Classroom Management Facelift

The countdown is on people! Two weeks! Oh my goodness. Where has the summer gone? Usually by now I'm getting a little bored or antsy and even though I'm not looking forward to alarms I'm looking forward to routine, structure, and all that jazz. Yeah, I still have the anticipation of a new class (and some siblings from awesome families I've had the pleasure of working with before!!!--love when that happens) but I've been so stinkin' busy (with fun and just life) that I'm not ready!!

Well, ready or not here it comes.

Something I saw on Pinterest quite a bit and then I read more about what "Behavior Bingo". You can really title it whatever you choose. I used to do a marble jar and after all the marbles were earned (marbles were earned and lost at my discretion, for perfect attendance, hallway compliments, and following directions) The marble jar has been fun. Truthfully I'm a little burnt out on it though. Also it's most effective at the very beginning of the year or when we only need 10 more marbles. When the jar has about 100 left in it it's hard to emphasize the importance of having a quiet restroom break to earn some marbles.

I decided to make my own "Behavior Bingo" board. I uploaded it to VistaPrint and had them print it for me. It was $5 for the basic small poster but I wanted a sturdier paper so it was $7 plus shipping. I laminated it today and I'm excited to try something new!!!

I've decided that the kiddos can earn a number (I typed up a 120s chart and cut out the numbers and put them in a bucket) for having perfect attendance, receiving compliments from me or in the hallway from other adults, having the whole class return their homework completed and on time with their name on it, and teacher's choice because I have no idea what else I'll want to reward them for. :D

I had to adjust it a bit on VistaPrint but I like how it turned out. If you'd like to get your freebie template (don't worry, I removed my name) click here. They are images and I have saved them in two formats. See what works best for you.

You'll get (click images to enlarge)

basic board

and

numbers to draw and the incentives I'm using for now

This will be my 8th year teaching and my 7th year in first grade. Every once in a while I like to change things up. I do this for the kiddos but also for myself. A few years ago I went from my "Card Flip" management system to a "Clip Chart" management system.

I like my clip chart system. It helps me praise good choices and address poor choices. I'm sure most of you know how it works so I won't even go through that. I have made two clip charts since I've started this system. I revamped it just because I wanted it to be pretty. Here's my clip chart:

One more thing I'm adding to my plate...the Homework Club. Do you have a Homework Club? Basically each child is in the Homework Club every day UNTIL they forget their homework or return an incomplete assignment. Then they move their number to the other chart. Good news is they'll get another chance when the new month starts. Kiddos that stay in the Homework Club the entire month will get to have lunch with me in the classroom. I might change up the incentives but this was something quick and easy (and free!) that they'd enjoy and I like it too.

I got the number from my local teacher store. They're actually cute calendar numbers. I think I may need to find smaller numbers though, lol. The pink and green 'boards' are pizza pans from Walmart that were less than $1. I spray painted them and added some ribbon and labels and voila. This is my first year to do this so I'll let you know how it goes!!

What time is it? Linky Time!

I'm linking up with The Applicious Teacher

click here to check out more ideas or to link up

and Just Reed

click here to go to the linky

Let's talk about behavior management!

Whole Class
Marble jar!
I have a marble jar system in my classroom. I can give or take marbles for any reason! I give them for perfect attendance, everyone having their homework (with their names on it), good hallway choices, overall good behavior, compliments, etc. I can take them out for not doing the above things, too.

I live 30 minutes from school and didn't want to make that journey just for a marble jar pictures. So, I searched Pinterest. My jars look different but here' the gist. Once they earn all of 'their' marbles we have a "Marble Party" which can be anything from pajama day to playing with play dough. Really whatever you have time to implement and encourages your kiddos to do their personal best.

Source

Individual
I'm sure you all know--and may be tired of hearing about--the use of my clip chart in my classroom.

to get this clip chart (or rainbow variation) source

On day one I explain my expectations and procedures. I don't have a tangible set of rules though. We model good and bad choices. Those first few days/weeks are really about setting the framework for the rest of the year.

I start it very early in the year. It's always rough to have that first kid clip down but it has to be done. So, I really try to focus on good choices and clipping up the first few days of school .

