Implementing these nine high school and middle school classroom management tips for how to start a new school year will help you create a pleasant and productive learning environment in your classroom for the entire school year.

Starting a new school year offers endless opportunities, and a teacher’s interactions with students on the first day of class set the stage for the school year ahead.

1. Be prepared with classroom management

We have all heard the saying that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. For this reason, all the time you spend preparing for the first day of school will yield immeasurable dividends for you and your students for the remainder of the school year.

Everything matters. From the way the classroom looks, to the way you present yourself, to the expectations you set forth for your students–everything sends a message. It is not possible to spend too much time preparing for the first day you will have students in your classroom. 

Spend the first day on introductions and expectations along with classroom procedures and rules. Reinforce your procedures and rules consistently throughout the first few days and weeks of school and for the remainder of the school year.

While teaching academic content is important, establishing an orderly and productive classroom environment must be your first priority and is essential to the success of all teaching and learning activities that will follow. 

2. Prioritize your classroom management “to do” list

Having stressed the importance of a teacher’s being prepared for the first day of school, I realize that many teachers are hired at the very last minute–in some cases entering a classroom for the first time after the school year has already begun.

So what should teachers do when they have no time to prepare in advance? Teachers should prioritize their “to do” list to ensure they start the school year on a positive note.

Because the tone of the first day in your classroom sets the tone for the year to come, focus on conveying a positive outlook, high expectations, and a warm welcome for the students you meet the first day. It’s okay to tell them that not everything is ready yet, but you are working hard to make everything as close to perfect for them as you can. Honesty– along with a welcoming and caring attitude– will serve you well in a pinch.

However, it is vital that you make good on your promise to get everything ready as soon as possible so your students will know that you mean what you say and you follow through on your promises. 

3. Communicate your classroom expectations clearly

Teachers’ approaches to classroom management vary widely, so all of the students entering your classroom have had vastly different experiences with different teachers’ varying approaches to classroom management. Behavior that is acceptable in one teacher’s classroom could be totally unacceptable in another classroom setting. 

For this reason, you must tell your students exactly what you want them to do or not to do related to behavioral expectations and procedures that you want students to follow in your classroom.

4. Be the adult and professional, not a buddy

There is a difference between being warm and friendly with students and being too familiar. Your students are in an environment full of people their own age, so they don’t need another buddy. Provide a stable adult presence in your students’ lives. 

So many students enter our classroom lacking adult role models in their life. Whether they realize it or not, they want and need adults in their life who will provide them with guidance, boundaries, stability, and maybe even a role model. Sometimes saying “no” is the greatest favor you can do for your students. Be that adult role model in your students’ lives. 

5. Don’t overshare personal details with your students

Spending our days in the warm and supportive environment of our classrooms can lull us into complacency and create a false sense of security. Remember that the classroom environment should focus on the students–not the teacher. 

All of us have personal lives away from school. However, it is best to leave some parts of our personal lives at the school door when we come to work and devote our time during school hours to doing the best job possible with our students.

Similarly, understand that nothing you share on social media is truly private. Once photos and information is out there, it’s out there, and you can’ take it back, so be forewarned. 

6. Dress professionally

Even with dress codes continuing to become more and more relaxed, make sure you are dressing in a way that sets you apart from your students.

Dressing the part of a teacher is especially important when just a few years separates your age from the ages of your students.

7. When students misbehave, stay calm and don’t take their misbehavior personally

Even when you think you have clear procedures in place and a plan for everything, it’s inevitable that you will have to deal with student misbehavior at some point. First, remember to stay calm and not take the situation personally. 

Follow established classroom procedures to resolve the conflict and avoid getting into a confrontation with the misbehaving student in front of the class.

Above all, stay calm and think carefully about your response before reacting. You don’t want to lash out with empty threats or get into a personal confrontation with a student in which one of you has to emerge as the loser. 

8. Be consistent with your classroom management plan and follow through

Most teachers start the school year by presenting clear procedures, expectations, and rules, but then many of them get lax about enforcing the rules and following through with discipline. With so many responsibilities vying for our time, it’s easy to let the least pressing things on our “to do” list slide. However, everything we do–or don’t do–sends a message. If you tell a student you will be calling their parent, writing them up for a code of conduct violation, etc. you must follow through and do it.

So many times, I overheard my high school students discussing the newest administrative dictate in tones of jaded cynicism, saying things like, “We know this won’t last long–it never does.” And the students were right. They had learned from past experience. 

Remember, it’s not the severity of consequences that matters; it’s the certainty that counts.

9. Show that you value instructional time in your classroom by having an “If Time” activity ready

Because everything we do sends a message, we want to make sure our students know that we value instructional time. Timing instructional activities to align perfectly with the end of a class period can be challenging, yet having lots of unfilled instructional time left over at the end of a class period sends the message that our class time is not valuable.

Having several “if time” enrichment or extension activities to use when time remains at the end of a class period is a good way to maximize instructional benefits as well as send the message to students that time in class is important time that will be used for learning. 

Conclusion

You never get a second chance to make a first impression, so make sure the first day of school and the days to come establish the kind of pleasant and productive classroom environment you and your students will enjoy for the entire school year.

Give careful thought and consideration to the procedures you will want to share with your high school or middle school students on the first day of school. 

If you need more help with middle school or high school classroom management, check out my comprehensive resources for classroom management at both the middle school and high school levels.