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Classroom Management Advice from 27-year Veteran Teacher Melissa Antinoff

beginning elementary teachers classroom management new elementary teachers your first classroom

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Show Notes:

Every experienced teacher remembers their first year. There was the exhaustion, the second-guessing, and the feeling that classroom management was something everyone else understood except you. For teachers just starting in the profession, learning from experienced educators can become one of their most valuable resources.

Melissa, a career educator and the creator behind “The Well-Seasoned Teacher", shares practical advice for modern classrooms on social media and is known for her direct and realistic approach to classroom management. With over 27 years of experience, Melissa joins the episode to share her best classroom management advice for beginning teachers, along with practical strategies for navigating today’s classrooms.

Melissa acknowledges that a lot has changed since she first began teaching, but several foundational principles remain the same: establishing clear boundaries, maintaining consistent consequences, and creating a safe and supportive classroom environment. She explains how these elements contribute to a well-managed classroom and a strong classroom community. Melissa also discusses some of the biggest challenges teachers face today, including the growing gap in students’ non-academic skills and how teachers can intentionally support those needs.

The advice of experienced teachers isn’t valuable because they have perfect classrooms; it’s valuable because they’ve faced the same challenges, made the same mistakes, and discovered strategies that truly work over time. Their perspective helps teachers focus on what matters most: consistency, clear expectations, and the patience to continually refine your approach.

Like me, Melissa is passionate about helping beginning teachers find success in the profession. Through the advice and wisdom she shares, teachers everywhere will have the opportunity to learn, grow, and feel more confident in their role as educators.

Inside this week's show, you'll learn:

Practical classroom management advice for beginning teachers.
The biggest challenges teachers face in today’s classrooms and how they impact classroom management.
The non-academic skills many students are lacking and ways teachers can help develop those skills in the classroom.
Why giving consequences to students actually supports their growth and helps build accountability and responsibility.

Links & resources mentioned inside this episode:

Meet Melissa:

Melissa Antinoff is a career educator and the creator behind “The Well-Seasoned Teacher,” where she shares practical advice for modern classrooms on social media. The 2019 Burlington County, NJ Teacher of the Year and a 2020 Bonnie Campbell Hill National Literacy Leader, Melissa has spent almost three decades helping students transition from non-readers to avid book lovers. Her expertise is featured in the last four editions of Jim Trelease’s Read-Aloud Handbook.

Known for her direct and realistic approach to classroom management, Melissa emphasizes clear boundaries, consistent consequences, and the importance of creating a safe environment where students know exactly what to expect. Currently, she teaches gifted and talented students in grades 2–8, using project-based learning to keep her learners challenged and engaged.

Connect with Melissa:

I hope this information is helpful as you prepare for your first, second, or third year of teaching. Until next time, remember, just because you're a beginning elementary teacher, there's no need for you to struggle like one.

💛 Lori

Dr. Lori Friesen | Beginning Teacher Mentor

Creator of the R.E.A.D.Y. for School Academy and The Classroom Management Club, Dr. Lori Friesen has mentored thousands of beginning teachers across the country through her workshops and courses. Host of the popular podcast Beginning Teacher Talk and author of Dear New Teacher, Here's Exactly What to Do, Dr. Lori is dedicated to serving educators and inspiring learners. Learn more at drlorifriesen.com.

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