{"id":12779,"date":"2025-05-07T12:48:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-07T18:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wonderink.org\/?p=11989"},"modified":"2025-05-07T12:48:00","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T18:48:00","slug":"classroom-management-best-practices-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wonderink.org\/classroom-management-best-practices-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Practices for Classroom Management"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Any time there\u2019s a group of kids together (no matter the size of the group!), there\u2019s potential for behavior issues. If you\u2019ve ever left after a church service feeling defeated and like all you did was manage behavior instead of lead their hearts to Jesus, you might feel discouraged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll never forget a particular Wednesday night service when I was leading children\u2019s ministry and all of the kids were extra wild, and I grabbed the microphone and yelled as loud as I could and told the kids to quiet down and freeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then I cancelled the fun game and had the kids sit in silence. I felt like the night was a failure and I was mad at myself for losing my cool and not knowing how to keep the kids\u2019 attention without yelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There will be days like that in children\u2019s ministry! But there are also things you can do to help manage behavior<\/a> and prevent issues before they start. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the most challenging kids in my children\u2019s ministry have grown up to be some of the greatest leaders and influencers for God!<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few of the best practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Practices for Classroom Management<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Prepare Ahead of Time and Plan Lessons that Engage Your Kids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re not prepared for the lesson and are scrambling around as the kids are arriving, or reading from the lesson while leading the lesson, you won\u2019t have the kids\u2019 attention. You won\u2019t be able to look them in the eyes, greet them, and be ready to lead them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of scrambling to gather supplies and read the lesson, always come prepared: both mentally and physically. Gather supplies before kids arrive. Memorize the general flow of the activities and Bible stories (and use your lesson as a reminder, if needed). Then you can be fully present and ready to engage<\/a> the kids during the service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Review the lesson ahead of time to ensure that the activities and teaching style fit your group of kids. Make adjustments, if needed, to ensure that the lesson is engaging and interesting for your group. If you have lots of younger kids, their attention spans will be shorter, so you\u2019ll need to switch the activities more often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Set Expectations Clearly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Determine your children\u2019s ministry\u2019s rules, expectations, or values, and communicate them every week to the kids and leaders. Determine your discipline policy as well, and make sure the volunteers know the steps to take if behavior gets out of control. Make sure the rules and expectations are easy-to-understand and remember, and clear for all kids, and explain the \u201cwhy\u201d behind the rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example: We treat one another with respect and kindness because Jesus loves all people and commands us to love and serve one another. Make sure your behavior expectations are age-appropriate and realistic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kids have energy and want to have fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"classroom
Credit: Getty Images\/iStock\/Getty Images Plus\/monkeybusinessimages<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

3. Recruit Enough Leaders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Almost nothing will lead to behavior getting out of hand faster than a room with too many kids and not enough leaders! There may be times when volunteers<\/a> have to call off unexpectedly or don\u2019t show up, so try your best to have a backup plan for situations like that. Aim to have at least one leader for every 10 elementary kids (the ratios are much smaller for younger age groups).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assign kids and leaders to small groups<\/a>, and encourage each leader to take responsibility for their group. Give specific roles to the volunteers to they know what to do and who they are in charge of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also recruit floaters to help with bathroom time, or people who walk around from group-to-group and help with kids who need extra support. Having enough leaders will also help kids feel known and cared for, which will encourage them to behave well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Incorporate Multiple Learning Styles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Not all kids learn the same way, to paying attention to and including different learning styles in your lesson can help keep the kids engaged, so they will focus and listen. A lesson that involves the kids sitting still, quietly, for 45 minutes isn\u2019t going to be as successful as one with STEM experiments, games, group discussion, hands-on activities, and active worship and movement during the lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offer adaptations for kids who thrive with different learning styles. Some kids may focus better when they have a fidget tool. Fidgets can help kids regulate their emotions, promote sensory input, and focus. You can keep a few fidgets on hand or even use some that specifically relate to your lesson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wonder Ink lessons are written to be inclusive for as many kids as possible, but the lessons also offer tips in every lesson for including kids with different abilities and needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Keep Their Attention<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Use verbal and visual cues to get\u2014and keep\u2014kids\u2019 attention, especially when they are starting to get rowdy! Here a few great ways to get kids\u2019 attention:<\/p>\n\n\n\n