The ultimate classroom management checklist will help you create a class climate that gets the best learning results. The tone and expectations you set now, will determine success for the rest of the school year.

If you’re still reading, let’s look into all those classroom management areas that need to be addressed during back to school.

So here’s the ultimate back to school classroom management checklist. It’s organized into three areas:

Routines and Procedures Expectations Whole-class Intervention Plans

Classroom Management Checklist Part 1

Routines and Procedures for Students

Routines and procedures can turn your classroom into a well-oiled machine. What routines and procedures will students use to:

Sharpen pencils

Get a pencil

Get paper

Get journals or notebooks

Get tablets or computers

Recharge class tablets or computers

Shutdown class tablets or computers

Recharge personal devices

Store or use personal devices

Have snacks

Stay hydrated

Stretch and stay awake

Take care of personal needs like tissue or restroom

Get new materials

Organize personal materials

Use classroom materials

Ask a question

Talk to a friend

Take a mental break (or not)

Pass a note (or not)

Move around the room

Turn in work

Organize work

Organize academic journals and notebooks

Find work after an absence

Redo an assignment

Sign up for tutorials

Ask for help from the teacher

Ask for help from peers

Classroom Management Checklist Part 2

What are your Expectations for Students?

How do you expect the class to operate when students are there? Take a moment to close your eyes and visualize what you want your class to look, sound, and feel like.

…I’m waiting, and you’re not rolling your eyes, are you? Really, visualize it.

Okay, what did you see and hear? Your vision of the classroom will make or break your expectations for the students.

Let’s continue the ultimate back to school classroom management checklist…

…to make sure we cover all the most critical expectations.

How do you expect students to…

Participate when you talk to the class.

Participate when they talk in pairs.

Participate when they talk in small groups.

Use structured conversations and sentence stems.

Use anchor charts during class discussion.

Respond when you assert your dominance in the room.

Respond when another student is disruptive.

Respond when you offer corrective feedback.

Respond when they feel stressed, overwhelmed, or angry.

Follow posted rules.

Follow verbal directions.

A whole other article, even website, could be devoted to classroom management expectations. As a matter of fact, here’s a good one from Edutopia.

Your vision in the classroom will make or break your expectations for students. Click To Tweet

Classroom management is the single variable that has the largest impact on student learning. Students cannot learn at their optimum levels in chaotic and unstructured environments.

Clearly defined expectations are the foundation of effective classroom management. They provide the appropriate structure for optimum student learning. But the act of defining expectations is not enough. They must be clearly communicated.

Let’s flip the coin and continue the back to school classroom management checklist by asking…

What are your Students’ Expectations for You?

This is an unspoken part of classroom management that “naturals” do without realizing it. Let’s realize it, and do it.

How will you ask students to…

Tell you they’re learning preferences.

Tell you their triggers – those points that push them in negative ways.

Tell you their interests, so they can be tied to learning.

Tell you when they feel mistreated or feel injustice.

Present their complaints in an appropriate and non-disruptive way.

Seek help from peers before they interrupt your small group.

Students can not learn at optimum levels in chaotic and unstructured environments. This list shows how to scaffold fairness, cooperation, and self-regulation. Click To Tweet

How will you show cooperativeness by…

Involving students in adding a class rule or two to your list.

Involving students in developing the progression of consequences.

Giving students a voice in certain areas.

How will you show fairness by…

Enforcing rules and procedures for all students.

Maintaining a no-embarrassment policy.

Ensuring a risk-free environment for participation.

Ensuring picking and taunting is not allowed.

Maintaining control of the class.

Modeling respect, even when you’re stressed or upset.

Modeling professionalism, even when students don’t.

Authority + cooperative + fair = good classroom manager. Click To Tweet

Classroom Management Checklist Part 3

Whole-Class Intervention Plan

We normally think of intervention as individualized. But the best teachers know classroom management is about intervention. It is about preventing disruptions and distractions.

Let’s continue the classroom management checklist with…

Strategies for Whole-Class Intervention:

3-5 positively stated expectations

Positive consequences posted

Negative consequences posted

Reward systems Group rewards and incentives Individual rewards and incentives Point systems or token economies

Recognition systems How will individuals be affirmed for positive behaviors? How will groups be recognized for teamwork and good citizenship?



How will you gather data? The classroom management checklist continues…

Will you use a clipboard to note severe class disruptions?

Will you use a digital resource like Class Dojo?

Will you have a communication log (on paper or a Google form)?

What basic form will you use when individual misbehavior persists?

What variety of tools and coping techniques will you have ready for students with severe needs?