Hmmm By Holly

Some plans that I've used...

A checkbook system, where I set up a pretend bank, and gave each student checks and an account. Negative behaviors cost them! Positive behaviors earned a check from me. ...this was fun, but timely.

Also at a private school... I made a poster and paper cut-out crowns for each student, with their name on their crown. I used velcro to attach them all over the poster. Then I cut out three paper jewels per crown and attached these on the crown "tips" with velcro as well. ... I began the year talking about Queen Esther and being called for such a time as this. I talked about being royal children of the King, and how we don't "earn" Heaven but there are rewards in Heaven for those who love others and make wise decisions. Our Rules were based on making wise decisions and loving others, so a consequence for breaking a rule was to lose a jewel from their crown. I debated about whether they could lose their whole crown or not, LOL, and if it represented Salvation... at least it got us talking. I used this in a 3rd/4th class... it might be too young for 5th.

I've used a card system, where each student had an index card each week, which we kept alphabetically in a little box. For misbehaving, I made them write the date and offense, then the cards went home each week for a parent signature. This took too much time for my repeat offenders (mainly TALKERS!) to keep up with.

Another card way I've partly used/considered is to have the students draw a simple grid on an index card each week. Throughout the day, if a student misbehaved, I would write their # on the board instead of stopping my lesson. If the misbehavior continued, I would circle the #. At the end of the day, I would stamp the day's grid-box with a star stamp if their # hadn't been circled.

(Christian School) I selected a Class Verse, the one about "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure...that you may shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the Word of God?" Sorry, it's been awhile, but belive me, my whole class could quote that in their sleep! Whenever I heard a complaint, I nodded and began a class recitation of that whole thing, LOL. The parents liked it at home, too. A fun thing to do with this was put some glow-in-the-dark stars in a box and talk about how after the spent time in the Light, they were able to shine in the Dark. Then each student got their own star to keep. Maybe glue it on to a slip of paper with that verse or a quote about stars.

THIS YEAR'S EXCITING IDEA!!! Here's my latest excited idea, for my 5th graders this year. I want to make it simple, and REALLY work on building a strong sense of community among my students. Sooo, I'm going to let them award EACH OTHER at the end of each day. We'll see how this goes. I'm planning on modeling it the first few days. Then I'll teach them how to conduct a Class Meeting during the last 15 minutes of the day. This is where students can brainstorm and vote, discuss issues, solve problems (hopefully!)... Like, if Brian keeps kicking Laurie's chair even after she's asked him not to, this would be the time/place for her to ask for ideas, help. OKAY, so THEN, I will give each student a half-sheet of cool stickers, and at the end of class meeting, there will be time for them to recognize another student for being nice, trying hard, helping out, etc. The students can stick these stickers on their take-home folder.

I'm also going to try doing the Secret Child of the day, which some brilliant teacher posted on this board! The class doesn't know who the student is, but you are "watching" to see if that student earns a marble, or whatever, for the class that day. The teacher who shared this idea said it's great because you can "rig it," lol to target certain students, give them second chances and catch them being good on good days.

Good as Gold... instead of marbles, I made gold-foil cut-out "nuggets," which I taped up in a black cut-out caldron/pot. These were awarded for compliments from other teachers, etc.

Rewards... My first year I filled a treasure chest with fun stuff, and let them choose something each week, or for accumulated points, stamps, whatever. It was fun, but of course costly. I love the Playing Kickball with other class idea! Extra recess is big, popcorn and video, wear pj's to school day, popsicles,

... oh, one thing i'm thinking of trying this year, too, just for fun, is a Day in the Dark, where we won't turn on the lights, just use flashlights! Wouldn't that be fun! =o)

I would recommend letting your class come up with a big list of possible rewards! They know what they like! You might also ask them to decide on fair negative consequences, too. Just appoint a discussion leader, a secretary, and someone to count the votes, etc. My 3rd graders did this well, they loved it. 5th graders, i think, will love it even more.

Good luck!!! Focus on the positive, keep it simple. (I'm preaching to myself here, lol.)

Holly