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Classroom management didn’t come naturally to me. For the first few years, I honestly thought I was struggling! But I’ve since realized it’s all about finding your groove, building relationships, and owning your teaching style. You might have seen my stories (I’m @BusinessTeachDenise on Instagram) where I have students doing awesome, hands-on projects and creating impressive work. But I promise you, I don’t get 100% perfection from every student. The reality is, I strive for full participation, and we get close, but the secret lies in how I structure and manage the classroom.
So, here are my eight tried-and-true classroom management strategies:
This is always #1! Creating a space where students feel connected and respected really paves the way for everything else. I make it a mission to know what my students are involved in, check out their sporting events, ask about their jobs… you name it! At the beginning of the year, I use all kinds of little activities to get them talking (and I share about myself too!). Rita Pearson said it best: “Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like.” So, while being liked isn’t my first priority, building trust definitely is.
Project-based learning (PBL) is my jam. That means lots of scissors, glue, tape, and markers. Sounds fun, right? It is… until someone starts swinging scissors around or building a tape fortress. Even my admin is guilty of getting fidgety with supplies if I leave them out! So now, after every period, I collect everything—even if the next class will use it. I’ve also had to remove room decorations that turned into toy targets. Bottom line: the less distractions, the better.
Not all classrooms are designed equally, so make your space fit your needs. I was super fortunate to have two rooms: a “traditional” classroom, and a makerspace with zones for collaboration, supplies, and work retrieval. This setup helps me keep students organized and on task, but you don’t need two rooms—you just need to personalize however much space you have.
If I want something accomplished by the end of the period, I say it, write it, and repeat it. Seriously, even things I think are obvious! I use the “rule of three”—no more than three goals at a time—and reinforce them constantly. Specificity is key, especially these days.
Whatever your rules are, stick to them. If you bend them for one student, everyone notices, and suddenly they’re not really rules anymore! Apply them kindly, but hold your ground. There are always consequences, but I make sure they’re fair and consistent.
I’m a planner gal—can’t lie, I love my Happy Planner and leather journal. Keeping scope and sequence taped in my planner, prepping sticky notes for subs, and printing out digital resources helps me (and everyone else) know what’s coming next. Organization lets you focus on teaching.
This one’s huge, especially for high school. Whether it’s student-led instruction (see my demonstration of student led instruction), “grading over the shoulder,” or just letting them help around the room, the more I outsource responsibility, the more respectful, engaged, and focused my class becomes. It’s magic!
So, there you have it—my recipe for a classroom that hums along (most of the time!). No one is perfect (least of all me!), but intentional relationships, clear routines, and genuine trust build the foundation for learning—and for sanity.
If you want more tips or a peek behind the scenes, find me on Instagram and Facebook. And remember, you’re not alone. We’re all learning and adapting, together!
Thanks for reading, and keep up the amazing work in your business classrooms!
To learn more, listen to Episode 14 – 8 Classroom Management Tips for Business Teachers podcast. You can stream my podcast straight from my website. My podcast is also available on all the major stream platforms including Apple Podcast and Spotify.
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