When I hear the phrase classroom management, I often think about how a teacher might handle an off-task student or a school wide behavior pyramid. However, more often than not, classroom management boils down to the systems in place that encourage students to be on-task and engaged in their learning. Today, I am sharing 4 Helpful Classroom Procedures for Middle School. Easy tips and tricks you can begin implementing tomorrow, including a free printable.
I think we can all recall a procedure or system that lends itself to trouble. My first year, it was the overabundance of papers. Students would ask where the late work went, if they had a missing grade, there would be a congregation of students at the turn in tray, and I couldn’t get class started on time. I didn’t have a procedure and over time it became a management issue. (I figured it out thanks to my Homework Agenda.)
4 CLASSROOM PROCEDURES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL
1. Handling bathroom and locker requests
I think one of the most common questions, as well as possibly the most irritating is the bathroom/locker request. Inevitably, you call on a student who you think is going to answer the question or ask a content question, and they ask to go to the bathroom. Maybe you hand out bathroom passes at the beginning of the grading period and yet when a student hands one to you, you don’t have a place to put it, your pocket is available and then amazingly enough you find a tattered pass in your laundry. Maybe that was just me.
If you use interactive notebooks or even binders, I have a solution for you. It works not only as a procedure for bathroom and locker requests, but also as a reinforcement of positive behavior.
Download, save, and print the Template
This has been quite popular of an idea, so I have created a template (you can find it below), ready to customize. Simply, download the file, save it to your computer, and print. Update (August 23, 2023): This freebie has been updated to include math grade-level specific information.
How does it work?
Depending on how gracious you choose to be, this card could last a grading period or a semester. I preferred one per semester. Students would glue it into the very first page of their interactive notebooks. If they needed to use an emergency pass, they simply turned to their front page and waited for me to come around during the lesson. For me, this was acceptable during classwork, group work, or independent work time. I did not accept this during any direct instruction.
I would initial and date the pass and didn’t have to collect it or keep track of how many they had used.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A MATH FAST PASS
2. Labeled Student Supply Station
I saw this on Pinterest several years ago and have appreciated it everyday of my teaching career. It is as simple as painters tape, a sharpie, and a table or cubby and five minutes of time.
Determine what supplies you will keep accessible at any time. For me this included a classroom hole punch, a classroom stapler, and a box of tissue. These three things were always available to students. Somehow, they have a tendency to go missing, the tissue box is no where to be found, I use the stapler and leave it on my desk, etc. Naturally, it is because they didn’t have a home.
Take a piece of painters tape and label the name of the supply, then place that on a table where all have access to it. This creates a home for the supplies and students know exactly were to return it.
3. keep the Pencil sharpener in the back
If it all possible, move your pencil sharpener to the back of the room. It will cause less distractions and reasons for a student to need to sharpen their pencil.
Don’t have a plug close by? Get an extension cord.
Have a manual one? Order a new one on Amazon and then put in a maintenance request or bring a drill to school. I had this added to the side of a cabinet in the back of my room. Well worth the $10.00 and time.
4. Choose a consistent warm up
I honestly believe the first 3 minutes of class, set the stage for the day. If things are calm, students are working, then you feel confident prepared and excited to begin the lesson. If it is hectic, students are up and moving, talking, or unsure of what to do, you feel frazzled, annoyed, and frustrated. The best thing I did for these first few minutes was have the same type of warm up or bell ringer each day. Students knew what to expect and how to get started. I spent several weeks teaching students what it should look like when the bell rang, positively reinforcing it (as seen above), and providing consistency each and everyday.
These 4 Classroom Procedures for Middle School are a great start to get organized both for yourself and your students. I hope this post provides some ideas that could be easily implemented in your classroom.
Thank you so much! I adore this pass. I teach at an English academy in S. Korea and I have the exact same problem with kids wanting to go to the bathroom all the time. This seems like a great way to solve this problem for my classes. Again, thank you!!
Wow, its so cool how the internet connects teachers from all over the globe. I am glad you like it! Hope you have a great year!
Hi, I’ve been searching your blog looking for your explanation of how you use your “Pay Day” classroom economy. Is there a link I could follow that would give me more information on that. I am a early elementary teacher who is moving up to 6th grade and looking for a more mature behavior management system.
I don’t have a post at this time, but it is on my list. Thanks!
Not sure if you are still answering comments- What happens if they go over 3 passes in the given time frame? I have tried this in the past to curb excessive bathroom use, as have teams that I teach with, and then parents complained to admin that we are not allowing their kids to use the bathroom when needed, which then just turns into a debate with the kid over whether it really is an emergency or with the parent who is mad you gave their kid consequences for using the bathroom. Suggestions?
I agree that that is challenging. Do your students have normal passing periods? I think most students can take of business during passing periods, lunch, or even other classes, which makes the 3 pretty reasonable. You could say that the first 3 are free, but after that you have to “purchase” any extra bathroom breaks with their lunch time/extra class work/class points. Or you could come at it from a different angle – you could say whoever still has some of the passes left at the end of the grading period get some kind of reward. You definitely don’t want to make an issue out of it, but unfortunately there will always be some pushback. Best of luck!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!