Elementary classroom management: Tips for keeping learners engaged

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Classroom management is a skill that educators get better at year after year. When a K-5 classroom is buzzing with learning rather than disorganized and chaotic, it’s because of strong classroom management. The educator has spent time teaching routines, providing visual instructions and guiding digital learning on iPads. 

In this blog post, we’ll explore the elementary classroom management strategies that create engaged and focused learning.

What makes elementary classroom management unique

Elementary learners are still developing self-regulation and executive functioning skills like decision-making and following multiple steps. Younger children may not be able to read a rule posted in the classroom or remember verbal directions, so classroom management strategies should include visual instructions and repetition. 

This is also important for class activities on devices. Elementary learners need to understand the class digital routine, like how to log in, open the right tab or shut down their device. Just like lining up or clearing up, these expectations need to be visually posted, taught and practiced

The five Ps of classroom management

A great way to build a foundation for strong classroom management is by asking learners to follow the Five Ps. When instructional or technology coaches refer to them during classroom visits, teachers use them across the school and principals reinforce them during assemblies, learners hear one consistent message. The five Ps apply to any classroom activities in any subject, whether on or off devices. 

Remember to post visuals of these expectations so all learners can understand and consistently practice them.

• Prompt: Be on time to school; settle into your seat quickly after an activity; follow directions right away. 
• Prepared: Be ready for class; bring supplies, completed homework assignments and signed permission slips.
• Productive: Stay focused during class activities and make the most of class time.
• Polite: Treat your classmates and teacher with kindness and respect.
• Positive: Try your best; encourage your classmates; learn from mistakes.
• (Bonus) Patient: Listen to your classmates and teacher; wait for your turn.

Understand common elementary classroom behavior 

When elementary learners don’t follow rules, it’s not usually because they are being defiant. It’s usually because they’re still learning to control their impulses. Self-control is a skill they need to learn and practice over time. 

Here are some behaviors related to self-control:

• Clicking off of a tab for a class activity during digital learning and playing a game
• Blurting out an answer instead of raising their hand and waiting their turn
• Leaving during carpet time or wandering around during a class activity
• Not sharing materials at learning centers
• Fidgeting while sitting
• Difficulty transitioning from one activity to another

The solution is not to punish the learner but to model the skill, offer a reminder, give them a brain break or guide their digital learning during screen time. 

Effective elementary classroom management strategies 

To help learners build self-regulation and executive function, here are some effective classroom management ideas for elementary.

Create visual schedules and picture cues

Elementary learners feel calmer when they know what’s coming next. A visual schedule with pictures, like digital learning, morning meeting, math, snack and reading, helps kids understand their day.

Picture cues help them learn routines, too. Some examples could be pictures that mean “no talking,” “iPads off” or “share with your partner.” Instructional coaches can give teachers across the school a set of visuals for consistency from classroom to classroom.

Model and practice routines consistently

Elementary teachers should also model routines, practice them with learners and re-practice them until they stick.

If a teacher wants learners to line up for fire drills, the teacher needs to show them exactly what the expectation is, let them try, give feedback and let them try again. They should do the same for digital routines. Practice how to open the iPad, find the right app or website and put devices to sleep when it’s time to look up.

It’s important to spend time on this at the beginning of the school year, even if it feels monotonous. It will save a lot of instructional minutes the rest of the year. 

Use anchor charts 

Anchor charts are another way to give elementary learners visuals and clear expectations. They’re a reference that kids can turn to at any time as a reminder of what is expected of them. 

One example is a chart showing how to responsibly use an iPad, with simple pictures of each step. Anchor charts can help learners self-manage and reduce elementary classroom behavior management challenges, including during screen time.

Assign elementary classroom jobs

Classroom jobs for elementary learners help them feel important, practice responsibility and take pride in their classroom community. Jobs include:

• Technology helper who supports classmates with devices
• Classroom librarian who keeps books organized
• Supply manager who helps organize glue, markers, scissors, erasers
• Hallway line helper who helps classmates stay respectful and quiet with positive reminders
• Classroom gardener who waters plants and tracks growth

Rotates these jobs each week so everyone in the class gets to try different roles. 

Manage center and rotation transitions

Learning centers can be very engaging and keep students curious and interested to dive deeper into topics. Without structure, though, centers can be chaotic, and digital learning centers can lose focus. 

Ways to build structure include a rotation chart with visuals, a clear signal like a chime when it’s time to switch and keeping a consistent amount of time per center.  

Learners also need to practice how to transition between centers. They need to understand how to wrap up, where to move next and what focused learning looks like. Once they have practiced often enough, it’s possible to have small group learning run smoothly. 

Communicate elementary carpet time expectations

Most early elementary classrooms include carpet time for whole-group activities like reading stories, leading class discussions or modeling concepts. It’s great for building community and increasing engagement. 

