10 Classroom Management Tips for School Librarians

As librarians, we often find ourselves in professional development sessions on classroom management or flipping through books, thinking, “This isn’t for me!” We interact with students in a completely unique way. The strategies that work for classroom teachers don’t always translate to our setting. That’s why I’ve put together some classroom management tips tailored specifically for librarians. We know the library environment calls for a different approach!

What’s great is that these tips work whether you see students regularly or occasionally. No matter how big your library is or how limited your resources might be, you can easily adapt these strategies to fit your needs!

Why Classroom Management Tips Are Essential for School Librarians

Classroom management tips are essential for us school librarians! When we’ve got effective management strategies in place, our library transforms into a calm, inviting space. This encourages our students to explore, ask questions, and dive into learning. Without these tips, things can quickly spiral into chaos, making providing that peaceful haven we all envision difficult.

There’s more to it than just keeping the peace. Classroom management tips help us build a sense of community within the library. When our students know the routines, they feel like they belong. They’re more likely to treat the space and each other with respect. Plus, these strategies give us the confidence to handle groups of any size, whether a small class or a full-on library event, without feeling overwhelmed.

Good classroom management also means we can proactively prevent issues before they start. When our students understand the library’s expectations, misunderstandings or disruptions are less likely. It’s not just about keeping order. It’s about creating an environment where our students can engage with books, technology, and each other meaningfully. Ultimately, these tips free up more of our time and energy so we can focus on what we really love, which is helping our students discover a passion for reading and learning!

10 Classroom Management Tips For School Librarians

I’ve gathered up 10 of my favorite classroom management tips that work wonders in the library setting. Whether you’re looking to fine-tune your current approach or try something completely new, these tips are flexible enough to adapt to any library space. These ideas are all about making your library a positive and productive place for every student who walks through the door.

1. Mystery Student

I absolutely love this technique because it’s super simple. No elaborate setup or long explanation is needed! All you have to do is casually mention, “I have a mystery student. Do you know who it is? This person is quietly reading their book.” Just like that, you’ll see the magic happen as your students start mirroring that desired behavior, hoping they’re the mystery student!

At the end of the session, you can reveal who the mystery student was. To make it extra fun, you might give the student a small prize or let the whole class give them a big clap or cheer.

For even more excitement, I sometimes like to recognize a few students who were on task by putting their names into a random name generator. I’ll say something like “Ella might be the mystery student” as I add her name. It’s a great way to bring attention to positive behaviors. Before class ends we let the generator do its thing and pick a “winner.” Watching the anticipation build as the generator spins is a blast! It’s a quick, engaging way to keep our students motivated and on track without any fuss. A simple bookmark or the right to be the line leader is a great reward that students love.

2. Stay Consistent

When students don’t see us every day, like they do their classroom teacher, keeping routines and expectations consistent can feel like a bit of a juggling act. They might forget what’s expected. They might just see how far they can push those boundaries!

If they’re not sticking to the library expectations, jumping in and correcting things right away is super important. The sooner we address it, the easier it is to get everyone back on track. Don’t hesitate to hit pause on whatever you’re doing and go over the routines again if you need to. Practicing them regularly helps the expectations stick and keeps our library running like a well-oiled machine. So, take a quick reset whenever you need. It’s a small investment that really pays off in the long run!

3. Use a Reward System

One of my most shared classroom management tips is to set up a reward system. Reward systems are a fantastic way to boost classroom management in the library because they work whether students see you regularly or just occasionally. You can tailor them to fit your library’s needs, using them for individual student goals or as a whole-class incentive. You can even use it for students who need extra encouragement.

I personally love using Digital Rewards for the School Library, which I’ve set up on Google Slides. Students earn digital stickers as they work toward specific goals. For instance, if I set a goal around keeping the library tidy, I can reward students who put books back in the right spots or clean up without being asked. When they show these helpful behaviors, I’ll add a sticker to their digital board. It’s easy to track the progress this way!

What’s great about these digital rewards is their flexibility. Each theme, like the Bookshelf, Gumball Machine, or Lemonade Jar, allows me to customize how and when my students earn rewards. It keeps things fresh and exciting! Plus, these themes align with different seasons or library events, adding a little extra fun to our routine. If a student really shines, I can let the whole class celebrate their progress. Sometimes, with a cheer or a prize drawn from a digital spinner! This system makes rewards simple to manage and super engaging for my students.

4. Behavior Think Sheets

In my experience, this classroom management tip is most effective after giving a few behavioral corrections. Think sheets are a wonderful tool because they allow our students to pause and reflect on their actions. This helps them understand the impact of their behavior on themselves and others. It’s also a great way for me to gain a little more insight into what might be going on beneath the surface.

I like to have a stack of think sheets ready to go, so they’re easy to grab when needed. I make sure they include prompts with fill-in-the-blank sections and some open space for writing. This gives students a structured way to think through what happened, why it happened, and how they could handle things differently next time. It’s a quick and effective way to encourage our students to take ownership of their actions while building a deeper understanding of their behavior.

