I start Monday

[Teacheraa]

I got a job ( finally), a small class in a small private school. I start Monday. Have no clue what Im doing. I met the students and a few of them are going to be a hand full I can tell. Any advice from anyone? Im not sure how to discipline them. Im thinking of just doing a combo of the jar of marbles, raffle tickets, and a happy-sad-angry face clip board. Help, I'm clueless here and I'm just being thrown into it.

[HeatherY]

I came in just a couple weeks ago. I worked basically from the other teachers plans (two big split up classes) for a couple weeks to provide continuity, but as much as we plan to work together, working from someone else's stuff is hard. Also, the office doesn't seem to understand that I don't know what all the stuff going into my box everyday is. I don't have school e-mail and they forget that. Find a good helper and take advantage of them to help you learn the school routines and systems!

It will take a couple weeks to get into a groove. I feel like we are now working well. At first, the kids were excited to go to a new class, then they were not happy because I did not have management from day 1 just like their old teacher. I think we are now doing good. I am doing a ticket system with beans and on Friday I "sell" things- pencils, class jobs, homework coupons etc.... and they pay with beans. I give beans for listening, on task behavior, following directions quickly, etc.... it works well even though I would rather not reward behavior like this. But it works, so..... I also have a marble jar and I add to it when they work really, really quietly to reinforce quiet seat work.

You could probably get better advice from a veteran, but this is what is going on with me. Feel free to pm. I am a first year in 3rd grade. What is your grade?

[EMonkey]

I would not do both the raffle tickets and the marble jar. That sounds like too much. I would suggest using the marble jar and having specific goals they can reach as they gain more marbles. I would suggest that you arrange that they win time such as preferred lessons or extra recess rather than tangible rewards.

You might also take a look at Tools for Teaching. This program gives time for the children moving quickly during transitions. The time is then used for prefered activities.

I have used the stop lights before but I found it to be frustrating for children who are doing well and not very effective for children who are not doing well. I tell them strike one, two, and three then they have time out. It helps because I don't have to stop what I am doing to go change the stoplight. I do mark it down on a notebook I have. They also can earn back the strikes if they improve their actions. I also find the children mock it happening to others less than they might with the stoplight system.

Make the behavior management program as simple as you can. The simpler it is the easier it will be for the children to understand and the easier it will be for you. The less you have to interrupt yourself to implement it the more it will facilitate keeping the kids engaged.

[McKennaL]

Check out the videos on You Tube in regards to Whole Brain Teaching - or it's former name, Power Teaching (I prefer the former name...because that's what it gives you...POWER!)

There is a forum area here in AtoZ all about Whole Brain Teaching. And here are 2 links to get you started (past this- you can find your own way):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBeWEgvGm2Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1kxpBPtqyI

Does it work? YES!

Does it work FAST? ABSOLUTELY!!!

[Aliceacc]

What will you be teaching?

[Special-t]

Take a week and go over your class procedures. Let the class know they are starting fresh. You might even do something simple, like making a star chart on the board and showing the students that they are all starting out fresh with 10 stars that can go up and down during this first week. They will all be curious when they come into the classroom and see their names posted with stars. Give them as much simple structure as possible. If they start out confused, it will add to the chaos.

Bring some good story books and a few fun movies. If you feel overloaded, you can slow things down with these fun activities.