As a new teacher, you might be focused on setting basic classroom rules during the first week of school. But as you build relationships with your students, their parents, and your fellow educators, you’ll begin to gain a better idea of what’s most effective when managing a classroom.

Being a friend and confidant for your students while still being firm and in control will create a collaborative classroom community and a positive student-teacher relationship. Having mutual respect with your students will make their daily life in the classroom happier so they can focus on their lessons. 

Experienced Florida educators Vilma Hernandez, a 1st grade teacher, and Anne Cicale, 6th grade teacher, share their tips for beginning teachers on how to develop relationships with your students during your first teaching year. 

Set Classroom Expectations Early

Set and explain classroom rules during the first day. Spend time with other teachers to get a few ideas on what has worked for them in their own classroom and feel out which ones you’d like to implement. Help your students understand that these expectations are for their own success. This is especially important for a first-year teacher as it helps students learn what the classroom community will look like for both you and your students.

“The most important thing is to set expectations at the beginning of the year, and to be consistent,” says Cicale. “The students know that I am firm because I have their best interest at heart. They know I want them to succeed.” 

Keep an Observation and Reward System

Having an observation and reward system for good behavior teaches students about personal accountability, which contributes to a collaborative environment. Each student can keep track of their own behavior, which teaches them to keep their actions in mind and gives them ownership over their classroom.

“In my classroom I use a Character Tracker,” says Cicale. “The students each have their own character card and they earn positives when they exhibit one of the character traits.  They can earn rewards at the end of each quarter based on their behavior.” 

Notifying your students’ parents about their behavior will also give each child a bigger picture of how their actions can affect other students' lives.

“Keeping a conduct log has helped students self-assess their behavior while providing documentation for parents,” says Hernandez. “We create the Conduct Log together as a class. This is all discussed during Open House with the parents. After each quarter, the student’s start from scratch with a clean slate.” 

Build Trust and Keep a List of Goals

When trust is built between teachers and their students, everyone thrives. Kids respond better when they see that you have confidence in them. It also makes the process of learning and maintaining class discipline easier, especially for first-year teachers. 

“My goals are always to motivate the students to do their best,” says Cicale. “Setting high expectations for students and letting them know that I know they can be successful.”

Communicate and share goals with your students regularly so everyone is on the same page. You can be flexible with your goals without compromising your lesson planning, And, don’t hesitate to let your students know how proud you are of them for their hard work and good behavior.

“I believe providing students a safe, warm, and caring environment is the key to a successful school year,” says Hernandez. “Never be afraid to tell your students you love them; that goes a long way. Also, the worst thing you could tell a student is that they disappointed you.” 

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