Consequences

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Home : 2005 : May : 28

Consequences
By Darci

Congratulations for making it through your first year in first grade! Isn't it wonderful! I have taught first grade for 8 years now and love it!
Everyone, it seems, must find their own way of controlling students' behavior,
but here is the one I use. Hope it helps you.
I choose something different each year. This year it was bear cut-outs, next year I have BWBug car cut-outs. I place a magnet on the back of each one and their names are on the front. Whenever someone makes a poor choice, I call them by name and ask them to "please move your bear." (Next year it will be "Please park your car").
They

know that means they must leave the group to go to the group of bears and find the one with their name on it. They must then place it on the metal trim around the door so that I know they have chosen to sit at recess.
I discovered long ago that the responsibility must be placed on their shoulders. "Their choices are their responsibility." I always praise the other students and, looking at the student who made the poor choice, I say "I am sure you will make a better choice next time. We are all learning together."
I use this all the time. I never leave the spot I am in when they need to move their bear. It is ALL their responsibility. When I am teaching, I usually warn them once by restating the desired behavior and then, if it is repeated, I ask that student(s) to move their bear(s). The simple act of having them get up and physically move their bear creates the knowledge that they are in charge of themselves.
It has worked wonders, but you must stay consistant. This year I placed a tally mark on the back of the bear each time it was moved, but next year I will go back to my journaling. It works better for record-keeping and parent letters/conferences if I can look back and see a sentence of two to refresh my memory as to why they had to sit (and talk to me, usually......we discuss why they are sitting out of recess and what the better choice would have been.)
I use this for everything. If they do not return their homework, they know to move their bear. It has helped me feel more like I am placing the responsibility on my students.
When they do not line up quietly or whatever, I have them return to their seats.....even if we have left the room and are in the hall.....we repeat until they get it right. The only difference is that I have everyone return to their seats once......the next time I watch very closely and start moving bears, all the while praising the ones who are lining-up and walking correctly. I have stopped the group in the middle of the hall and announced "Oh, I am so sorry.....we must wait until John (whoever) returns to the room and moves his bear. Then we may continue on our way. Please hurry, John. We will wait for you here."
I read another method, but it did not work for me.....maybe I will try it again next year. Before leaving the room, I tell the students I am thinking of a student, but I do not tell them his/her name. If that students manages to arrive at our destination without making any poor choices, that child wins a prize......a piece of candy, a sticker, whatever.... I liked the idea, but I would always forget to choose a child until we were on our way. I may think of a revised version that will work for me.
Hope I was of some help. First grade is a wonderful age......If I can be of any help, please let me know.
Darci