5. Manage Library Check-Out

There’s nothing more chaotic than managing a line of students waiting to check out books. It’s one of those moments when strong classroom management tips really come in handy! With a long line, kiddos can get loud, restless, and even start misbehaving because it’s tough to keep an eye on everything at once.

To keep things under control, I’ve found that allowing only one table to check out at a time works wonders. Here’s how I handle it. When my students find a book they’re excited about, they head back to their seats to start reading or work on another task. Then, once I notice that everyone at a specific table is ready, I call that table up to check out their books. This approach prevents overcrowding and helps maintain a calm, orderly checkout process. It’s one of my favorite classroom management tips because it keeps the library peaceful and makes checkout a breeze!

6. Have a Special Spot in the Library

Another classroom management tip I love for school librarians is creating a special spot for students who consistently stay on task. It’s such a simple way to reward positive behavior. The best part is that I can recognize different students each week.

This special spot comes with some fun perks, like being the first to check out books, lining up first, or having access to comfy seats, fun pillows, or even special writing utensils. At the end of each class, I let the students in the special spot choose new students for the following week. They get to share why they picked that student, which makes the recognition extra meaningful and encourages everyone to stay on track. It’s a great way to celebrate good behavior and keep the library running smoothly!

7. Call and Response

Sometimes, it’s the simple tricks that work the best! This classroom management tip is an oldie but a goodie, which is the classic call and response. When you need students’ attention in a flash, these quick phrases work like magic! Just pick one or two that resonate with your group, teach them how it works, and stick with them consistently.

Some of my favorite examples are:

• I say, “Shark bait,” and they respond, “Hoo Ha Ha!”
• I’ll call out, “Readers are…,” and they’ll finish with, “Leaders!”
• Or, I’ll say, “1, 2, 3, all eyes on me,” and they’ll reply, “1, 2, eyes on you!”

Using call and response is a popular one out of all the classroom management tips out there. It’s a great way to redirect your kiddos’ focus without raising your voice. I love how it builds a sense of community, too. Our students feel like they’re part of a team. It also adds a little fun to the routine, which makes everyone more likely to listen up!

If you are eager to try it out, make sure to check out the Call and Response freebie in the Free Resource Library.

8. Punch Cards

This is another one of my classroom management tips that packs a punch. It’s perfect if you want an alternative to a points system or don’t have technology handy. Punch cards are a low-tech, high-impact way to keep our students motivated. Plus, they can be used for all sorts of goals!

Make sure to give each one of your students a punch card with a specific goal, like ten punches. Every time you catch them staying on task, showing kindness, or following library expectations, punch a slot on their card. Once they’ve filled all the slots, they earn a reward! I love that you can customize the goals to fit what works best for your library.

To keep things organized, you could store all the punch cards on a binder ring so they’re easy to grab. You can also have students keep them in a folder. This approach is super flexible and simple. Your kiddos get a real kick out of watching their punches add up. Plus, it’s a fun way to celebrate their achievements and keep them engaged in a hands-on way.

9. Ticket System

If you’re looking for a classroom management tip that’s super low maintenance, this reward system is perfect! All you need are a few large tickets and a pocket chart, and you’re good to go. At the start of class, pop one ticket into the chart. Add more tickets to the chart as you catch students staying on task and working hard.

By the end of class, the whole group gets a reward if they’ve earned five tickets! It can be something simple and fun, like five minutes of game time or an extra brain break. I love this system because it’s quick to set up, easy to track, and keeps students motivated throughout class. Plus, it’s a great way to build teamwork and keep everyone focused on earning a group reward.

10. Communicate with Other Teachers

Out of all the classroom management tips, this might just be the most valuable one for us librarians! Since our time with our students is limited, we don’t always have the flexibility to experiment with different techniques and tools as much as classroom teachers. If you’re facing challenges with a particular class or student, reaching out to their teacher can be a game-changer.

A quick chat with the teacher can give you insight into what strategies have already worked or what approaches might suit that student’s needs best. Teachers often have valuable tips on managing specific behaviors or creating connections with individual students. Collaborating like this helps you make the most of your time and ensures you’re building on techniques your students already know. It’s a simple step that can lead to big improvements in classroom management!

Additional Resources for School Librarians

We just skimmed the surface of classroom management tips for school librarians! Take some time to explore the resources below to learn even more tips on how to run a successful and welcoming library.

• Tips and Advice for a New School Librarian
• The Ultimate School Librarian Survival Kit
• The 10 Best Professional Development Books for Librarians

Make Library Time a Breeze with These Classroom Management Tips

I hope these classroom management tips have given you some fresh ideas to make your library an inviting and well-organized space. Even small adjustments can have a big impact on how smoothly things run. Whether you’re using punch cards, call and response, or teaming up with classroom teachers, these strategies can help you create an environment where all your students thrive. So, try out a few of these tips and see what works best for you and your students.

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