I was asked to give a class on classroom management skills when I come back to school. I was wondering if you all could give me your best classroom mgt. advice? What is the one or few things you do that make your classroom work and flow. I would love anything from little tips or signals you do with your class. I know what I do but I want it to be more then how I run my classroom. Thanks!
I use the "Give me 5"but start at 5 and count back down to one and place the one on my lips. I don't know how that started, it just happened one day.
I have seen and heard of "if you can hear me clap once, if you can hear me clap twice....and so on. Then the teacher compliments the class in saying something like good job, it only took 2 claps or whatever. I think I will start that this year too.
My best advice is to be prepared for anything. Any down time is considered play time.
To get the kids' attention I will clap a rhythm and they echo me. That is something that is done school wide so even when we are at an assembly and that happens or in the lunch room, they know what to do. In my own room, I have a poster that says give me five: 2 eyes looking at me, 2 ears listening and 1 mouth closed. I put my hand up with a five and when you have all of those things you put your hand up. I love to watch the kids when there are only like two people talking and they are oblivious to the fact that we have had our hands up for a good 20 seconds.
Well..it's not really my version, I found it on a poster from Really Good Stuff I think.
1. Eyes on the speaker
2. Lips closed
3. Ears listening
4. Hands and feet quiet
5. Sit up straight
I didn't buy the poster, but instead I made my own mini posters (8.5x11 paper) with the rule and a picture on each of 5 pages.
We review these rules along with the other classroom rules the first week of school, and then as needed. As soon as I say "Give me 5" my students put their hand up (like they are giving me five), and do the other for steps as well.
This was the first year I used it, and I was amazed!!!! I never had to say, be quiet to give directions. I said Give Me 5 (in my teacher voice) and it worked perfectly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To see right away who has not handed in an assignment, have the kids put their number right after their names on every paper. Their number is the number they have in alphabetical order in your class.
I'm taking a class next week that's called "Teacher Saving Skills". (I think I need a refresher course after all these years!) If I get any new tips, I'll post!
I do something similar to the "if you can hear my voice" except that I change it for different situations, like I'll get them ready for the hall that way. Once they are all lined up I'll say "If you're ready for lunch put your hands on your head. If you're ready for lunch put your hands on your hips. If you're ready for lunch put one finger over your lips. " Then we're ready for the hall with hips and lips. It works for almost everything.
I also have one person in charge at each table like a captain. They make sure tables are clean, papers are passed out and they get supplies if any are needed. I try to keep minimal amounts of things on the tables so that the children aren't distracted.
I also make every transition a contest or game. I either do a review game or I offer each table a certain number of tally marks for being ready by the signal I've set. Each table is a team and each team can earn tally marks for following directions. At the end of the week we count tallies and the team with the most gets to choose a reward. They can pick from 5 extra minutes of recess, extra computer time, homework passes, sitting on my beanbag chairs during story time, a busy being good coupon for the office, lunch with me in the classroom etc.
I do the put your number on your paper thing. It works well. I have a helper put the papers in order for me each day.
Believe it or not, one of the best management tips I have is to use bathroom passes. I have one for boys and one for girls. They hang on a doorknob. My students do not have to ask permission to leave the room for the restroom or drinks of water. If the pass is available and I am not up teaching a group lesson, they may go. They put the pass on their desk, so if I miss them, I can immediately know where they are. The first week of school will see more than the normal amount of leaving, just trying out the policy. After that, they really only leave when they need to.
We also allow the kids to bring water bottles to leave in their cubbies for drinks when they need them. We don't have in-classroom sinks or fountains.
I also don't require permission to sharpen pencils. There are guidelines, though--can't sharpen while I am teaching or while someone is presenting to the class. I find when I micromanage less, things run a lot more smoothly. the kids really dont take advantage of these privileges.
I have my morning routine written on a chart and posted at the front of the room. On my list are 7 items. At about the time for the bell, I start asking, "Are you at number 7 yet?" Number 7 is sit down in your seat. Other items are unpack backpacks, get your chair from the stack, turn in homework/notes, go to the bathroom, sharpen pencils, be sure you have a library book for the day.
One of the things I do to get their attention is I softly sing out "MeMeMeMeee"
then they sing back "MeMeMeMeee" I then have their attention. This has worked great for all my classes. (First and Second) "SMILE"
1. I do have students put their # of their papers. It helps me to figure out who forgot their name and # when I have no name papers. If they forget their name and # I subtract 10 points for my effort.
2. I give out behavior bucks for my treasure chest. Once a month, they get to go into the S**** Shoppe and shop for what they want. I use a 3 strikes and your out system.
strike 1 is a warning (green)
srtike 2 is a cansequence (yellow) lose your behavior buck for the day
strike 3 and your our. (red) you owe me today's behavior buck and 1 more and you also get a behavior slip sent home.
3. I use a large poster paper and put library type envelopes with each students # on them. I use a card system for where they are going since they go in and out so much for the day.
a few examples of cards girls restroom/boys restroom/girl drink/ boy drink/ band/ title/resource/ counselor/office/errand, etc. Each child put the card in the slot where they are going so that I can keep trak of them all.
