Help minimize distractions and chaos by ensuring that the classroom arrangement encourages learning. Marilou Hyson, associate executive director for professional development at the National Association for the Education of Young Children, suggests that classroom organization helps to set student expectations for the learning experiences to occur. If you seat the children at cooperative tables, pay attention to the mixture of student personalities located at each table. Make sure all student supplies and resources are accessible and easy to locate.
Make young students aware of your expectations and the potential rewards and consequences for following or failing to follow the class rules. Given the ages of preschoolers, avoid lengthy or complicated rules that might prove difficult to follow. Be consistent when enforcing rules. Howard Miller, associate professor of education at Lincoln University, recommends always disciplining children privately. Avoid calling them out publicly or drawing classmates' attention to their misbehavior.
Create a consistent schedule of the day’s activities so children know when and where you expect them to be at any given time. Ellen Booth, a former early childhood professor and current educational consultant, suggests that regular morning rituals and routines build self-confidence and can help students understand expectations. Preschool-aged children thrive on routine, which makes a schedule the key to avoiding meltdowns. Transitions throughout the day, such as from free play or recess back to learning time, are easier on children when they occur on a regular basis.
Give children a sense of classroom ownership and encourage responsibility by assigning them “jobs” within the classroom. Young students find walking in a line challenging so assign a “line leader” and “caboose” to help keep the line on track. A “snack leader” can help distribute snacks while the “attendance monitor” helps make sure everybody logs their attendance each morning.
Enlist parents' cooperation in ensuring that their child gets the most out of their time in the preschool classroom. Turn them into allies by communicating with them regularly and making them aware of their child’s successes and struggles. Miller suggests teachers use the word “concerned” when calling about behavioral issues and then clearly and concisely identify any problems.