Module 4

Professional Growth and Development

Prepared and Compiled By: Teacher Evelyn

10 Proven Classroom Management Tips for Preschool Teachers

We connected with a handful of preschool pros to learn their proven classroom management
techniques. Keep reading to learn a few tricks of the trade.
1. Organize your room strategically
A preschool classroom can be quite chaotic, so the way you organize is not only important, it can
help ensure that effective learning is happening wherever children are stationed. There are certain
tips and tricks that you can only learn from experience, according to Barbara Harvey, ECE
professional and parenting educator.

She’s learned to separate noisy areas of the classroom from the quiet ones. For example, the blocks
and other activities should be on the opposite side of the room from the reading center. These types
of insights will only get stronger with experience, so make a point to try new things and see what
works.

2. Create an attention-grabber
With a room full of youngsters, things are bound to get rowdy once in a while. During these times
you’ll need to find creative ways to get grab attention. Asking children to copy your sounds or
motions can be just the ticket.
“I just do a silly sound or gesture to get their attention,” says preschool teacher Amissa Stahlhut.
“Then I ask them to do what I do, say or sing. I start out with big, silly and sometimes loud
movements or sounds and then gradually get smaller and quieter.”
3. Make a plan for transitions
There will be several times throughout the day when children are transitioning from one activity or
area of the room to another. It’s important to have a plan for these transitions.
Harvey suggests using a countdown as part of your plan so children are ready to move on when
the time comes. Announcing that you’re going to countdown from 10 to one before moving on to
the next activity will help children feel prepared for the transition.
4. Create a puppet ‘friend’
Sometimes you’re going to need a little break from being the voice of reason. Using a puppet to
help teach manners, skills or kindness gives the children another authority to learn from—one that
is cute and fuzzy!
“A fun guest that we often invited into our classroom was Mr. Friendly Frog, who was a puppet that
would talk about how to do friendly things in the classroom,” says Anna Boyer, assistant director
and education specialist at Sabes JCC Early Childhood Center. “The class grew to LOVE Mr. Friendly
Frog and would talk about him all the time.”
5. Use child-friendly labels
Keeping your room organized shouldn’t all fall on your shoulders. Empower your students to pick
up after themselves and take responsibility for their own messes.

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Harvey uses labeled plastic bins to organize classroom supplies and toys. She labels the bins with
pictures of each object and labels the shelf where the bin is stored with the same picture. She says
this not only helps children put things away properly and teaches responsibility, but also helps hones
their matching skills.
6. Refer to the routine
Consistency is important for everyone, but especially for children. If your preschoolers know their
routine, they begin to have an innate sense of accountability to follow it.
“Once a kid or class knows a routine, the power goes back to them,” Boyer says. When the children
are in charge of knowing and following the routines, you’ll no longer have to constantly remind and
direct them.
7. Balance ‘active’ & ‘passive’ activities
Certain activities will get your students’ adrenaline up and running, and other that will help them
mellow and calm down. Harvey recommends finding a balance and switching between the two. The
manner in which you organize your activities can make all of the difference in keeping your kids
under control.
8. Create engaging curriculum
Stahlhut recalls some memorable advice she once received from one of her professors: The best
form of discipline is a good curriculum.

She explains that simply reading a book to children – even a fun book – can bore them. But if you
read the book using different voices, speeds and animated body language, they are much more
engaged. You can even invite the children to help with sounds effects when appropriate. She’s seen
these tactics to help improve behavior issues.

9. Creatively manage crisis

There will be times when a student will need to take a break and calm down. This doesn’t mean
you have to send them in the corner to sit on a chair and sulk. Try something creative that also
encourages them to wind down.
“One cute little calming down trick is to have a little bottle of bubbles that you can have kids blow
when they feel angry,” Boyer suggests. “Blowing bubbles makes kids automatically take deep
breaths and slow down.”
10. Enjoy your job!
Kids are naturally intuitive and tend to follow the lead of those they’re around. If they see you
enjoying the teaching process, think of how much more likely they are to enjoy the learning process.
Teaching strategies for the future
You should be feeling much more confident now that you have these expert classroom management
tricks up your sleeve. This advice might have you itching to learn even more.