Because learners sit close together during carpet time, some kids think it’s playtime instead of class time, so it’s really important to have expectations. They need to know exactly where to sit, such as a certain spot or a square, and even how to sit. Some teachers like to offer a choice between two or three ways to sit, while others sing a song (with “crisscross apple sauce” or something similar in the lyrics). 

If learners are supposed to bring their class devices to the carpet spot, educators should practice the expectation with them, such as starting with “screens off and flat on laps.”

Redirect behavior without raising your voice

Yelling does not work with learners, especially young children, because it doesn’t feel safe. Here are some effective strategies for classroom management for elementary teachers that create a positive, supportive environment.

Describe the positive behavior

One way to create a supportive learning environment is by describing the behavior you want to see. For example, an educator could say, “I see Olivia with her iPad off and ready to start our math activity.” Other learners will usually follow to earn the same positive feedback. 

Give specific praise

Instead of just saying “good job,” it’s more effective to be specific. “Bryce, you cleaned up your glue, markers and paper before the chime.” Elementary learners need to know exactly what they did right.

Try transition songs and chants

A clean-up song, a carpet time chant or a “screens down” song can be a fun way to encourage positive behavior. The melodies and rhymes help them remember expectations and self regulate.

Provide sensory and tactile supports

Most elementary kids struggle with sitting in their seats for extended periods of time, and some may need time to emotionally dysregulate. There are also learners who require additional supports to help with ADHD, for example. 

Some ways to support them include:

• A basket of different types of fidget tools
• A quiet area with a soft cushion and dimmer lighting
• Flexible seating like bean bag chairs or yoga exercise balls
• Earmuffs for when the classroom gets too loud
• Weighted lap pads
• Gel floor tiles
• Putty or play-dough

During digital learning, a quiet reminder sent to the learner’s screen can help them refocus without calling them out in front of the class.

Make screen time instructionally meaningful with Hāpara

Schools are facing pressure from parents, school boards and state legislatures to show that time on classroom devices is only focused on learning. With state legislation beginning to limit screen time in elementary grades, educators need to prove that every minute on a device has a clear educational benefit. The right tool ensures that screen time is purposeful and keeps digital learning safe and focused.

Hāpara Classroom Management helps educators make screen time instructionally meaningful for elementary learners and beyond. From one dashboard, educators can guide students into curated digital learning environments or freeze screens so learners stay focused on their class activity. Educators can also push out links that open directly onto student screens, which means no instructional time is wasted and learners don’t veer off course.

Hāpara also makes it much easier for educators to differentiate instruction for elementary learners. For example, educators can:

• Instantly share scaffolded Google File resources with individual learners or groups
• Create a longer digital learning session with extended reading time for a learner with an IEP
• Push out the link to a dictionary for English Language Learners
• Send a message to a learner with personalized help

With Hāpara, educators can also ensure that device time doesn’t extend beyond the allowed limit in class. The Guided Browsing feature locks learners into a curated digital learning session for a specific amount of time. Plus, the screen recording feature allows educators to provide reporting on what students were learning during device time.

Protect instructional time with Hāpara Hall Pass

Hāpara Hall Pass gives elementary teachers a simple way to manage student requests to leave the classroom. It’s also an easier way for school nurses, counselors and co-teachers to enter hall passes for learners to leave the room. The goal is to protect instructional minutes so less time is spent on filling out passes and managing that process.

Here’s how Hāpara Hall Pass supports classroom management for elementary:

• Your school can allow auto-approval of passes or the ability for teachers to approve requests with one click
• A teacher, co-teacher, or paraprofessional can see exactly which student or students in the class are out on a pass and how long they’ve been out 
• Educators can build classroom routines that help learners develop responsibility, including when substitute teachers are supporting the class
• Administrators can see where every learner is during an emergency
• Administrators and educators can spot patterns over time, such as nurse visits, and check in with learners who may need support

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the 5 P’s of classroom management?
The 5 P’s are Prompt, Prepared, Productive, Polite and Positive. They give elementary students clear expectations to follow throughout the school day, whether they’re learning on devices, engaging in learning centers or having carpet time. When teachers, coaches and principals use the same expectations, learners hear one clear message throughout the school. 

What is the best classroom management for elementary school?
The best classroom management for elementary teachers uses visuals, routines, consistent practice and positive reinforcement. Because young learners are still developing self-control, strategies like picture cues, anchor charts and classroom jobs are helpful. Tools like Hāpara also allow educators to guide digital learning and keep screen time focused and safe. 

How does Hāpara support digital learning in elementary classrooms?
Hāpara helps educators make screen time instructionally meaningful by guiding learners into curated digital environments and freezing screens so they stay focused on the class activity. It also makes differentiating instruction easier, letting educators share scaffolded Google file resources, create differentiated online learning sessions or push out links to individual learners or groups. Plus, Guided Browsing keeps digital learning time within screen time limits, and screen recording gives educators data they can share about what students were learning.