their cue to put their head down and silently count. I tell them while they count they are welcome to reflect about what they were just doing and that the expectation is for them to get back on task when they pop their heads up.

To teach this, I say, “All of you have been perfect today, but we are going to practice so you know what to do if we need it. Class, reset.” Everyone puts their heads down, usually with their arms wrapped around them, counts to ten silently, then pops back up. I greet them with a grin. Practice that every day for two weeks and they will have it.

If you want students to follow your rules, you have to provide a consequence every time they break one. For off-task behaviors, I have found resets to be quick, convenient, and effective.

I hope you have an amazing school year. Wherever you are, know that I am cheering you on. 

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