As the year goes on I really try to make it difficult or something special to clip up. We start every day on 'Ready to Learn' and this is my expectation--so moving up means you were above and beyond expectation...not just following directions. Again, I like this because it's an overall average of the day's behavior not just the lowest low like when I did card flips. I mean, card flips are supposed to deter bad behavior...so if they're working and a kiddo changes their behavior that should be reflected in the management plan, right?

At the end of the day the kids fill out their chart so mom & dad can see how their day went. (This chart evolved through the year) Here are three different versions:

 I start off with this one because it mirrors the clip chart and gets the parents familiar with it. I print it in b&w so we have to do a mini-lesson on where to color because most first graders cannot read it in August. My co-teacher numbered her recording page and clip chart to make it easier for the kids.

This is the first version--and the one included in my TpT bundle

I made this one when I had parents asking why their child clipped down because their child 'forgot'. (okay--sometimes the forgot was legit because I couldn't always remember either)

I ended up moving to this recording page because the parents were familiar with the color code and my expectations. I also like that it was a pictorial overview of the month. Maybe we could trend positive and negative behavior. So, if every Monday is yellow or orange maybe something is happening on the weekends or transitioning back to school on Mondays is difficult and we need to discuss this. 

If a kiddo makes it to the top of my clip chart (wow, btw) they get a jewel on their clip and get a Dum-Dum from my Dum-Dum plant.

I always tell them that it might have been easy (even if it's not) to get to the top---not the tough part is to stay there!

After 5 jewels I glitter their clip:

This coming school year I'll glitter it and retire it. (Here's one of the retired pages in my new set of clip chart stuff)

I do not do other prizes or rewards. They get a kick out of the jewels. I do enforce consequences for being on orange or red. This is usually time off recess but varies. (It would also vary depending on your school corp--I know some school cannot take their recess time away and need to have other consequences)


Extra
There are always those weeks/days before a break that can be crahazy! I'll continue to use my clip chart but I also bring out my PB board. (PB is Personal Best) The kids will use their classroom number and sign a square on the coordinate grid (math integration!). At the end of the week if it's full I pull out a popsicle stick with coordinates on it and they get a trip to the prize box or candy jar. I only do the drawing if it gets full--also if it fills up the kids can double up.

{source: My mentor teacher}

I have some other handwriting, spelling test, and attention grabber ideas but I'll save those for another post.

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Behavior Clip Chart Revamped

For the last two years I've used a clip chart in my classroom. Before that I used card flips. I liked card flips but found that they focused too much on bad choices....so when a student had a rough morning  and when they went home and showed their parents my recording page it looked like that had a bad day. (I still keep my card flip chart, recording pages, and cards for when I need to make a change or 'crack the whip')

I liked the clip chart because it gave me an opportunity to focus on good choices as well. I did this verbally but this was a good visual for the kids. It also let the kids turn their behavior/attitude around. I feel that when the parents see my new recording pages they get an overall view of the whole day.

Here is my original clip chart:
(it was on my summer bucket list to revamp)

I really like it--but it needs a make-over. I'm going to chalk it up to my first attempts and when I first got started creating more classroom things.

Right now I don't have a good color printer (on my summer to buy wish-list-----side question: do you prefer laser or ink jet and why?)

Here are some choices that I'll have when it's time to print and laminate and put this bad boy together!

click here

click here

click here

click here

No, I don't have a Pirate room but one of my work-besties does so I revamped what I made her. 

You can find them all here in a bundle with my Classroom Management Resources.  Where you'll see different types of Management Resources. If you've already purchased this item then please go and re-download to get the updates.

Original blog post here

OR
If you know the clip chart is for you and you don't want to see other Management Resources click here to get only the clip chart images. (They are a bundled set--not sold individually) I will be giving away one set of the new bundle to the first comment with an email!

Is there a theme that you have in your classroom that you're just dying to see a clip chart to match?

Twas the day before November...

And all through the school
the teachers had a day they didn't want to remember
the kids had sweets on their brains and sugar in the air
it didn't matter what was taught they're brains were not there....

Okay, okay, I digress.

Look ahead at November here's a quick freebie
As you know I use a clip chart in my classroom. I was using those weekly forms but felt very guilty about 'wasting' all of that paper. So, I started created a monthly version. This is the one I'll use this month. I know some schools are on a different schedule so the file is editable. It's a Publisher file (old Publisher) with Microsoft graphics.





Click image to download this freebie