behaviour

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2001 : March : 28

behaviour
By Cathy-Dee

Sounds like our grade 2 class (they were my kids last year and they haven't improved much). Actually most of the kids are not that bad, but those extreme cases can really cause havoc in a class.

Just the change in teachers
will be enough to set off students. So... I would recommend that you spend the next few days just discussing classroom rules, etc., Have the students make a list of things they make it hard for them to learn without mentioning names. Put up this list. Then come up with a about 5 or 6 rules that would help change some of these things so that everyone would be able to do their best

in class.

I use sticker charts (I had the same problem, the kids took stickers off of other charts) so I have a coloured pen that I know no one in the class has and it stays out of sight from the kids and I mark the charts with stars so I know where they are at.

I also use the method of writing a name on the board (this means 5 minutes missed of the next recess or fun activity like gym, computers, centers). After that I add a checkmark. Because the board is high enough they would have to stand on a chair to reach the where I have written the names. Also because it is for the next recess, etc., I don't have to worry about keeping it on the board for too long so I also remember whose names are on the board.

I think for now the two easiest areas to work on are the shouting out and leaving desks. The respecting part will only come with time and although some things shouldn't be tolerated, ignore all the minor stuff for now.

Let the kids know these are the two areas you want to work on with them. Remind them frequently. Grade two students still love games and contests. I teach grade one and often use things like I will be watching for the quietest group (or row) when I come into the room after recess. And that row would get a little treat (jelly beans are always popular) or a sticker.
Changing the rewards keeps them interested.

As far as shouting out, remind them to use hands constantly. I like to use the phrase thank you Sam for using your hand. This often gets the others into line.

Circle times are great at helping them to learn to get along with one another. Have one circle time a day - no one can shout out - they have to think of positive things to say about someone in the class.

Everyday you could pick one student and have all the other students write one nice thing about that student and put up a poster so that student can be the "star" for the day. This may help with some of the more extreme cases as they are often seeking attention.

Praise them often, I am forever thanking students who are sitting quietly, doing their work quietly. Sometimes I will just walk around the room and put a jelly bean on the desks of anyone who is sitting and doing their work.

Using signs to help control things may help as well. Stop sign means you have to stay in your desk. Green sign means you are allowed to move around the room. Begin by having more green sign times than you would usually, and then slowly reduce the amount of time the green sign is up.

Have a time-out corner for those 5 major outburst students. If the behaviour continues have your assistants remove the child from the room if possible.

Another thing I have used is a jar I fill with popcorn kernels. When the jar is full the class earns a treat (a pizza party, a popcorn party, a movie, a special field trip). Usually it will take at least 2 weeks to fill the jar and sometimes longer, so you are looking at a treat once to twice a month maximum. This helps build classroom unity as it is when the whole class is behaving and takes away the pressure on individual students to try to earn rewards. Everyone wins instead of just those few well behaved students always getting rewards while the others have to work so hard to get even one reward.

Hope some of these ideas help, please feel free to email me if you have any questions.