Beginning the school year can be difficult trying to get students to conform to any teacher’s classroom expectations. Each year teachers, administrators, resource educators, volunteers and parents complement my students on their exemplary behavior.
Below are just a few of the strategies I use. Check back for more as the year goes on!
CLASS COMPETITION
This strategy is very simple to use. During whole group direct instruction, when the students follow directions, sit correctly, raise quiet hands, and participate in our discussion they receive points for each time they do these things.
The first month of school there is a daily reward. Once students understand, this becomes a weekly reward. Rewards are such items as: additional recess, extra computer time, another dramatic play station rotation, books on DVD (Scholastic), special seating, etc.
I take the time to brainstorm ideas each year with my students to be sure to reward them with items they want (within reason of course).
GROUP COMPETITION
In addition to the above strategy, this is quite simple to use as well. During independent station learning, students once again receive points for each time they follow directions, work cooperatively, share, complete their independent station work, and work as a kid of character (Character Counts).
Students also lose points for not following the above information. Therefore, they are in competition against each group but also learn to be a kid of character in their own small groups.
The first month of school students in the winning group receives a prize daily. After getting into the routine, this reward becomes a weekly reward. Prizes are usually donated or purchased. Click the picture below to purchase various toy assortments on page 10.
You can purchase these inexpensively at The Kinder Cupboard on page 10.
INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR
I’m sure you have seen the above behavior chart floating around on Pinterest. Every one I have seen is very cute and with great intentions. However, as a Kinder teacher, 7 items to recall is a bit much. Research has proven many times over that ADULTS can only recall 3 to 7 items at any time. So, how do we expect our Kinders to remember 7 stages of behavior?
I subscribe to the picture below. Super easy for Kinders to look at because it is a picture. In addition, the background corresponds to their behavior (green=happy face, yellow=slow down and think about your behavior sad face, and red=problem behavior crying face)
Most days, I never move a name from the green great day face! Also, to help make this easy to manage, I write the girl’s names in red on the clothespin and the boy’s names in blue. Additionally, I place the boys on the left and the girls on the right, both in alphabetical order. It’s makes it easy for me to move AND once we get past Christmas, students can easily find their own names if they do need to move their clothespin.
Students who do not move their name from the green happy face get a happy face stamp on the back of their hand at the end of the day. They get excited to show their parents what kind of day they had AND it’s a great way for me to communicate student behavior with the parents each day! To purchase various happy face self stampers click the link here or click the picture below. Find on page 10 of the link.
FINALLY…
Everyday I hand out 1 star student certificate for the student who I believe was the best behaved and / or performed their best on their work. Also, I give lots of stickers! If you’d like to purchase these, click the pictures above or here. Find on page 11 of this link.
Hope you found this post helpful!
Terena
I would love to know how you manage your students behavior! Please leave a comment or send me an email at:
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