What to Do When Kids Ignore You in Your Elementary Classroom

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Show Notes:

You’re mid-sentence, explaining the day’s activity, when you realize half the class is chatting, staring into space, or coloring on their paper. Sound familiar? Every teacher has faced that moment when it feels like no one is listening. But instead of raising your voice or losing your cool, what if you had a toolkit of creative strategies to quickly grab their attention…and keep it?

If you're a beginning teacher dealing with students who constantly ignore you, here are two things you need to know: you're not alone, and it doesn't mean you're a bad teacher. Need some good news? It doesn’t have to stay this way! In today’s episode, I’m sharing why students might not be listening and giving you a clear, 5-step action plan to help your students follow directions without having to repeat yourself over and over again.

When kids ignore you, it can mean many different things, most of which aren’t about being outright defiant. More often, it comes down to students not yet understanding what respectful listening looks like or that listening is a learned skill. That’s why it’s so important to teach it explicitly. I’ll walk you through five simple steps to set the standard, calmly reinforce your expectations, and implement natural, consistent consequences.

Yes, being ignored in the classroom can feel frustrating and even disheartening, but it’s also a powerful sign that it’s time for a shift. Whether it means adjusting your tone, using new attention-getters, refining your classroom routines, or modeling the behaviors you expect, the key is to stay calm, consistent, and proactive. By the end of this episode, you’ll have practical, effective tools to re-engage even your most distracted students and set your entire class up for success.

If students consistently ignore you or don’t listen when given directions, be sure to join the Classroom Management Club. Inside the club, you'll receive one-on-one support to help troubleshoot challenges in your classroom and walk away with practical strategies you can implement immediately. If you’re ready to give a direction once and have students follow through right away, join the waitlist today!

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

• Reasons why students may ignore you, most of which have nothing to do with you or your teaching.
• Why listening is a skill that needs to be explicitly taught.
• A 5-step action plan for what to do when your students aren’t listening.
• The importance of staying calm and consistent, and how to give logical, natural consequences for disruptive behavior.
• Why it’s not too late to regain control of your classroom, and how to reset your expectations with students.
• How the Classroom Management Club can help you troubleshoot classroom management challenges, especially when it comes to getting students to listen.

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:

• Natural Consequences: What Do You Do When Kids Don’t Listen?
• Classroom Management Hack: Make-10 Attention-Getter
• The Best Classroom Management Technique Ever: How to Get Your Entire Class’s Attention Instantly

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