I’m the strict young teacher

This is my 4th year teaching 5th grade and I’m 25F.. My first year I was the fun teacher, still learning classroom management, the curriculum etc. I worked on a team with 2 strict, organized, teachers and they taught me a lot.

Now, I’m at a completely different school with a male (science) teacher and a retired (math) teacher who I love dearly.

The kids hated me the first few weeks of school and the feeling was mutual because they were running all through the hallways, leaving the classroom without permission and just not following school rules and expectations. I got called a puta etc but I handled that.

I’m big on routine, organization, management (control, hehe) and most of all safety and respect. The kids ran the teacher off last year so they weren’t used to structure.

Each morning we start off quietly by eating breakfast and reading a book.

Other staff members always compliment me on how well behaved the students are in my room. With the demographics being 80% Hispanic ELL, and 15% black 5% white, last year the ELA scores were in the 25% range, now with me as their teacher, they are in the 50%-65% range.

We had our first field trip and I was worried about behavior I told them if they misbehaved they weren’t going anywhere else with me lol but they behaved so well! I was so proud of them.

I constantly review expectations especially before moving around the school, I use Dojo points, positive reinforcement, incentives, silent lunch, laps at recess, positive punishment (an additional assignment instead of free time)

I set high expectations for students and reward them constantly. If they score a 60+ on tests I let them play a game or something. (I monitor closely so there’s no cheating.)

I can honestly say, my students are ⭐️learning ⭐️safe ⭐️loved ⭐️enjoying reading! ⭐️behaving ⭐️being accountable ⭐️hugging me ⭐️begging to come to my class

Now I’m the fun strict teacher because they get to play Minecraft if they pass their test!

Believe it or not, kids love and need structure!

I hope this inspires someone somehow, someway.

Please DM me with any questions! If you’re struggling and need some encouragement, I’d love to chat!!!