Below are 15 of the most reputable, up-to-date professional development courses for teachers who want to run calm, productive classrooms. Each option has been investigated so you can skip the guesswork and start learning.
For this list, “classroom management PD” means any structured learning experience—online, in person, or hybrid—that equips you to tighten routines, guide behavior, build relationships, and shape a learning environment where students participate and achieve without constant reminders.
Courses earned their spots by offering accredited hours or CEUs, grounding content in evidence-based frameworks, delivering ready-to-use strategies, and receiving consistently positive feedback from practicing educators across multiple grade bands.
Use the quick checklist below to spot the course that matches your schedule and budget at a glance today:
- Length (self-paced micro to multi-week intensive)
- Delivery mode (in-person, live online, asynchronous)
- Cost (free to tuition-based)
- Graduate credit or CEUs
- Bonus classroom resources included
- Ongoing robust peer or coach support
1. NEA Classroom Management: Building Positive Learning Environments
NEA’s self-paced modules offer union-vetted classroom management professional development that turns first-year jitters—or mid-year chaos—into calm, predictable learning.
Quick course snapshot
- Online, self-paced micro-course created by the National Education Association
- Designed for any K-12 teacher who needs fresh behavior strategies fast
Core topics & skills you’ll learn
- Setting norms and routines students actually follow
- Trauma-informed responses that preserve dignity
- Culturally responsive relationship building
- 5 Ps and 7 Rs frameworks highlighted in PAA results
Format, duration & credit
- About 5–6 total hours
- Completion certificate; many districts approve CEUs
Cost & enrollment
- Free for NEA members; non-members pay a modest fee during sign-up
Stand-out classroom takeaway
- Downloadable “First Two Weeks” checklist—exact steps for teaching procedures without losing instructional minutes.
2. Responsive Classroom One-Day Workshop Series
When you need a fast, high-impact reboot, the Responsive Classroom one-day workshop delivers. In only six hours, trainers model the very routines and language you’ll use the next morning, so the learning sticks even after the coffee wears off.
Quick course snapshot
- Live, highly interactive workshop offered in-person or via Zoom
- Best for elementary and middle school teams aiming to boost community and cut off-task chatter
Core topics & skills you’ll learn
- Morning Meeting structure for relationship-building
- Positive teacher language that redirects without shaming
- Logical consequences aligned to student choice
- Proactive routines for transitions and materials
Format, duration & credit
- Single 6-hour day; optional graduate credit through Brandman University
Cost & enrollment
- Per-participant fee with sliding group discounts; register online or request an on-site date
Stand-out classroom takeaway
- Ready-made “Interactive Modeling” script you can run during tomorrow’s first lesson.
3. PBS LearningMedia Classroom Management Essentials
PBS LearningMedia bundles bite-sized videos, articles, and reflection prompts into a free micro-credential that modern teachers can finish over coffee breaks.
Quick course snapshot
- Free, self-paced micro-series inside PBS TeacherLine; perfect for visual learners.
Core topics & skills you’ll learn
- Video modeling, digital citizenship, engagement hooks, culturally aware expectations.
Format, duration & credit
- Four modules, about two hours each; discussion board; completion badge.
Cost & enrollment
- 100% free—just create a PBS account and click “Enroll.”
Stand-out classroom takeaway
- Curated playlist that teaches rules visually so you talk less.
4. Safe & Civil Schools Classroom Management (CHAMPS) Online
Looking for a proactive, research-backed system rather than a bag of consequences? Safe & Civil Schools’ CHAMPS online course breaks behavior expectations down so simply that students—and substitutes—always know what success looks like.
Quick course snapshot
- Self-paced CHAMPS video series for any K-12 teacher.
Core topics & skills you’ll learn
- Teach expectations with the CHAMPS acronym
- Build positive ratios of interaction
- Create an “expectation matrix”
- Neutralize routine disruptions without power struggles
Format, duration & credit
- Eight on-demand videos + workbook you complete at your pace; eligible for most district CEUs.
Cost & enrollment
- Per-teacher license; volume discounts for campuses.
Stand-out classroom takeaway
- Printable Expectation Matrix you can post tomorrow.
