Classroom Behavior Management

I'm linking up with What the Teacher Wants to share the behavior management system that I have in place this year.  What a great Linky idea!


I'm sure what I do will make you all gasp and question my mental state. 


Yes, I use a card chart.  Yes, the one from Lakeshore (the mere thought!).


Yes, I know I could have a cute clip chart from TPT or Pinterest.

Yes, I know it's SO 1997!


But I like it.  And here's why.

I have a really hard time moving clips up.  I never move them up.

I know, I know... positive reinforcement is better.  But I never remember and then there is no reinforcement at all! So to combat my senile ways, I created 'Star Club' (Name inspired by my special Awesome Reader friend!).
Doesn't it sound exciting? It is!

On the first day of school, the students put their 'Star' on their green card.  Then I ask very dramatically, "Who wants to be in STAR CLUB?!?!"

Well, they all do! Yay!

Students that stay on green all day, get to do 'Star Club' at the end of the day. Kids who move to yellow, orange, or red complete a reflection slip for me [yellow] or Oops! slip to be signed by a parent [orange/red].

But STAR CLUB: it lasts about 10-15 minutes, and is for the final minutes of the school day.  Basically, it's free choice time.  It is kind of an adaptation of Free Activity Time (FAT), only the minutes aren't earned.


It's really just a fake natural consequence (I know that is an oxymoron!) that I've created to make the kids stay on task during the day (Unfinished work? Finish before Star Club!) and to make them excited about meeting the classroom expectations.

My kids will do ANYTHING to get Star Club.  It's amazing! (And to be fair, you could TOTALLY use a clip chart with Star Club.)

So that's one part.  Kids on green get Star Club. Yay.

But they also get a ticket.

And if EVERYONE is on green, they get two tickets!

With their tickets they can buy cool privileges.


Last year, I was inspired by Cara Carroll's Oscar Management and by the book 'The Motivation Breakthrough' and it made me rethink the rewards I was offering my kiddos. 

Basically the message in 'The Motivation Breakthrough' is that kids, like everyone, are motivated by different types of things (power, autonomy, achievement, etc.). So I decided to align my rewards with those things. Like Cara, I wanted rewards that were privileges.

My teammate [who has since moved to Boston and left me ;) ] and I created a catalog with various rewards that appealed to different motivating factors.


I am not kidding you - it was amazing and so interesting to see what the kids were motivated by and the kinds of rewards that they chose.

Some favorites were:

Recognition Rockstar - Principal presents a certificate to the student in front of the class (everyone cheers).  Appeals to students motivated by achievement.
Be Proud, Read Aloud - Student reads a story to a first grade class or Kinder class. Appeals to students motivated by power.
Super Supplies - Student uses special pens and other supplies to complete their work for the day. Appeals to students motivated by autonomy. 

Sounds fun, right??

And of course, I use table points to practice tally marks and reinforce transitions and on-task behavior.  I know, it's MESSY.  But you know me by now - I'm not bothered by it!


And our whole school does this letter thing:


Our kids have specials once a week for two hours straight.  They get a score (1-5) for each class (3 classes).  For each five, they get a letter.  Whatever it spells (usually some type of free time, extra recess, movie) they get!

Usually I can't remember what it is.

Like now.

I have no idea what I'm supposed to spell.  Hopefully I figure it out by Thursday! I think it's some kind of recess. "..... Recess"

Hmmm. I'm sure it will come to me!

So hurry up and go link up with What the Teacher Wants!

PS: The first person who can figure out what my board spells gets to pick one item from my TPT shop for free! Leave your comments below!











8 comments

  1. I love the color chart too! I have used it for the past 14 years and just switched to the clip chart this year. It is a very hard adjustment. However, I do like the positive aspect of moving your clip up. I love your Star Club idea.
    -Jaime
    Bright Concepts 4 Teachers

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  2. The Star Club idea sounds fun. I can see why your kids are totally motivated by that.

    Barbara
    Grade ONEderful
    Ruby Slippers Blog Designs

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  3. Your post made me laugh! :) Whatever works right?! Love the star club idea...you could incorporate that with any system!

    I just found your blog through this linky party....awesome! I'm a new follower!

    I'd love it if you stopped by my new blog...go ahead and enter my giveaway before Saturday while you're there. ;)

    Amy
    What Happens in First Grade

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  4. I'm laughing with you! I thought I was the only one that happened to.

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  5. I LOVE your star club idea! I can't wait to try it! I too have been resistant to the moving up on the clip chart. I just know that I would never remember to move the clips up, but this would be perfect!

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  6. WOuld you be willing to share other rewards they could buy for the different categories?

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  7. What do you have your students do that don't earn star club a particular day?

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