Teachers: Is Misbehavior Ruining Your Classroom Environment?
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The good news about your classroom management system is that for most of the students in your class, it's probably working great! The rules and consequences are clearly stated and enforced - giving the majority of your students the perfect combination of incentive and deterrent to follow the directions. Hooray!
The bad news about your classroom management system is that there are probably some students that seem completely immune to it. You know these kids. They don't respond to the system the way the other students respond. They may start out okay with your classroom management system in the beginning of the year, but as time passes, they become increasingly unfazed by it.
For these kids, and the teachers who teach them, attractive and engaging behavior modification charts are lifesavers.
Behavior modification charts can be the perfect supplement to your classroom discipline plan because they allow for complete customization for individual students - without a whole lot of work on your part. Now you have a better chance to reach these students who are struggling and to improve the overall environment of your classroom.
How to choose behaviors to go with the behavior charts
When you're choosing behaviors to modify with children in your classroom, it's important that they be well within the students' reach and not at a level of frustration. Focus on one or two easy-to-achieve behaviors before increasing expectations.
Here are some suggestions for appropriate behaviors to work toward with these charts:
- Raise your hand before speaking.
- Turn in assignments.
- Walk in the hallways.
- Speak softly when working in groups.
- Stay in your seat when I'm teaching.
The important thing about these behaviors is that they are measurable, simple, and positively stated. You want to focus on what you want them to do, not what you don't want them to do.
Here are examples of behaviors you DO NOT want to use on these charts:
- Don't yell.
- Stop running down the hall.
- No fighting.
- No interrupting.
- Don't call out while I'm teaching.
Notice that these are all the behaviors you want them to stop. They draw attention to the bad behavior.
Instead of drawing attention to these, focus on the behavior that you do want. Then it's your job to "catch the students being good". In this way, the desired behavior gets reinforced and you're praising them when they're doing the appropriate action
Choosing Rewards That Don't Cost Alot of Money
Like you, I never had a ton of money to spend on trinkets, toys, and rewards for the kids when I was teaching. So I had to get creative when I was thinking of rewards for kids who completed their behavior charts. There are tons of ideas that don't cost anything. And for the ones that do, consider getting your room moms to help by donating some of the items in the list below like puzzles, pencils, or goodies for the goodie bucket.
When using rewards for these behavior modification charts they must be meaningful to the child. Sara might not be inspired to work toward more time with the class pet, but she would love to visit her teacher from last year. So talk with your students and find out what gets them going.
Here are some creative ideas for classroom rewards.
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Ready for some additional support in the classroom?
Do you know the tricks for working with your most difficult students? Tom Daly does! He's a teacher and parent who has cracked the code to dealing with ADHD behaviors both in and out of the classroom. Not only are his resources changing the lives of students and their teachers, but he's written a free 5-part Report to give you a taste of what's possible with his techniques. You'll be glad you checked it out.
You've heard about learning styles, but do you use the strategies? Knowing the primary learning style of your students can make a huge difference. There's a free, and easy to use Personal Learning Style Inventory that I really like. You can complete it online with your students and get instant feedback. Wouldn't it be great to be reaching your students in the way that's best for them?
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