Hello Teachers! I am having some trouble finding a simple, yet effective behavior management system for my fourth grade room. My main problem is that I co-teach and therefore have two sets of students, so many of the behavior plans I have seen works better in a contained classroom. Any thoughts and ideas would be wonderful!!! Thank you!! :thanks:
I learned my behavior management system at a training a few years ago and adapted it to my liking. Here's what I do in a nutshell: I give out cards for poor behavior choices. That's it. Really. I use foam circles (drink coasters). If a child misbehaves I place a "card" on the corner of his desk. The kids have been taught what the card means, how to react when they receive a card, how not to touch the card, etc. They also know the consequences associated with the cards. For me (2nd grade), 1 card = loss of 5 minutes recess, 2 cards = loss of 10 minutes recess and a note home, 3 cards = move desk away from others, 4 cards = loss of "fun" or group activities for the day, 5 cards = time out in another classroom with a "thinking activity." I love this for several reasons. First of all, I am able to give out cards nonchalantly without drawing attention to anyone- at times the misbehaving child is the only one who even notices. Also, it never takes more than 10 minutes away from recess (our kids get 30 so that always leaves them with 20 minutes to let off steam). Additionally, it provides some leeway because if a child gets one card, although he loses 5 minutes recess, I don't contact a parent. So they see it as a warning. Usually they tell the parents themselves, though. Plus it's so simple- I don't have to clip anyone up or down all day, etc. and even the notes home are easy because I have 2 notes already printed off (one for poor behavior and one for excellent behavior) so I simply checkmark a behavior and add the child's name and date. I have tried many behavior management systems, but this is by far my favorite and the most simple for me! There are a few other components that I use (whole group rewards- chain of success and a weekly behavior reward lottery, for example) but this is the main idea. It would work for any elementary grade level if a teacher uses CONSISTENCY and PRACTICES PROCEDURES!
I used Class Dojo last year. I had 2 classes as well. This year they have a new feature that allows you to share classes. It worked well and I plan on using it again this year, but with 3 classes instead of 2.
We team teach and we use class dojo. It is fabulous! Especially for all those parent conferences where you might hear "but Johnny never..."
Can't say enough about Class Dojo. Have a look and give it a try - lots of potential to manage your class and keep contact with parents.
I teach two classes as well. I do a couple of different things. I pass out "Scholar Dollars" randomly to kiddos (my co-teacher also does Scholar Dollars). These go towards buying lunch with teacher, eating at a different table, sitting in the teacher chair, stinky feet, etc. My two classes are organized by color with most things-- green and blue. I have a jar of green and blue "warm and fuzzies" (tiles) next to another jar. When I catch the class doing well or they get a compliment in the hallway, they can earn warm and fuzzies. I'll just say, "wow, great job working hard, put a warm and fuzzy in the jar" and there is someone who has that as a job. 20 warm and fuzzies gets you stinky feet (no shoes) during class. The green and blue keeps the warm and fuzzies separate so each class has a goal. I also do classdojo and at the end of each six weeks I give kiddos scholar dollars for the amount of dojo points they earned. I can use the class dojo app on my ipad at teacher table, and if I have the browser open on my computer, the sound still comes out of the main speaker.
