Teacher-Tested Tips:

Behavior Management
Submitted by: Pennie, 5-6 Grade
I use a vinyl pocket chart with a pocket for each child. It is called a "Start Chart". We use both good and bad marks in it. The idea is that each child is "reaching for the stars", so I use laminated stars for the good marks. I use brown buttons for the "ground," bad marks. Each time the child does something nice for someone else they receive a star. They also receive a star for an A on tests. If a child does someth... more »»
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Behavior Management
Submitted by: Chrisine Votel
Invest in a copy of the Tough Kids Book by Dr. Bill Jenson. It is not expensive and it it filled with wonderful ideas for management at all levels. And best of all it is well written and funny and easy to read. It is available from Soprus West. Happy Reading.
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Class Tickets
Submitted by: Patty
At the start of each day, each student is given 3 tickets. If a child misbehaves, isn't paying attention, or breaks a class/school rule, I take a ticket from that child. Students can have a ticket taken during lunch time, recess, or at specials. At the end of the day each child turns in the tickets they have left from the day. I record this information. At the end of the week students who have earned the required num... more »»
Grade Level(s): 1-2, 3-5 • Rating: 0  Votes: 0   Rate It

Counting Tickets (Token Economy)
Submitted by: Amanda Post
I have used this with my kindergartners. * Use different colored tickets to represent 1s, 5s, 10s (I used the tickets that you can get on a big roll.. They come in colors like blue, red and yellow.) * Blue tickets are equal to 1, red tickets are 5, and yellow tickets are 10 * Each morning when the students came in they were to count their tickets. * The first day we did this they counted 0 tickets. I would ask, "What is 0 + 1?" as I gave them a blue ticket. The student would see that the answer is 1. * I gave each child a tin can covered in contact paper in which to keep their tickets. Each day they would dump out the can and count the tickets. To earn 1 more, they had to recite the math problem telling how many they have plus the one they would earn. 2 + 1 = 3. * As they progressed, they could trade in 5 blue tickets for 1 red ticket, or 10 blue tickets for 1 yellow ticket, etc. This gave them lots of practice with counting, one to one correspondence, simple addition, etc. * They could also earn extra tickets at other times of the day (but they didn't count them until the next morning.) * I had an assortment of inexpensive toys in boxes labeled with how much they cost. For instance, stickers cost 1 ticket, little plastic dinosaurs were 10, etc. For 50 tickets, they could be "kid teacher." That meant they could help me lead calendar time, point to words, keep the kids quiet, etc. The kids really liked this. The more intangible items the better for you (saves $).. for instance, getting a bean bag to lay on at rest time was 25 tickets That was another popular one! more »»
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Discipline
Submitted by: S. Young
At the beginning of the year I go over my rules and expectations for behavior. I am very clear and give lots of examples. I even have a Top Ten David Letterman-style list of behaviors that bug me, (only it's more than 10), and I give a humorous test with one correct response and the other three choices kind of silly. Then I post a chart with the students' names. I tell them any behavior that takes my attention away f... more »»
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For low maintenance, cooperative behavior
Submitted by: Gigi Lax
Get rid of all the charts, rewards, gimmicks, etc. - start your daily routine with a brief meeting in which the students and you discuss community-building ideas, problems/solutions, and rules and guidelines for the class. Use that time to develop vocabulary and role-play about concepts such as respect, cooperation, and responsibility. Deal with individual discipline problems using a "plan" in which the child identif... more »»
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Here's a great brain-based technique
Submitted by: April Hawkins
I have used classical music in my class to keep my students quiet and my sanity intact. I have used "Tune Your Brain With Mozart" which works wonders. I have found that a combination of a morning review and music helps increase attention and learning. I find this very important when dealing with students who have special needs. There is a series of these CD's. I purchased mine through Amazon. Good luck to all with the new school year!
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Highly Recommended Book -- Teaching with Love and Logic : Taking Control of the Classroom
Submitted by: Amanda Post, A to Z Teacher Stuff
Teaching with Love and Logic : Taking Control of the Classroom This book is especially great for dealing with power struggles. Take a look at the reviews -- I wrote the one entitled "reduces the stress level for you AND your students."
Grade Level(s): • Rating: 9  Votes: 1   Rate It

