Behavior Strategies for the Early Elementary Classroom (Extended Episode)

How is student behavior showing up in your work environment? This is the question Alexis poses to first grade teacher Sara Roadman. Sara has 13 years of experience as a classroom teacher, experience as a substitute, and she’s also an OEA professional learning facilitator. With challenges such as large class sizes, Sara finds the student-teacher relationship is the most important strategy for classroom management.

Sara starts forging these relationships in the beginning of the year by setting routines and expectations, including front loading expectations around strong emotions. She uses the Zones of Regulation and finds them to be very helpful in working with students’ emotions. Alexis and Sara also discuss the effectiveness of the “little moments” like making eye contact and listening to students’ stories, building students’ vocabulary around emotions and behavior, establishing a sense of safety for students, and making sure every student has a voice.

They also emphasize the importance of forming relationships with other educators who interact with the same students and the value of Instructional Assistants, Counselors, Behavior Specialists, and parent volunteers. Finally, they offer some wisdom around having a reflective practice and keeping a record of your successes with students.

 

Resources:

Zones of Regulation

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse - Charlie Mackesy

Practicing Mindfulness with Students - A webinar with Sara Roadman

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