Pinspiring Classroom Management!

In case you missed my guest post on Hadar's blog in June, here is an oldie but goody post....

Let’s be honest…sometimes our classrooms look like the animals in the zoo, a car of clowns from the circus, or a sold out PG movie…yes we put the FUN in dysFUNctional.  I thought I would share with you some of my favorite classroom management ideas and pinspiring pics!

Star Jar: I am always telling my class “I am looking for a shining star.” This is my version of a treasure box. I just bought a glass cookie jar from Target (love) and filled it will all kinds of goodies. It’s like telling kids they get a Happy Meal (because they want the toy…right?).

Sweet Treats: I realize that many schools don’t allow candy anymore and I don’t necessarily agree with sugaring kids up. I think it’s a good rule. I keep this small glass jar, also from Target, filled with seasonal sweets. For example during October, I will fill it with candy corn. It always amazes me what a child will do for ONE m&m or ONE candy heart. I always get compliments on how clean my room is and it costs me about three m&m’s a day.

Treasure Box: I have a very small metal tin in the shape of a treasure box. I keep it filled with all kinds of stickers. I buy the stickers out of the dentist magazines, the big square ones. Oh, they feel beyond special when they get a princess or superman sticker.  If they get to go to the treasure box, the get to choose one sticker.

Swell Smell: I buy different flavors of chapstick and try and keep one in my pocket. This works great especially for in the hall. I will tell them to put their hand on their head and rub the chapstick on their hand so they can smell it. It's always great to stock up on these during the after Christmas sales because they have tons at WalMart for stocking stuffers for the holidays. The kids LOVE them!

Green Fish Lunch: At our school, we "flip fish" when kids are in trouble. If you go the entire six weeks without flipping more than one green fish (because everyone has a bad day), you get to have lunch with me in the classroom while we enjoy a movie. The kids can't wait for this! They really don’t even talk to me during this lunch. It’s just cool to sit in our room and watch Magic School Bus while other kids are in the lunch room. Next year we aren’t doing fish, but we will figure out a way to keep this tradition going.  For some kids, it works.

Here are a few PINTEREST inspired classroom management ideas! I plan on trying a few this year!

http://www.mchaffiek.blogspot.com/2011/02/sparklers.html

http://whattheteacherwants.blogspot.com/2010/11/management-monday.html

http://firstgraderatlast.blogspot.com/2010/07/brownie-points.html

http://thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com/2010/09/have-you-filled-bucket.html

I always “bless” my students with stickers and treasures on a whim. I think that keeps them on their toes. For the upcoming school year, I am going to try out a clip chart. I have never done this before but I am excited...I think. EE K! Though, I am not sure how the moving up and down thing will work. What if they have moved up and then they are REALLY naughty? Do you move them back every day?  This teacher needs to be schooled on this! Haha!

Here is a freebie just for sweet little you. It’s a clip chart and I hope you L.O.V.E. love it. If you don’t that is okay too. 

Here’s hoping you have a great upcoming school year and that it doesn't cost you a million stickers, m&m’s, treasures, or an eye twitch. You laugh but two years ago, I had a kid that gave me an eye twitch. I can’t even say his name. That will break the terms of agreement with the therapist. J J/K 

Sending you love and virtual hugs!