Creating a Kindergarten Behavior Management Plan

As teachers, we know the importance of effective classroom management. We set up routines and procedures that make the daily routine run more smoothly. It’s just as important to set up a plan for behavior management. This will help you encourage positive behavior in your classroom all year long. In this post, I’m sharing tips for creating an effective kindergarten behavior management plan.

The Importance of Kindergarten Behavior Management

There are many reasons why it’s so important to make a plan for how you will manage behavior in your classroom. Here are just a few:

• Safety: First and foremost, the classroom needs to be a safe place for your students. Effective behavior management can ensure that your students are physically and emotionally safe within your classroom.
• Learning: Behavior management improves the learning experience for your students. They will be better able to focus on your instruction when behaviors are under control. Plus, you can be a more effective teacher when you don’t have to stop what you’re doing to address behaviors mid-lesson.
• Community: A classroom with effective behavior management is a place where students feel welcome and supported. It’s easier to build a sense of community in a classroom where the students treat each other respectfully.

I could go on and on about the importance of kindergarten behavior management! Instead, let’s dive into the specifics of creating a behavior management system that you can implement successfully.

Creating a Kindergarten Behavior Management Plan

1. Keep It Simple

First and foremost, your behavior management plan needs to be simple. Young kindergarten students thrive on consistency, so it’s important that you can be consistent with your behavior management. The key to consistency is simplicity! 

There are very few components to a behavior management plan. In fact, it really boils down to answering two questions:

• How will I decrease undesired behaviors?
• How will I increase positive behaviors?

Anything you add to your behavior management plan should address one of those two questions. You also don’t need to answer each question in five different ways. Keep it simple!

2. Keep It Positive

Even though your plan should address undesired behaviors, it should do so in a positive way. The most effective behavior management systems encourage students to make positive behavior choices instead of simply punishing students for undesired behavior.

3. Incorporate a Positive Reward System

My favorite way to encourage positive behavior and work toward extinguishing undesired behavior is with a whole-class positive reward system. It’s important that the reward system is specific and focuses on one behavior at a time. When students aren’t clear about the behavior that will earn a reward, it becomes frustrating for them and they are less likely to buy into the system.

For example, do you have students in your classroom who can’t seem to stop talking? Your reward system could focus on having Level 0 voices in the hallway. The expectation is clear, simple, and attainable. This helps students know exactly what’s expected of them and they are more likely to demonstrate the desired behavior.

Once students successfully meet the behavior expectation, you can celebrate with a reward. Again, this doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, a simple reward helps to keep students motivated, since you can easily give them the reward shortly after they earn it. If students have to wait until Friday afternoon for the fancy reward they earned on Tuesday, it will be much less effective.

4. Supplement with Individual Rewards

You will likely have students who need a bit more support with behavior than a whole-class reward system can provide. Your behavior management plan should include an individual reward system that you can use for these students.

Whether it’s a sticker card or a token board, the reward system should still focus on one specific behavior expectation at a time. It should also be clear to the student what reward they are working toward by filling in their sticker card or token board.

5. Provide Visual Support 

The final thing that you can consider when setting up a behavior management plan is how you will remind students of the behavior expectations. A few visual supports can go a long way in improving behavior in your classroom!

For example, you could have the carpet time expectations displayed on a bulletin board near your carpet. When a student has a difficult time sitting appropriately at the carpet, you can quickly get their attention and point to the visual. This makes it much easier to address the behavior so you can move on with your instruction.

It’s also helpful to keep your whole-class reward systems on display in a prominent place. This can serve as a helpful reminder for your students. They can easily see the behavior goal they’re working toward, the fun reward they will be earning, and how close they are to achieving their goal. The visual is also a good reminder for you to consistently recognize your students’ progress toward the goal!

Kindergarten Behavior Blueprint Course

Creating a behavior management system for your classroom is one step of a larger blueprint for kindergarten behavior. I have created a workshop model course that walks you through three components of creating this behavior blueprint for your kindergarten classroom:

1. Building effective behavior systems
2. Building relationships with your students and their families
3. Encouraging students to build their independence

The course includes practical tips and strategies that will help your kindergarten classroom run more smoothly. This course also includes the print-and-use resources you’ll need to implement those strategies right away. 

Just fill out your information below to join the waitlist for the Kindergarten Behavior Blueprint course. You’ll be notified as soon as it’s open for enrollment!

Save These Tips for Creating a Kindergarten Behavior Management Plan

Be sure to save this post so you can find it later! Just add the pin below to your favorite teaching board on Pinterest. You’ll be able to quickly find these tips when you’re ready to create a kindergarten behavior management plan.