Simplicity in Classroom Management

Moving Toward Simplicity

Over the years, I’ve tried many different classroom management strategies. I’ve used “Mystery Person,” class vs. teacher games, and a handful of other tricks to keep motivation high. Some of them worked for a season, others fizzled out.

But as the years have passed, I’ve found myself leaning toward simplicity. Instead of layering on more systems and competitions, I want my learners to grow from a foundation that is clear, consistent, and meaningful.

Many of the routines I use today are not mine alone—they are ideas I’ve learned from other brave educators who share their practice. By trying, adapting, and making them our own, my students and I have found rhythms that help us feel safe, connected, and ready to learn.

For us, that begins with our class promise. For more information about how we co-create this, see my last post: Creating Community Through Class Names and Promises Each morning we recite it together, and it sets the tone for how we will treat one another and approach learning:

Today and every day,
We promise to…
Show kind hearts,
Make safe choices,
Grow strong minds,
Be joyful,
And never give up!

Can we do it?
Yes we can!

The expectation is simple: we all work together to keep this promise.

Three Simple Routines That Anchor Our Day

Alongside our promise, I’ve added three small but powerful routines that help us connect, regulate, and reflect.

1. Morning Question during Registration
As we settle in for the day, each student responds to a morning question. It could be something light—“What’s your favorite fruit?”—or something more reflective—“What makes a good friend?” Everyone answers in a complete sentence, giving us daily practice in speaking and listening. To support learners, I display sentence starters as scaffolds.

This routine not only builds community and confidence, it also ensures every voice is heard first thing in the morning. Here’s my template of morning questions if you’d like to try this routine with your class. If you are looking for another perspective on how this might work in your class, another fantastic resource comes from Betsy, who share ideas from her ELA classroom on her site: Now Spark Creativity.

2. A Mindful Minute after Recess
Every day after recess, we pause for one mindful minute. Together, we practice calming breathing techniques. Without regular practice, we wouldn’t know how to use these tools when we truly need them—during moments of frustration, conflict, or stress. By weaving mindfulness into our daily rhythm, learners gradually build resilience and self-regulation.

3. Reflective End-of-Day Questions
At the close of the day, we reflect together using a practice I learned from educator and author Pernille Ripp. Here is a link to her post. She offers simple reflective questions that remind us:

• We can always grow and change.
• We don’t have to be perfect.
• We care about one another.
• Tomorrow is another chance.

Ending the day this way shifts the focus from perfection to progress and community.

Why It Matters

Classroom management doesn’t need to be complicated. For me, it’s no longer about systems or rewards—it’s about anchoring our days with routines that build trust, language, regulation, and reflection.

When students know that we begin with a question, anchor ourselves with a promise, pause with mindfulness, and close with reflection, they feel both safe and seen. These small daily rhythms help us remember that learning is a journey—and that we are always growing together.

Call To Action

🌱 Many of the routines I use today—our morning questions, mindful minutes, and end-of-day reflections—come from the generosity of other brave educators who shared their practice. I’m so grateful for their inspiration.

👉 What small routines shape your classroom community? Share them in the comments or tag me—I’d love to keep learning alongside you.