One of the number one struggles in teaching middle school science is classroom management. If the classroom is in disorder, what you have to teach will be difficult to get across.
In the “First Days of School” by Harry Wong, he states that an effective teacher has positive expectations, is a good classroom manager, and knows how to design lessons for student mastery.
Many of my posts discuss how to bring the WOW Factor to your classroom effectively, but I want to share something different with you here. That’s how to be a good classroom manager.
Without this, it’s difficult to bring the WOW Factor as you wish to.
Here are 10 classroom management strategies to help make your classroom smooth sailing and a great place for you and your students to thrive every single day.

Look Good, Feel Good
This classroom management tip isn’t so much a “how” to run your classroom, but trust me, it can make a world of difference. The way that you dress impacts the way that you feel. The way that you dress is also important for how your students perceive you.
You should first dress in something that will put you in a good mood. If you get up in the morning, throw on some dress clothes that are just “eh” because you’re in a hurry and you’re too tired to make yourself presentable, you are going to feel “eh” all day.
You want to dress in something that you love so you will feel fabulous all day.
Now, I know you’re a science teacher. I’m not saying that you should wear a nice dress and high heels every day if you are a girl. I’m also not saying that you should wear a shirt and tie every day if you are a guy. There are special days for that.
You should wear something that:
- looks good
- is comfortable (you’re teaching all day!)
- makes you feel great and not “ick”
- is professional
- is appropriate on lab days
I prefer nice dress clothes, even with heels! My heels are my “hallway shoes”. I wear comfy (professional) shoes while I’m teaching, but during transitions, I throw on my heels. My students loved this!
I also like a nice teacher tee on Fridays. You can always dress it up!
A science teacher’s job can look different each day. Dress for the day.
Once you look good and feel good, you can put the rest of these tips into action.
Set Expectations Extremely High and Early
If you are beginning a new semester or a new school year, it’s a great time to go over expectations. The earlier, the better, and you want to start out your expectations high.
If you are in the middle of the school year, the middle of the week, or even the middle of the day, you can always go over your expectations as a reminder.
It’s harder to go back if your expectations have been lower, but it’s never too late to adjust. You can simply tell your students that, as a class, what you have been doing is not going well, and adjust your expectations as needed.
Don’t think you are setting your expectations too high. Going lower is a lot easier to do. Always set the bar high. You will be surprised how your students can reach it!
These are expectations for both academics and behavior. You can even get student input. They will be more on board if they have a say so.
Start your classroom management plan today!
Make Sure You Have Predictable Procedures and Routines for EVERYTHING
You want to make sure your students know what to do, when to do things, and how to do things. Lay out all of the details and leave no wiggle room! If there is a plan in place, things will run a lot smoother. There is nothing too small for a procedure and/or routine!
Here are some examples of things to have procedures and routines for:
- getting materials out
- what to do when class is over
- how to treat others
- getting out of seats
- what to do when they need something
- how to throw trash away
- late work
- how to label papers to turn in
- where to turn papers in
- make-up work
- how to enter class
- what do to during announcements
- how to get your attention
- how to line up
- what to do when tardy
- what to do if they finish work early
- when someone knocks on the door
- cafeteria procedures
- what to do during lesson time
- changing groups
- emergency alerts
For everything you plan to do in your classroom, have a plan! Once students know what’s expected, students should also be aware of what will happen if expectations are not met.
If you haven’t read the “First Days of School” by Harry Wong, you must get this!! This will help you create your procedures and show you how to teach your students to follow them.
Make Sure Consequences are Clearly Laid Out
If you students know your expectations, they should also know what to expect when they don’t meet them. Be sure to have consequences laid out – positive and negative!
For example, here are some consequences for those that do not follow expectations:
- 1st step – warning
- 2nd step – silent lunch (potential parent contact)
- 3rd step – write a behavior reflection and phone call home
- 4th step – referral
Be sure to bring in the positive as well! Students will naturally receive positive consequences by doing what they are supposed to do. For example, their grades will be likely higher, they’ll enjoy time with their friends instead of sitting at silent lunch, and things will just be smoother for them.
You can also give out positive rewards for just being awesome. You can give out individual awards such as stamps to purchase items from a positive behavior cart. You can also do classroom rewards if they meet a behavior goal as a class.
I love some of these ideas by Teach Create Motivate!

