Smooth Sailing

Everyone knows that smooth sailing is the only way to go. Just like the conditions out on the water will create this optimal experience, so do the conditions in our classrooms. In the classroom these optimal conditions are prepared in the form of classroom management. Classroom management is the management of time, materials, students and planning or preparations. Children/students thrive in an environment that is consistent and structured. This is exactly why the success of the teacher AND the students is so heavily reliant on classroom management. The students need to have a clear direction for what is expected and when. When a teacher effectively communicates their expectations and is consistent in delivering consequences, the students will quickly learn to govern their own choices.

The classroom I am observing is not only esthetically pleasing but impeccably organized! It is obvious that the teacher has spent countless hours to set up a classroom that will experience smooth sailing. This is not to say that there won't be some choppy water occasionally, but when that happens the teacher can quickly navigate the issue and return to smooth waters. One of my favorite strategies she uses is when the students are transitioning she will say something like I want everyone on the rug in 2 jack and jills. Then she will sing the nursery rhyme twice while the students scurry to the put their things away and sit on the rug. Another amazing strategy she uses is to clearly post what centers they are doing and when. The students also have a routine that they do each morning while they wait for announcements to begin. These students know exactly what is expected and so consequently the classroom functions beautifully.