Free teacher resource
A classroom management plan is your written game plan for how your classroom runs: what you expect from students, how daily routines work, how you recognize good behavior and what you do when things go off track. This free, printable template walks you through each piece so you can build a plan that fits your grade level and your students.
4 printable pages · Free to copy for classroom use · No sign-up required
What’s inside the template
- Classroom expectations: space for 3–5 positively stated expectations and what each looks like during instruction, group work and transitions
- Routines and procedures: step-by-step routines for entering the room, getting your attention, asking for help, transitions, materials, restroom use, finishing early and dismissal
- Teaching the plan: what you will teach and practice on day one, in the first two weeks and after breaks
- Recognizing expected behavior: specific praise, class-wide recognition and individual acknowledgment
- Responding to misbehavior: a six-step continuum from nonverbal cues to family contact, plus a list of classroom-managed vs. office-managed behaviors
- Families and follow-up: how you share good news, when you contact families and which students may need more support
How to fill out your classroom management plan
1. Start with 3–5 expectations
Keep expectations short, positive and easy to remember, such as “Be respectful, be responsible, be ready.” If your school uses PBIS, use the same school-wide expectations so students hear one consistent message. Then define what each expectation looks like in your classroom. “Be responsible” during independent work might mean starting right away and using your resources before asking for help.
2. Write out your routines
Most behavior problems happen when students are unsure what to do. Writing the exact steps for each routine, along with the signal you use, makes it easier to teach and easier for a substitute to follow.
3. Plan how you will teach it
Teach expectations and routines the same way you teach academic content: explain, model, have students practice and give feedback. Plan to re-teach after long breaks, testing weeks or any time a routine starts slipping.
4. Plan for more positive than corrective feedback
A common guideline is to aim for at least four positive interactions for every correction. Specific praise works best because it tells students exactly what they did well: “You lined up quietly and kept your hands to yourself. Thank you.”
5. Decide your responses ahead of time
When a student is off task, start with the least intrusive response, such as proximity or a quiet reminder, and only move to the next step if needed. Deciding this in advance helps you stay calm and consistent, and it keeps small problems small.
Tips for making your plan work
- Post your expectations where students can see them and refer to them often.
- Share the plan with families at the start of the year.
- Review your plan after the first month and adjust routines that are not working.
- Use data. If one routine or time of day keeps causing problems, change the routine before adding consequences.
- If a student needs more support than the class-wide plan provides, try a private behavior chart and tracker and talk with your campus team.
Learn more about classroom behavior
Want to go deeper? Our self-paced course Classroom Behavior Strategies for K–5 Teachers covers proactive classroom management, specific praise, re-teaching routines and simple individual supports, and you earn CE hours with an instant certificate.