[chief23]

My class does not stop talking...ever! I shouldn't say that...they don't talk during independent reading! If I turn my back for a moment, they start up again. I've tried changing seats and giving individual rewards; as well as taking privileges away. Does anyone have any suggestions that will help keep me sane! Thanks in advance!

[occupationtra]

was like that last year! I don't have a miracle cure. One thing I did that helped a bit was keep track of how many times the class as a whole was very talkative. They got a line on the board. Every three lines were circled. At the end of the week we do Friday Free Time and each circle was 1 minute off Friday Free Time where the class had to sit in silence. If they were really good, I'd erase a line occasionally. This helped my class since it was a whole class issue, rather than just a few students.

[petlover]

Wow...sounds like my room this year too!
I am trying three things that seem to work in my class this year.
1st - whole class Marble Jar - whenever the class is quietly working or all following directions (that type of thing) - I drop a handful of marbles into the jar. Then when the Jar is full, I give the whole class a reward (extra recess time, fun movie, special snack). We just filled our marble jar for the first time this week - I brought in popcorn & Charlie Brown Great Pumpkin Movie.
2nd - I made 4 big letters "TALK" and they hang on the front board. I remove a letter at a time for whole class talking. I usually only do this if I am trying to give directions or are actually teaching a lesson and the talking starts. Then, at the end of the day if at least one letter is still up, they get an extra handful of marbles in the jar.
3rd - I have individual reward tickets (I call them Starbucks). I give out these little tickets to reward the behaviors I want to see. It is amazing how quickly the whole class gets to their seats and starts working quietly when they see me hand a Starbuck to a student who is quietly following directions. I also take away Starbucks for behaviors I don't want. Then every two weeks on Friday, I have a little store that they can purchase things with starbucks (now my store isn't great - erasers, pencils, bookmarks, free homework pass, rocking chair for the day, special desk spot for the day, lunch with teacher, bring mp3 from home to listen to during quiet reading time, etc.). But they seem to be excited to earn and spend the "starbucks".
Good Luck with finding what works for you!

[chief23]

Thanks for your great ideas! It just seems like I change my behavior management plans every year...it really is amazing to see how different the kids are from year to year. I'm hoping they are just excited about Halloween...my fingers are crossed that Monday is going to be a quiet, productive day
It's nice to know that I'm not alone!

[Debby]

Mine are the same this year!!! I am using the Behavior Bingo approach I found on PT. It seems to be working, but they still needed to be reminded several times everyday!!!!! Sometimes it's hard for me to remember to be polite.

[MrsBaldwin]

I am definitely having the same issue this year! I am teaching a gifted and talented class that has been together for the last 3 years! The talking is CONSTANT! What I started doing, and it seems to be having an impact on them is making a chart on the board with a T (for teacher) and an S (for student). Each time the students are doing reaching their expectations, working QUIETLY, and so on, I put a point up under the student side. But when they aren't all I have to do is walk over to the board and put a point on the teacher side. It is a very easy non-verbal cue to my students. I then have the word TREAT written on the board. For every day that they beat me in points, I circle a letter. Once they have the whole word circled, they then earn some sort of treat. They really seem to like the competition.