5. BER Online PD: Classroom Management & Discipline for Difficult Students
If one student can hijack a lesson, this focused BER course has your back.
Quick course snapshot
- Self-paced course from the Bureau of Education & Research; built for teachers facing disruption or power struggles.
Core topics & skills you’ll learn
- De-escalation moves, restorative responses, root-cause analysis, consequence ladders, and parent conferences that stick.
Format, duration & credit
- 10 on-demand hours + reflection tasks; optional 0.5 graduate credit.
Cost & enrollment
- Mid-range fee; watch for seasonal coupon codes on the BER site.
Stand-out classroom takeaway
- Printable five-step de-escalation script you can deploy before tension peaks.
6. Alison Free Online Classroom Management Certificate
6. Alison Free Online Classroom Management Certificate
Quick course snapshot
- Free MOOC-style certificate from Alison—great for budget-conscious teachers who need fundamentals fast.
Core topics & skills you’ll learn
- Lesson planning that prevents downtime
- Motivational theory basics
- Clear communication and assertive language
- Student-centered environment design
Format, duration & credit
- Self-paced, 2–3 hours total
- Short quizzes unlock a digital certificate
Cost & enrollment
- Completely free; optional printed certificate under $30
- Sign up with email or Google in seconds
Stand-out classroom takeaway
- Printable “Motivation Menu” featuring 15 no-prep engagement boosters you can post by your desk tomorrow.
7. Teaching Channel’s Well-Managed Classroom Program
Teaching Channel’s Well-Managed Classroom Program wraps practical modeling and PD documentation into one subscription, offering classroom management professional development you can binge-watch and log simultaneously.
Quick course snapshot
- Subscription-based, on-demand video library with progress dashboard.
Core topics & skills you’ll learn
- 3 Cs: connection, consistency, compassion
- Real-classroom footage plus teacher voice-overs analyzing moves
Format, duration & credit
- Self-paced; you choose minutes watched
- Auto-generated certificates and district-ready PD reports
Cost & enrollment
- Individual monthly or discounted annual plans; site licenses for schools
Stand-out classroom takeaway
- Printable observation/reflection guide to turn any video into goal-oriented coaching data
8. Classroom Management for Elementary Teachers (PD Courses)
Quick course snapshot
Graduate-level, instructor-led online course grounded in Evertson & Emmer’s seminal research.
Core topics & skills you’ll learn
- Traffic-flow room design
- Rule–contract drafting with students
- Step-by-step routine instruction
- Behavior data logs that inform interventions
Format, duration & credit
Cohort-based 6–8 weeks; earns 3 graduate credits plus district CEUs.
Cost & enrollment
Per-credit tuition; requires course text; new sections open monthly.
Stand-out classroom takeaway
Drag-and-drop seating-chart template that syncs desk placement with behavior notes.
9. Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) Classroom Training
PBIS classroom training translates the school-wide PBIS framework into daily, teacher-level moves that prevent problem behavior and reinforce the positives you want to see.
Quick course snapshot
- Regional institutes run by state PBIS networks; ideal for teachers in schools already rolling out tiered supports.
Core topics & skills you’ll learn
- Crafting universal expectations
- Using minor/major referrals data
- Restorative responses that align with Tier 1–2 supports
Format, duration & credit
- Two consecutive in-person days plus virtual coaching sessions; CEUs frequently offered.
Cost & enrollment
- Often district-funded or grant-covered; check your state PBIS calendar to register seats.
Stand-out classroom takeaway
- Fill-in PBIS “Classroom Dashboard” for tracking expectation teaching, acknowledgments, and incident trends at a glance.
10. edX: Foundations of Classroom Management
If you’re after university-quality theory without tuition-level price tags, this edX MOOC fits the bill.
Quick course snapshot
- Open-enrollment course led by a research university; audit or certify at will.
Core topics & skills you’ll learn
- Motivation theories, cognitive load, classroom climate research, evidence-based reinforcement systems.
Format, duration & credit
- Six weeks, 2–3 hours per week; free audit, paid verified certificate.
Cost & enrollment
- Audit $0; certificate roughly $59—register with an edX account.
Stand-out classroom takeaway
- Downloadable infographic distilling ten landmark management theories into one color-coded page.
