The key to a classroom that runs smoothly is effective classroom management techniques. Your classroom management should revolve around the classroom rules. If a rule is broken, there should be a consequence. A structured classroom comes from strong classroom management. The most effective form of classroom management is the use of positive reinforcement. If you have a student acting inappropriately, you should find a student who is acting appropriately, and praise him or her. Students love getting praised, and they will usually change their behavior if they see other students getting attention for good behavior. For example, if you see a student who is wasting time and not getting work done, find a student who is working hard, and comment, "I love the way Joey is working so hard. He is so responsible." You will probably see the student who was being inappropriate getting to work so he can be praised as well. You can also use other forms of classroom management. A lot of teachers have a classroom store. Each student can earn tickets or coins when they display appropriate behavior. At the end of the week, they can shop in the classroom store with their tickets or coins. Other teachers use the stoplight technique or the red, yellow, green technique. You could have a picture of a stoplight, a pinwheel with red, yellow, and green sections, or use red, yellow, and green cards. If you use a stoplight or pinwheel, you should have each student's name on something like a clothespin or velcro tag. If you are using cards, each student has their own set of cards. All students start at green. You can then set your own guidelines on when they get moved to yellow or red. For example, if a student gets two warnings, their name or card gets moved to the yellow section. If they get three or more warnings, their name or card gets moved to red. If they get red for the day, their parent or guardian gets notified with a note or phone call. They should also lose a privilege like playtime or lunch in the classroom. The students who stay on green could earn privileges like lunch in the classroom if they stay on green for the week or picking a prize out of the prize bin. If you have a classroom theme, your classroom management system could revolve around your theme. Your classroom might be based on a sports theme. Your equivalent of yellow might be the penalty box. Your red could be the equivalent of being benched for the game. Whatever techniques you choose to use, it is extremely important that you are consistent and that you follow through with the program. You will find that if you have a strong classroom management system, you will rarely have to move anyone to the red sections. Good luck!! As a teacher you need to always be improving your classroom management techniques. Here are some links to some of the Top Classroom Management sites: Classroom Management The Really Big List of Classroom Management Resources Classroom Management Topics Education World You Can Handle Them All Articles on Brain based Education Teacher lesson plans and classroom management ProTeacher! Classroom management ideas for elementary school CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT LINKS Strategies for Classroom Management Classroom Management Here are some of the bulletin board ideas that can be used to help with classroom management. Click image to enlarge Classroom Managemnt