Steamline your day - time-saving classroom management tips

We're heading for the last few days of June, so we're in what for me is the weird limbo time of reflecting over last year and thinking ahead to what I want to try next year. Some days, I felt like my classroom management was 🔥. Other days, not so much. And just to be clear, I don't mean classroom behavior management. I mean workflow and how we move through the class period smoothly. I'm still working on understanding how some days were great and other days...well, maybe not. Here are some tips to consider for planning next year's class structure. (Yep, talking to myself here.)

Routines - 

Starting the class period off right can set the tone for the rest of the time together. Greeting students at the door lets them know you're present that day, prepared and ready to work, and that your expectations start at the door. Have a simple, engaging task ready for students as soon as they walk in. It could be a journal prompt, a math problem, or a test-prep review question. (Retrieval practice is HUGELY important. Here's a link to Episode 79: "Retrieval Practice: The Most Powerful Learning Strategy You're Not Using" from The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast). 

Delegate - 

You are the teacher, but you don't have to do it all. Teaching your students leadership and ownership of their learning environment will free you up to do your thing - the teaching. Assign students specific jobs like passing out papers or classroom materials, sharing notes or information with students who were absent, or updating the class calendar. Identify a few reliable students who can assist their peers with questions or difficulties, allowing you more time to focus on small groups or more intensive interventions. 

Procedures - 

Establishing clear procedures for everything from handing in classwork to lining up for lunch can save minutes throughout the class period. And those minutes add up to more class time spent on the important stuff and time you're not having to tell people what to do. Spending time at the beginning of the year practicing these procedures might seem ridiculous and tedious, but it will pay off in the long run when your class runs like a well-oiled machine. Post procedure reminders where students can see them. Visual cues can help remind students of what's expected of them without you having to repeat yourself endlessly. 

Batch -

Group similar tasks together to make the most of your time. Part of being effective is being efficient, and you can increase your efficiency when you batch tasks. Set aside specific times for grading rather than doing it sporadically. It's more efficient and less stressful. You're also likely to notice more trends, so item analysis and ideas for remediation and enrichment will be more obvious. Also, check and respond to emails at designated times rather than letting them interrupt your day constantly. But what if you get an important email from the office? Here's what I do: after I record attendance on our digital platform, I glance at my new email messages. Usually, nothing needs an immediate response, and I can get on with class. This way, I'm aware of things going on outside my classroom, and I can see if there's something truly important that needs my attention at the moment, but otherwise, I'm not opening or responding to email. 

Application - 

Here's what I'm thinking: I want to codify my procedures and create visual reminders to place in strategic locations around the room. I want to have at least five students in each class who are leaders and assistants in various capacities. I want to be better at batching my work. 

Summer is about rest, but it's also a great time to reflect and think about how things could be better next time. Effective classroom management is at the core of what we do, and getting it right will help us be successful.

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