Keeping Kids' Attention
Submitted by: Annette G, Fifth
To help manage my students' attention and the classroom behavior in general I purchased a large piece of laminate from a local hardware store (Lowe's, Home Depot has good prices). I had it cut into 12 x 12 inch pieces. Each child has one at their desk (at designated times) with an eraseable marker. As I teach on a concept I may have them write an answer or an example and hold the board up. An example: during my lectu... more »»
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Let Students KNOW What to Expect
Submitted by: Alice Phillips
Have a lengthy discussion on precise expectations of your classroom. There will be few surprises when children are forewarned about exactly how to do well in your particular classroom.
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Managing Classroom Jobs, Behavior
Submitted by: Susan Conrad
I have a pocket chart with five rows, and five columns. Each column is labeled a day of the week, to be used for daily helpers. Each row is labeled with moveable arrows attached to clothespins. The classroom chores, such as Leader, Messenger, Clean-up... are labeled and moved at the beginning of each week. Each pocket is labeled with a velcro tag with each child's name. Each morning, the children place a blue crayon ... more »»
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Pennies from Heaven
Submitted by: Mrs. Leta Bell, Kindergarten, Tulsa Public Schools
I use a penny board. I give each of my students five pennies on velcro. If they make a bad choice. I ask him/her to show me a good kindergarten choice. If he/she hasn't corrected the behavior, a penny is taken from him/her. If they keep all the five pennies at the end of the day my children know that when they arrive the next morning a big sticker will be given to them. I have seasonal shapes hanging on my curtain th... more »»
Grade Level(s): K, 1-2 • Rating: 0  Votes: 0   Rate It

Quiet Classroom
Submitted by: Lisa
Teaching with a block schedule means that each period must have several instructional activities with transitions between them. To ensure that the transitional times in my 7th grade science classroom are quick and efficient, I use this management technique: In our building students are considered "tardy" if they do not arrive to their next class by the end of the 4-minute passing period between classes. I call this 4-minute period the students' "Pass Time." To help manage student behavior during class, I write the words "Pass Time" on my chalk board. I explain to the class that each time I erase a letter from the words, they owe me 15 seconds of extra class time after the bell rings to switch classes. The first letter is a warning letter, but after that each letter counts 15 seconds. If they have to stay to much extra in my classroom, they will be tardy to their next class. Accumulating too many tardies will mean that they loose privileges in the school. I don't have to ever raise my voice to quiet a class using this method. Simply picking up my eraser from the chalk tray causes the students who notice to try to quiet the other students in the room. Very seldom do I keep a class more that 30 seconds, and this is just enough time to make it inconvenient for them to get to class on time! more »»
Grade Level(s): 6-8, 9-12 • Rating: 0  Votes: 0   Rate It

Traffic Light Behavior Modification
Submitted by: wowpatse
I explain all the rules to follow and unacceptable behavior. Then I have a traffic light large enough to hold all the student's names on clothespins (close to the green area and use both sides). I also have another board which has three phrases: STRIKE ONE, STRIKE TWO, STRIKE THREE. Everyone begins the day on green light, I give students 3 chances before moving off the green light, after exhausting the 3 STRIKES they... more »»
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Working Together for Classroom Behavior...
Submitted by: Claudia
In order to motivate the entire class to work together for great classroom behavior, I am designing a race track with several pit rows on poster board. Whenever the class gets a compliment from the principal, a parent, an assistant, or teacher, the race car will be advanced one space. If group misbehavior continues after a warning, the race car is moved back to the nearest pit row. The race may only continue when the class has earned the privilege back. When the class has completed the race, everyone receives a reward. This really inspires kids to be quiet in the halls and enrichment classes because they are seeking a compliment. You can even divide into teams and have more than one race car. I have done a much simpler version of this reward system in the past. Using a large blank hundred board on poster board, I fill in empty squares with stickers as the class receives praise. Stars are placed at different points on the chart. When each star is reached, it's time to celebrate. A big celebration is due when all 100 squares are filled with stickers. However as class activities get loud, the stars are moved further away. Pretty soon the class gets quiet if the think you are going to the star chart! more »»
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