Are you in need of a new way to manage your classroom?

For many years, I did the typical classroom management. There was positive points and negative points, somehow. They could use their positive to earn rewards and the negative would turn to a consequence, but this year I am changing it up.

This year I am focusing on the class ALL TOGETHER instead of each individual. As a class, we will be working on becoming apart of a group and working together. And so far it has been AMAZING!

Team Classroom Management

The students worked at the beginning of the year to pick three prizes that they want to work towards in the classroom. I will be pushing prizes that are free (dance parties, movie parties, pajama days, etc.)

Each time I catch students or groups of students doing positive things I will “shout them out” and then move us closer to our goal. One we reach the goal we get the party.

 

Why?

There are several reasons I switched to this type of classroom management.

1. I want my kids to work together instead of compete against each other.
2. I want them to celebrate when another student does something awesome.
3. They push each other to be great and they will look out for opportunities to remind each other of how to be great students and people.
4. It is less work and management for me.
5. They are not getting a reward for each and every little thing. I want them to understand that somethings in life you just do, even if there is no reward attached.

How?

For me, I will painted some large mountains on the wall. I have a class picture and each time we do something awesome we will move that class picture up the mountains. Part of the excitement of this is that the students don’t know how far I will move them up each time something awesome happens, so it builds anticipation and fun.

You could do this many ways though. You could fill a jar with marbles, just put points on the board, build a word for the prize, etc.

What about negative behaviors?

I have decided this year to work on a one on one basis for students with negative behavior. I am going to focus on the positive and then have consequences that match the student that is continually doing something bad.

Things I would do is create goals for the student, give them a warning system, have a communication notebook with their parents, etc.

I think by giving one consequence that applies to anyone who misbehaves, you aren’t really looking at that individual child. In order to motivate them to not act out you need the consequence to match them.

Let me tell you, this is going better than I ever expected. I had many kids this year that had behaviors last year and with this system it is going so much better.

Got questions?! Email me at [email protected]