4. I use a piece of cardboard for my seating chart. I put each child's name on a post it note. I can easily change seats without much effort. I place the chart in a transparent sleeve for protection. I also copy this so I know where Johnny sat last month.
5. I teach 5 grade. I have my class then I teach another teachers class spelling and the other 5th grade class English so I see 3 sets of students each day. To make it easier for me.
My class 5S is written in black
5H is written in green
5W is written in red
I use corresponding folder colors to keep the classes separate as well. I also only use one seating chart. On each post it I have all three classes listed on one post it. So all # 4 students sit in the sat desk each month.
6. I use the signal I say crystal they say clear. They know when I say crystal they need to stop what they are doing and listen. This works if I have 19 at a time or all 58 together.
Here are a few things I do:
1. Sharpening Pencils - I personally cannot stand to hear the pencil sharpener. I post a sign above the pencil sharpener that says: STOP! You may only sharpen pencils from 7:30 (that's when the bell rings) until the pledge. On Monday I give each student 2 new sharpened pencils. I explain from the beginning that they are responsible for keeping up with them and for sharpening them at the appropriate time. If they get lost they will need to borrow one from a friend and be responsible enough to return it to the person when they are done with it.
2. I do bonus bucks to reinforce good behavior. They visit the Bonus Buck store 1 time per month. Prizes are mostly freebies. The most popular prizes were shoes off all day and read to the class. At the end of the year I offered bonus bucks for returning items to school. Very effective in getting my books back.
3. I post 3 rules during center/small group time. They read them prior to beginning the center rotation. They are 1. Do not roam around the room. 2. No talking unless it is with your group and work oriented. 3. DO NOT INTERRUPT TEACHER.
4. Most important for anything that you implement is for you to stick to it. I do not waver on things like the interrupting me during small group or sharpening pencil thing unless they are bleeding or barfing or dying! Be Consistent.
My students LOVE to use sign language in the classroom. I originally got the tip off ProTeacher--back in the old days, so I'm not sure if it's in the Archives or not. It is sooo easy--to get my response to a variety of requests, the students raise their hands and sign. A letter "r" stands for a trip to the restroom--I can simply nod yes or no to the students--I don't even have to stop talking to the rest of the class or disturb any silent work. Other signs are "d" for drink, "i" for question (inquisitive!), "c" for comment, and "v" for when I need a volunteer. The signing makes class discussions much easier--students know I will call on questions before comments, and that all will be heard. They eagerly teach new students or visitors their signs. By the way I looped with 6th-7th for the past two years, and it is so ingrained in them that it has carried over to summer school!
Each group in my room has a shape name that is on the board. I give them tallies for good behavior/teamwork and the winning team gets a special privilege on Friday.
To get the kids attention I have a windchime. Much nicer sound than a bell!
When the room is really junky we play the Mystery Scrap Game. Basically I set the timer for a few minutes and the kids have to quietly pick up/put away everything on the floor. When the timer rings, whoever picks up the mystery scrap I had in mind gets a prize/privilege.
We also play Mystery Walker in the hall, Mystery Worker in the room, etc.
No one knows who it is so they are quiet the whole way!
I often will start singing direction too. It throws them off guard and makes them smile and they get quiet! If they're loud I will start singing "If you're ready for lunch, get quiet.........." (If you're happy and you know it tune) and so on. I just make up verses throughout the day. Kids love it!
My guru of classroom management is Harry Wong. He wrote the book The First Days of School How to be an Effective Teacher. If you google him you will also find some excellent sites and resources. Anytime I offer advice on classroom management I always recommend his works.
His ideas are practical and easy to implement and most importantly make everything in your classroom operate smoothly.
My pet peeve is names and numbers on papers. No matter how much I say do it, there is always somone who just never does. To ease my own fustration with this I started something new this year. An idea I tweeked from a mailbox issue (I think!).
I bought colored file folders and labled a folder with each students name and number on them. On the front of the folder a calander is stapled each month.
I color coded everything in my class so my first 6 students were red, second 6 blue,....and so on. I pass out the folders every morning along with morning work. When they come in in the morning, they put their homework into the folder and hand it in. My classroom aide then goes through the folders and stamps the folder on the date and the homework at the same time. This way it has a stamp on it already, and when I check it later in the day, I just have to have a pen handy for any corrections if necessary.
At the end of each month, we take off the calander and I keep it until the grading period is over. It is easy for me to check their homework patterns. I do not "Grade" homework, but I do use if for a completion grade, and also mark the box on the report card that says "Completes assignments on time"
This system also works well because if they had in an assignment a day late, they will get the stamp, but it is over a written comment about the missing work. Then at a quick glance I can see that the assignment was handed in, but that it was late.
By the end of the year, all my co-workers were using the same system.
Went out of town for awhile. Sorry my post was confusing too. It all seems so straight in my head....just doesn't make it to the computer
Yes, each child has a file folder. They keep it through out the year. The calander is stapled to the front. I made them on the computer, and just shrunk them down.
The stamp signifies that the assignment was turned in. If it was turned in late, their will be writing under the stamp stating which assignment was missing. If they never turn it in, then it will just have the writing and when I collect the calanders at the end of the month, I can tell which, and how many assignments they have missed.
06-21-2006, 10:02 AM
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