Classroom Management: Creating The Perfect Classroom

Classroom management is of the utmost importance. Nobody, on earth, has a better classroom than I do. We call it The Boardroom. It is no less than triple the size of a regular classroom, with an elevated stage with a lectern and its own sound system. The stage is even ADA compliant—I mean it when I say it is perfect. 

It’s my retirement classroom. I won’t leave it until I leave teaching.

But…it’s the end of a long line of regular, boring, tiny, no windows at all classrooms that I’ve endured through the decades. And I was successful—and happy—in every single one. 

My point is, you can build the perfect classroom in any space you are given. It just takes some thought, some care, and maybe a little bit of money and grace by your administrators. 

Classroom Management: The Boardroom

My school opened in 2010, so everything in it is very new. Compare that to the mid-century comprehensive high school I taught at here in Las Vegas and the turn-of-the-19th century building I had in Livingston, New Jersey. 

There was beauty, joy and tremendous learning and growth in every building. Age doesn’t matter. 

The salient point here is that I was in love with every teaching space I ever had, and that truly is what makes the difference for you—and your students—in your classroom. Now I have skylights that I can change to match the weather, but that is no better lighting than the ambient lights I brought into the classroom that was three concrete walls away from fresh air.

It’s all about building your own Boardroom. 

Classroom Management: Working Spaces

No matter where you are teaching, as a business education professional, you need to create a good learning and working environment for your students. My classroom has always been run more like a company, and everything in it should reflect this belief in some way. We are teaching soft skills and professionalism, and you can’t teach that if it isn’t conveyed immediately on entering the room. 

Definitely Tables

We are nothing in business education if not collaborative. Whether we are teaching marketing, finance or management, we need to build strong relationships among the students. While I focus now on project-based learning, even before the advent of that method, I always had students working together, sharing their findings and discussing topics of the day with others. This is much more easily done with tables, rather than old-fashioned desks.

Desktops or laptops?

While I have both in The Boardroom—desktops and a laptop cart—I rarely have kids using the desktops. For most students in this post-Covid environment, they are most comfortable with their own devices. Further, using a laptop—mine or theirs—makes it easier for them to move around and be productive anywhere. That environment of free movement and working in your own space is definitely the wave of the future in the business world, so that it what we should be emulating. 

Printers with an “s”

My school outfits my room with the items I need to be successful. I have an adequate number of computers, and a printer for students. The single best use of my state grant money has been the purchase of a color printer for my students. Not only does it make their deliverables look more professional, it makes them feel more like professionals. Don’t forget to save money for extra ink, though.

Conference Space

Find an area—a corner, or the center, or near your desk—that you can use as a conference space for your students. I have two large, professional conference tables in my room, and the kids love working on them with their teams. Again, it’s about making the kids feel like the professionals we are trying to build. 

Being A Bit Extra

I’ve already told you The Boardroom is special, well, we also have a second conference section that we call “the living room” with couches and cocktail tables. The kids absolutely love to sit here, and it’s considered a privilege accorded only to seniors usually. The rule for the living room is that you must have all of your work submitted and maintain an “A” in class to work from that conference area. 

Classroom Management: What’s On The Walls?

Do you remember when I did five years in a middle school? The day I entered that classroom, the previous teacher had left posters on the wall. One of them was a picture of McDonald’s french fries, and the writing said “Get used to saying ‘Do you want fries with that?’”. That was the only future he allowed for his students. I didn’t just take it off the wall…I burned it with the rest of the crap he left in the room. 

Motivational posters

I have a rule for my classroom: No negative posters. Instead of saying “Don’t copy other students”, I would hang something about “Be proud of doing your own work”. That type of thing. I permit no negative messages to slap my students in the face every day. There is always a positive way to say what needs saying. 

Student work

My huge classroom has a wall of windows looking into the hallway, and those windows are covered with student work and student information. We hang the certificates my kids get to be IRS Tax Preparers, and projects they do about their own futures and make sure everyone can see them. We are that proud.

Evidence of organizations

One wall in The Boardroom belongs to FBLA, and another belongs to DECA. I know the value of these co-curricular organizations, and want to make sure that all of my kids have the information they need to get involved. 

What’s On The Front Board?

I’m guessing you’ve got requirements from your admin about what needs to be displayed at all times throughout the day. So, almost nothing on the whiteboards is, in my opinion, important to student growth and development. Do they deserve to know what day the test is? Sure, but it doesn’t further their self-confidence or capabilities.

Plans for the day/week

It is important that we show our students the respect of letting them know how their time is going to be spent. That’s how I frame all of the requirements on my board, as important notes for the employees to be successful. 

Important notes

Homecoming is the most important thing to my students right now, so, yes, I have a countdown to HoCo. It’s important that you reflect your students’ needs and important dates on your board—that’s how it will keep your attention.

Student notes

It never fails that if a teenager sees a dry erase marker, they want to use it. I have a small, dedicated space for students to draw a little picture or write a little note to everyone. It helps make the space “theirs”, too.

Don’t Forget Your Door And Entryway

Think of the hallway as a street, and your classroom is one store in the strip mall trying to get the driver’s attention. You start with good signage.

Your Name

I chastised my work-wife last year for her email signature. It was just her name. I convinced her to add her status of having an MBA and being Nationally Board Certified—it’s important information professionally, and should be shared. I feel the same way about my name. My placard gives my full name, not just “Mrs. Buono”, and some of my accomplishments. 

Your Subject

We are, in most schools and districts, classified electives, and are often minimized in importance. For this reason—and just because I’m so darned proud—I have my subjects on my entryway, as well. We want everyone to know that important, real, business stuff is going on behind these doors—and you should want to get in here! 

Leave Room For Wall Of Fame

I mean the kids stuff!! My wardrobes are magnetic, so I can display things there. I didn’t think twice about it until two years ago, when something happened to remind me that our kids have lives, too. 

I had a student ask if she could hang her Straight A’s certificate on the wardrobe. When I asked her if she wanted to take it home, she told me that since her mother died (we could stop right there and be moved), her step-father wasn’t really interested in anything going on with her, and her last certificate got put in the garbage. 

You just don’t know what happens to these kids outside of your room, and if you can display something that makes them smile and feel proud, please make room somewhere. 

Classroom Management: Don’t Neglect Your Own Space 

I’ve led you on a guided tour of The Boardroom, except for one spot: Megadesk. 

Obviously, in an oversized, huge room, I would have a built in desk the size of an airplane wing. Half of it is given to my student aides, who have a computer, printer and drawers they can call their own.

The back half, and the wall space…those are mine. And they are filled. I have pictures, cards, tchotchkes, reminders, gifts, notes, souvenirs, tons of small things in my space. 

They make me feel happy. They make me feel safe. They help me to remember fantastic times in my real and professional life. They feed my soul.

They make The Boardroom a Home.

I wish the same for you.

THANK YOU FOR READING THIS FAR!!!

Wow, thank you for reading about classroom management!

Hey, since you’re here! You may as well check out family engagement for students, here, and learn about DEI in CTSOs, here! Check out our other topics here! Either way, I appreciate you!

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