11. Coursera: Managing Behavior in the Inclusive Classroom
Quick course snapshot
- University of London specialization hosted on Coursera; built for general-ed and special-ed teachers committed to equity.
Core topics & skills you’ll learn
- Inclusive norms, culturally sustaining language, UDL-friendly differentiation, data-rich reflection on bias.
Format, duration & credit
- Four micro-courses, roughly 10–12 hours total, fully self-paced; shareable Coursera certificate.
Cost & enrollment
- Audit free; certificate requires monthly Coursera subscription or one-time fee.
Stand-out classroom takeaway
- Fillable “Equity Checklist” that spotlights routine tweaks to support every learner.
12. TeachThought PD: Classroom Culture & Management Workshop
TeachThought brings a coach to your campus—or onto Zoom—to help faculty pivot from rule enforcement to a culture where students own behavior and learning.
Quick course snapshot
- Customizable onsite or virtual workshop designed for whole-school or grade-level teams.
Core topics & skills you’ll learn
- Growth-mindset culture building
- Structuring authentic student autonomy
- Facilitating restorative circles that repair harm
Format, duration & credit
- One- to three-day institute plus follow-up coaching cycle; counts toward district PD hours.
Cost & enrollment
- Quote-based pricing; submit a brief interest form and schedule a planning call.
Stand-out classroom takeaway
- Sample 30-minute restorative circle agenda you can plug into tomorrow’s advisory block.
13. Kagan Cooperative Learning Classroom Management Workshop
Structured teamwork tames noise and nudges every student to participate—Kagan’s workshop shows you exactly how to pull it off in real time.
Quick course snapshot
- Two-day, hands-on training offered nationwide; teachers practice each cooperative structure as students.
Core topics & skills you’ll learn
- High-engagement structures like RallyCoach, Quiz-Quiz-Trade
- Noise, time, and movement management
- Building interdependence to reduce misbehavior
Format, duration & credit
- 2 full days; optional 1 graduate credit via Dominican University
Cost & enrollment
- Early-bird $449; kit of manuals and mats included
Stand-out classroom takeaway
- Pocket-size RallyCoach card students can use tomorrow.
14. ASCD Classroom Management Master Class
ASCD’s self-paced master class wraps decades of research into eight interactive modules teachers can finish on their own timeline.
Quick course snapshot
- Online, on-demand PD from a trusted education association; great for grades 3–12.
Core topics & skills you’ll learn
- Seven Rs framework (Relationships, Rules, Routines, Rights, Responsibilities, Respect, Rewards)
- Data-driven reflection and coaching prompts
Format, duration & credit
- About 15 total hours; digital badge plus district-accepted certificate.
Cost & enrollment
- Member discount; non-member price around a single textbook.
Stand-out classroom takeaway
- Fillable “7 Rs Implementation Planner” that converts theory into next-week action steps.
15. Canvas Network: Classroom Management Strategies MOOC
Canvas Network’s free MOOC unites educators worldwide for crowd-sourced solutions—a zero-cost entry into classroom management professional development that’s equally useful for rookies and veterans looking to refresh routines.
Quick course snapshot
Peer-supported online course for any grade level.
Core topics & skills you’ll learn
Classroom ecology, teacher presence, data-based reflection, engagement hacks.
Format, duration & credit
4 weeks, ~3 hours/week; finishes with a digital badge.
Cost & enrollment
Completely free; enroll with any email—no strings.
Stand-out classroom takeaway
Built-in reflection journal template you can reuse tomorrow.
Ready to Strengthen Your Classroom Culture?
Fifteen options, dozens of formats, and price points from $0 to graduate-credit tuition—now the only missing ingredient is action. Pick the course that fits your time window, block out the first study session in your planner, and commit to piloting just one routine (maybe that “First Two Weeks” checklist or RallyCoach card) within the next five school days. Track how students respond; the quick wins will fuel your momentum to keep refining.
Remember, effective classroom management isn’t a one-and-done workshop. It’s the continuous habit of learning, testing, and tweaking until calm becomes the norm and engagement feels automatic. When you’re ready for more ideas—or want AI tools that write seating charts and feedback for you—swing by The Cautiously Optimistic Teacher and keep leveling up alongside thousands of equally determined educators.