Spring Fever Hits BIG Time in Primary Grades!

#classroommanagement Apr 28, 2022
Dear Lesson Plan Toolbox,
 
I am a first-year teacher in first grade and I truly need some help with my classroom management. I’m just not sure what happened. My students were so well behaved, but now I just can’t seem to get them back on track. I’m an organized teacher and have my lessons planned out for two weeks. My lessons seem engaging to me, but my students show very little interest and are quite disruptive while I’m teaching. A big part of my classroom management focuses on manners and respect. These seem to have gone out the window these past few weeks and I’m not sure how to get them back. Of course, it’s not everyone, but it is definitely the majority of my class.
 
My goal is to begin taking a deep dive into states of matter with a pretty involved unit, but I have to be honest, that if they can’t even sit through a thirty-minute lesson on story elements I have little faith in knowing that they will sit through less structured lessons with this unit. Is this normal or is it just me?
 
Please help!
Miss Managed
 
 
 
Dear Miss Managed,
The very first takeaway I want you to have from this response is that you are DEFINITELY NOT alone. You are already an amazing teacher if you are surviving this first year and right now is your bump in the road. There are many teachers with years of experience that are having probably even more difficulties than you are with your class.
 

As grown-ups, we often feel like time is going so fast, but remember when you were a kid and it seemed like summer vacation was never going to get here? Well, now try being a kid living through a pandemic and imagine how long the days must feel. And now imagine being a kid who is six years old and growing up in the world of reels and TikTok where the magic number is producing content in 8 seconds. The school setting has gotta be so hard! This isn’t meant to justify behavior, but rather serve as a possible explanation.
 
The good news is that not only am I going to suggest that you move forward with your states of matter unit, but I encourage it! This sounds exactly like what your students will need. Think about it. You are serving more as a scaffold rather than the “main show.” Students will be leading, problem-solving, and communicating with each other which are some of the most important skills for a 21st-century learner. The sooner you can begin this unit of study, the better.
 
Beyond that, try going back to basics. Schedule an appointment with your class so you can have a meeting with them where you will discuss the flow of the classroom lately. Turning this into a conversation rather than simply stating your frustrations will make your students more likely to listen and want to change. You would be AMAZED at how far having a conversation will go with students no matter their ages.
 
 
I hope this helps you move through the rest of the school year! It sounds like you have some higher-level academic lessons that you are planning which is incredible, especially for our youngest learners. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you feel that you need more guidance on your teacher journey. We’re happy to serve primary teachers the best we can.

Did you know…

We are so passionate about helping primary teachers that we are using our administrative experience and holding mock interviews to help teachers prepare. The feedback is incredible!

If you or a K-3 teacher friend you know is preparing to interview, then feel free to DM us on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.

If you enjoyed this post…

If you enjoyed this post, then you’ll want to read about the causes and prevention of teacher burnout.

And if you haven’t grabbed The 7 Habits To Avoid Teacher Burnout, then what are you waiting for? Spring is coming…you NEED this in your life.

Reminder…

We continue to support K-3 teachers, both new teachers, and veterans, on their journeys. If you are interested in joining and earning some of the EASIEST PD hours you will ever earn, then be sure to check this out. Feel free to contact us with any thoughts or questions. You can earn 60 HOURS in 1 year!

 

The Mission of Lesson Plan Toolbox:

Our mission at Lesson Plan Toolbox is to save K-3 teachers time and energy while providing resources and knowledge of 21st-century learning.

 Until next week…

Teach~Relax~Repeat

Lauren

Lesson Plan Toolbox

 

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