Classroom Management in the Art Room

Art Classroom Management?? What's that?

Let me give you the one word that has changed my life in the Art Room...PROCEDURES

I read a couple of books recommended to me-

Classroom Management for Art, Music, and PE Teachers, by Michael Linsin (a very quickread)

The First Days of School, by Henry Wong

And then I decided what I thought would be reasonable in my elementary art classroom. I would want them to walk in quietly and sit down at our carpet space to be ready to learn. I would like them to stay on-task during their table time. I would like them to clean up and then get quiet for instructions. I want them to line up for their classroom teacher without talking.

I have tried small rewards in the past, but this time, I drilled them on procedures for the first three days of Art. Once we started our art time in class, I began giving them a point for following each of these procedures. The first class to get to 35 gets a trophy to keep in their room and a free recess during art time. They love it. When those kids file into the room without talking, sitting quietly on the carpet, I think, "These kids are ready to learn," and I share the visuals and objectives with them as they look and listen. Clean up is the hardest procedure and I believe next year, we will practice it the longest.  I plan on developing more procedures as the years go on.

For Kindergarten, the delay of reward is too long, so they get stickers here and there for following procedures.

I forgot to tell you the procedures I use as I see them walking down the hall to my classroom. I tip back a shot of coffee, tighten my running shoes, and pray.

What procedures have you found to be effective in your classroom?