Follow Through
Once you have your procedures, routines, and consequences in order, now it’s time to follow through. DO NOT SAY SOMETHING THAT YOU DO NOT MEAN.
For example, let’s say you are walking your class to lunch. You tell the class as a whole, “this is your warning, if you talk, you will have silent lunch”. Then, a student who normally doesn’t get in trouble decides to say something to a friend. Don’t back down. You must follow through. That student now has silent lunch.
If students know the expectations, make sure they meet them, and follow through with your consequences (remember, both positive and negative). If you say something, and do another, they will lose respect, and not listen.
It can be hard at first, but it will make your life easier in the long run.
Don’t Match Student Negative Energy
Although students may know your expectations and are aware of the consequences, there may be times that they get upset and continue bad behavior because they are upset about the consequence, whether it be an eye roll or saying some choice words.
Do not match their negative energy. What do I mean? If they start yelling, don’t yell back at them. If they roll their eyes at you, don’t say something “smart” back.
Simply let them know that it is not tolerated. Calmly tell them that they are moving to the next consequence due to their reaction. Follow school procedures if they get out of hand.
Whatever you do, do not match their negative energy. This can make things way worse.
Create Engaging and Effective Lessons and Assignments
Once the basic stuff is under control, your teaching material is also very important! Yes, students should pay attention and try to learn no matter what you do, but always put yourself in their shoes. Do you want to sit and write for an hour? I do tell them that, sometimes, there will be “boring stuff” that they have to do. There will be tests. There will be writing assignments. There will be reading. It’s part of learning!
However, there are times, especially in science, when there is a lot of fun happening!
Make sure your lessons are engaging and effective!
I’m all about engaging students and bringing the WOW Factor to the classroom!
For teaching, interactive lessons are GREAT! They use the 7 steps to help students retain material. If students understand the material, they are more engaged, and ultimately, this leads to better classroom management and a positive culture in your classroom.
All of these interactive lessons and engaging teaching strategies can be found inside of the Bright in the Middle Membership!

Create a Learning Culture
Along with engaging lessons and assignments, work to create a learning culture in your classroom. This means that students should strive to actually learn in your classroom instead of just trying to get a good grade.
This is always my comeback for the never-ending question, “Does this count for a grade?”.
Explain to your students that, yes, grades are important because they show what you learn, but learning is the most important goal!
Here’s what to do:
- Shift the focus to learning. Try not to completely focus on grades. Focus on the feedback and the progress your students are making.
- Use more formative assessments instead of summative. Don’t grade everything! Simply give feedback on their learning and don’t record it in their gradebook. You don’t even have to take it up.
- Incorporate self-reflection. After an assignment, let students grade their own papers. Have them to reflect on their progress.
- Make sure the grades in the gradebook reflect their learning, not their participation.
- Share your learning and progress. This can help with their growth mindset. Let them know it’s ok to make mistakes. It’s part of the learning process.
Be Prepared
This is simple. Be prepared for class. Make sure you know what you are doing and have materials ready.
I’m not saying this is a simple task, but a simple concept. Being prepared can be a lot for a science teacher, I know! Especially on lab days.
Luckily, we live in a time where there things such as TPT and memberships! It’s easier to get a lesson together, but it does take time to prepare. You have to make sure you know what you’re talking about, make copies, prepare materials, etc.
It’s hard sometimes, but just try your best! Will plans change? Absolutely. Be prepared to wing it!
Build Relationships
Here is a classroom management you may hear all of the time, and it’s a good one. Take time to build relationships and get to know your students.
This does not have to be complicated. Greet students by their name when they walk into your classroom, ask them about their interests and what they like to do, celebrate them, and just get to know them.
The more time you invest in connecting with your students, the better your classroom community will be.
Not only will building relationships with your students help your classroom community but helping them build relationships with each other will also help!
Helpful Classroom Management Books
First Days of School (I must include this again!)
The Classroom Management Secret
I also want to leave you with some classroom management quotes for inspiration!
- “One who smiles rather than rages is always the stronger” – Proverb
- “Success is a journey, not a destination.” – Arthur Asher
- “Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending”. – Anonymous
- “Students do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.” – John C. Maxwell
- “The most successful classes are those where the teacher has a clear idea of what is expected from the students and the students know what the teacher expects from them.” – Harry Wong
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