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 Classroom management is absolutely necessary if you desire to be an effective teacher. If you do not have a plan in place you will encounter many problems that will leave you very frustrated as a teacher. If you have a few things in place it will make your day go much more smoothly.

It is important to establish routines. What will the students do when they enter the classroom? Where will they keep their belongings? In a cubby or at their seat? How will you collect homework? When will they use the bathroom? Will you have classroom helpers who are assigned to certain jobs? How will the students ask questions? When do they sharpen their pencils? Do they have to get permission to get out of their seat? These may seem like obvious questions but to the new teacher it is crucial they be answered before the first day of school.

Then there is the behavior modification system. What will you use to encourage your students to make positive choices? My choice is to use five colored straws, each one representing the following rules:

• Blue: Show respect for others and their property.
• Red: Walk quietly to your destination.
• Yellow: Stay on task.
• Orange: Get permission to leave your seat.
• Green: Follow directions the first time they are given.

If a student breaks a rule, it is read to him/her and he/she is given a warning. If they break the rule again, they lose a straw of the respective color. In a given day they lose five minutes of recess for each straw that is lost. One important aspect of the system is, in the afternoon, the students are able to earn back straws as a reward for good behavior. This keeps them from giving up if they've had a bad morning. If a student loses four straws a call is made to the parent. If they lose five straws an office referral is written.

Establishing communication with the parents or guardians at the beginning of the school year will help if there are any behavior issues. I make it a practice to make regular calls home to give positive reports. This allows both the parent and the child to realize you are not just calling when there is a negative report. If the child knows you will call with a positive report he will work hard at making positive choices instead of negative.

Having these three strategies in place, establishing routines, incorporating a behavior modification system and home communication will allow your classroom to run much more smoothly and efficiently.