Before you spend hours organizing bins, laminating labels, or moving furniture around your classroom, there are a few classroom management decisions you need to make first.
Many kindergarten teachers spend the weeks before school focused on classroom setup, lesson planning, and organizing supplies. While all of those things are important, one of the most valuable pieces of back-to-school preparation is creating a kindergarten classroom management plan.
The truth is that students don’t struggle because your bulletin board isn’t finished or because your classroom theme isn’t perfect. Students struggle when expectations aren’t clear. They struggle when routines haven’t been taught. They struggle when consequences are inconsistent or when they aren’t sure what’s expected of them.
That’s why a classroom management plan is so important.
Strong classroom management isn’t about finding the perfect behavior chart or downloading one more classroom management strategy from Pinterest. It’s about making key decisions ahead of time so you’re not trying to figure everything out in the middle of a busy school day.
When students know the rules, understand the procedures, and trust that adults will respond consistently, classroom behavior becomes much easier to manage. Creating a kindergarten classroom management plan before school starts helps you build that consistency from day one.
In this episode, Amy walks through the five classroom management decisions every kindergarten teacher should make before school starts. Whether you’re a first-year teacher setting up your very first classroom or a veteran teacher looking to improve classroom behavior this year, these five decisions will help you create a clear and manageable plan for the school year ahead.
Instead of piecing together random classroom management ideas and hoping something works, you’ll learn how to create a simple framework that supports student success, encourages positive behavior, and helps your classroom run more smoothly.
During the episode, Amy shares the same five sections included in her free editable Classroom Management Plan. By the end of the episode, you’ll have a better understanding of the key components of a successful classroom management system and how they work together to support both students and teachers.
One of the biggest classroom management mistakes teachers make is assuming they’ll figure everything out once students arrive.
The problem is that kindergarten moves fast.
When twenty students are waiting for directions, someone is crying because they miss their grown-up, another student is asking to use the bathroom, and two friends are arguing over a crayon, it becomes very difficult to stop and decide how you want to respond.
Having a classroom management plan helps eliminate those decisions in the moment.
Instead of reacting, you already know:
These decisions become the foundation of your classroom management system.
And when your systems are clear and consistent, students are much more likely to understand expectations and meet them successfully.
š FREE Editable Classroom Management Plan
Need a place to organize your classroom rules, consequences, procedures, behavior systems, and communication plan?
Grab the free editable Classroom Management Plan and walk through all five classroom management decisions discussed in this episode. You’ll see examples from a real kindergarten classroom and create a plan that fits your own students, routines, and teaching style.
Creating a classroom management plan is the first step.
Kindergarten Behavior Blueprint shows you how to implement that plan with real five- and six-year-olds. Inside, you’ll learn how to teach expectations, use visuals effectively, build routines that stick, encourage positive behavior, and create systems that help your classroom run more smoothly all year long.
If you’ve ever thought, “I know what I want my classroom management plan to be, but how do I actually teach all of this to kindergarten students?” this training was created for you.
Teaching Exceptional Kinders Links and Resources:
The Kindergarten Writing Toolbox
The Kindergarten Management Toolbox
Follow me on Instagram @teachingexceptionalkinders
More about The Kindergarten Toolbox Podcast
Welcome to The Kindergarten Toolbox Podcast, your go-to guide for creating calmer classrooms and more confident writers in the wonderfully unique world of kindergarten.
Iām Amy Murray ā former kindergarten teacher, Type C āorganized-in-pilesā human, and vanilla-latte enthusiast. After years of helping teachers streamline their classroom routines with tips and tools that actually make sense for 5- and 6-year-olds, I created this podcast to support you with the practical strategies youāve been craving.
Each episode is short, actionable, and designed to help you:
ā simplify classroom management
ā reduce behavior chaos with systems that stick
ā teach writing in a way that meets beginning writers where they are
ā build routines that make your day flow
ā use visuals, tools, and expectations that really work in K
Whether youāre a brand-new kindergarten teacher or a seasoned pro looking for clarity and calm, youāll find step-by-step support to help you feel more confident and in control.
Because kindergarten isnāt just the new first grade, itās a world all its own, and you deserve tools that actually work.
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Hereās to calmer days and more confident writers!
