I am an English teacher in Korea, and I teach grades 1-6. Classes are relatively small, no larger than 18. I teach without the help of a Korean co-teacher. I need better control over my students. I've looked at reward systems, paying the students cash for good behavior/deducting for negative, and I love the idea but I worry it will require too much work on my part. I feel I need a system that rewards/punishes behavior instantly for younger students. In the past, with my 1st and 2nd graders, we worked towards a movie party, earning a star for every class they behaved well. One students' negative behavior could affect everyone by losing a star. It was better than nothing, relatively effective, but it completely failed with my 3-4th grade combined class because there was so much bad behavior that the number of stars I was removing was just demoralizing and almost numbing so after they lost the first star in a class, they didn't seem to care so much about losing a second. Any ideas? Classroom management systems that work well with a range of grades? I'm being sparse with information, but ask me any questions and I'll be happy to answer : ) Thank you!
Here's my plan and it has worked SO well for me for the past 4 years! Kids get 30 mins recess each day before lunch and 10 mins PAT Time (indoor games) at the end of the day to help them practice social skills. I have a treasure chest of stickers that I give out occasionally for specific desired behaviors (returning behavior cards the next day, etc.) Good choices: Kids spotted doing something really good get their name in the "good book." Each Friday I draw names and award "prizes" (lunch with the teacher, write with a pen, switch jobs with another student, etc.). The class earns a paper link for good behavior on the part of the whole group and when the chain of links reaches the ground we have a "PJ Party." They wear pjs and bring stuffed animals and games to play during recess and PAT Time. Bad choices: I have a stack of foam circles on my desk. When a child makes a bad choice I put a circle on the corner of his desk. 1 circle= lose 5 mins recess 2 circles= lose 10 mins recess and take a note home that MUST be signed and returned the next day or it results in loss of the whole recess and a phone call home. (I have notes already copied and ready- just check the box for the behavior- so that I can take care of it quickly and easily when necessary). 3 circles= desk moved away from the rest of the class 4 circles = loss of any group/fun activities that day 5 circles = time out in another classroom Whatever you choose, the key to this working is to PRACTICE expected behaviors FREQUENTLY and to be CONSISTENT in giving consequences so they know you mean business. It has made my classroom a safe, happy place where learning happens!
Thanks for answering, queenie : ) Do you let students look at the "good book"? Can they check to see how many times their name has been recorded? And do you tell them when you are writing their name down? Do you tell them quietly, or make a little show of it so other students recognize what's happening, maybe to repeat the good behavior themselves?
Are you letting parents know when they are having difficult days at school? How involved are they in their child's behavior? I know oftentimes I tell a lot of my parents that let their be a consequence at home... as tough as it needs to be to help them get the point across. For negative behavior I do the same with recess, the individual student who is disrupting class loses fun time, computer time etc. The well behaved students still get to have recess, computer etc and occasionally I will send a good note home with the students who are well behaved to continue to encourage them to keep it up.
Yes! The book is lying open in the room so anyone can see it. I also announce that I'm putting so-and-so's name in the book for "being willing to help a friend" or "following directions the first time they are given," etc. It's best to have them write their OWN name in the book when possible
