When Kids Test You in September: How to Reset Routines Without Starting Over

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Show Notes:

At the start of the school year, everything feels fresh. Students are eager, polite, and full of curiosity. It’s the honeymoon phase, when relationships are new and behavior is at its best. But as the weeks go on, that initial sparkle can begin to fade. Routines get tested, boundaries are pushed, and the excitement starts to wear off. This shift is completely normal, but how you respond to it makes all the difference.

For most teachers, this transition tends to happen in September, when reality starts to set in. But just because routines are slipping, procedures are lacking, and small behaviors are starting to creep in doesn’t mean this has to become your new classroom norm.

That’s why I’m launching a brand-new series called the September Survival Series. Over the next three episodes, you’ll get practical tools and strategies to help you navigate this first big month of school with confidence. In this first episode, I’m diving into how to reset your classroom routines without starting over. You’ll learn how to do it in a way that’s calm, consistent, and reinforces your authority.

It can be frustrating when students begin testing limits and pushing boundaries, but know this: it’s completely normal. What they’re really looking for is consistency. They want to know whether you’ll follow through on your expectations or let things slide. To help build on your consistency, I walk you through two simple, effective steps to reset your routines when things begin to slip. The key to making it work? Reteaching with calm, clarity, praise, and positivity.

Remember: taking time to reset your routines after the first month of school isn’t a sign of failure. It’s a crucial part of the learning process. Reflect on what’s working, pinpoint what’s not, and make small, intentional changes that support both your students and yourself. Whether it’s tightening transitions or revisiting expectations, a reset can breathe fresh energy into your classroom. Routines aren’t set in stone, they’re tools. And the best teachers know exactly when to sharpen them.

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

• A new September series on how to reset your routines, expectations, and classroom behaviors with confidence after the first month of school.
• The number one reason students push boundaries, and what they’re really looking for in you as their teacher.
• Two simple steps to reset your classroom routines, with real-life examples for different situations.
• Why a reset only works if you follow through consistently after reteaching.
• How your tone is your most powerful classroom management tool, and why it’s essential to stay calm, consistent, and positive.
• How the Classroom Management Club offers resources, strategies, and a collective community for resetting routines for better classroom management. 

Links & resources mentioned inside this episode: 

• Classroom Management Club Waitlist
• Beginning Teacher Talk on YouTube
• Grab a copy of my book, Dear New Teacher, Here's Exactly What to Do: Your 5-Step R.E.A.D.Y. for School Roadmap for Elementary Classrooms
• Lung Cancer Free: One Couple’s Journey Through a “Lungs in a Box” Double Lung Transplant.
• Enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card by leaving a review for Beginning Teacher Talk on Apple Podcasts!
• Follow Dr. Lori on Instagram
• Follow Dr. Lori on Facebook
• Follow Beginning Teacher Talk on TikTok

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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Related episodes you might enjoy:

• How to Create Your Classroom Management Plan: Materials, Routines, Rules & Class Jobs
• Your Classroom Management Re-Start
• Classroom Management Mastery Series Part Four: 7 Impulse Control Strategies That Work to Set Your Students Up For Success From the Start

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