5 Classroom Systems for Language Learners

Hey teachers! Before we get started I want to share with you an amazing free tool I have available to you. It is “The Ultimate Guide to a Successful School Year”. In this guide I walk you through how you can take those nervous jitters to have an undeniable confidence throughout the school year. All because you started with these basic steps in the guide. To download the guide go to www.myadventuresinesl.com/ultimateguide

Let’s start off this week’s blog with a reflection question. How effective were your classroom systems? Take a moment to reflect on this question. Think about your classroom’s systems and answer to yourself honestly where you stand. 

 A lot of times as teachers we can have too many systems. On the flip side we may struggle with not having enough effective classroom systems. 

This past school year (YES! I know!) I ran into not having effective classroom systems in place. A lot of the students were returning from not being in school in person for two years. I found that the systems that I had in place previously were no longer effective in my classroom. 

I found myself trying to force classroom systems that were not what the students were needing. This led to my classroom not running as effectively as I hoped that it would. The students were getting frustrated and so was I. I knew that something had to be done, but I was really hesitant to do it months after the school year started.

As I was reflecting on what was happening, I realized my students had not been in school since the 4th grade! This hit me hard and made me realize that I need to adjust my expectations and classroom systems. I brainstormed and came up with some essential classroom systems that my Language Learners need. 

 To begin, I wanted to give you a reminder of what is a classroom system. A classroom system is nothing more than a followed routine that supports you in running an effective classroom. Here are five classroom systems that your classroom needs. 

Entering the Classroom: Think about your Language Learners and how you want them to enter the classroom every day. Here is an example. Your Language Learners enter the classroom, pick up their notebook, and start on the work on the board. How your students enter the classroom sets the tone for the class that day. The goal is that you want your students to enter the classroom in a calm and confident manner each day. 

Turning in Assignments: Turning in assignments can be a process. You want to have a streamlined process for when your students submit their assignments. You can have students put their name and class number on the top of their paper and turn them into a specified area. In my class, I had them turn them in a numbered box. Having a process of turning in assignments will reduce lost papers, prevent you from having assignments all over the classroom, and will help you easily grade assignments. 

Bathroom Breaks: We can do a whole 1 hour episode on bathroom breaks. My advice is to keep this classroom system as simple as possible. I only allow bathroom breaks during independent work time. To help me facilitate this I have a visual for my Language Learners. A green sign that shows they can go and a red sign that signals that they can wait. Think about the age and maturity of your students when planning your bathroom break routine. I would also encourage you to include visual cues for your younger students and newcomers. 

Pencil Sharpeners: Sharpening pencils can cause a disruption to your class. Having a system for your Language Learners on how to access writing utensils is essential for an effective classroom. My key advice here is to keep it as simple as possible. In my class, I have a bin of sharpened pencils. When the students need to sharpen a pencil, they simply take a sharpened pencil. Personally, this is not a battle I want to fight with my students. I know there are times when I have forgotten a pencil/pen, and I have appreciated one being available to me. When you are planning your classroom system for pencil sharpening, think about something that you can stay consistent with the whole school year. 

Organizing Supplies: Depending on your class, you can have a lot of supplies. At the beginning of the year organize your supplies. This can look like having bins of the supplies at each table. You can also organize them on a bookshelf.  Organized supplies help keep your classroom neat. They also provide an ease of access throughout the school year. 

There are many classroom systems that you can use for your Language Learners. The five that I listed today are essential. 

Download the “The Ultimate Teacher Guide” that will help you have a successful school year. 

What is your favorite classroom system to use with your Language Learners? Share in the comments below.

Download the transcript to this episode here.