Teacher Trick for Ghoulish Behavior!

It's it's October and the time for tricks & treats, I thought I'd offer up a classroom management "trick" today as well as freebie "treat." I use an economy system to help reward and reinforcement individual behavior but I've also had a class competition as well.  This year we've had some ghoulish behavior for lots of little goblins... Thus, the class reward wasn't working! So, I decided to try something on a smaller scale.

So what am I doing that's helping with homework and behavior? Table Bingo! 

What's the incentive? A reward of some kind and NEW SEATS! It's amazing how well this took off with my fifth graders. I think the reward for new seats my be their favorite aspect of the entire reward!

I can't take all the credit, I got the idea from my blogging buddy and "sole" sister Lisa from Fourth n Ten. She does Behavior Bingo as a competition between her morning and afternoon blocks.

Here's how it works in my room:
I give out "squares" to entire tables when they clean up, follow directions the first time, follow directions on the board, are great for a sub or even if the entire table has their LA/SS homework! {gasp!} I give students a choice for homework completion but the other squares I will call "numbers" so if several tables follow directions I may say they can color in any number with a "5".... This keeps the game going or allows you to speed it up if necessary.

All boards are posted so students can see their table's progress. I also allow students to color in the squares for that ownership piece. They have been great about taking turns and "talking strategy" with each other.

Our first reward was a snack during class provided by me. Students were able to drink a soda {caffeine free} and have some baked chips as I taught LA/SS. I'm going to take suggestions for our next reward as well as offer my own suggestion of  a Week Off LA Homework! #WinWin

Here's my BINGO "go-to's" as freebie treat:

Ten Pin Linky

 Today, I was in school mode as I hit up Michael's and Target while waiting on my car service appointment. I actually purchased several accessories for my library today. I'm going to try a new library check out system since I've been unhappy with my current system for a few years now! I'll show off my new "Made Its" on Monday after I finish getting them all organized and ready to go! So, since I've been home this summer and exploring Pinterest (way more than a person should) might as well link up with Ashley from Just Reed for her Ten Pin Linky Party!

(* Pictures are linked to original blogs/pinterest if you wish to read more!)

#1 One of the biggest issues in fifth grade is what kids do when they are "done." I always have my lightning fast finishers. I usually have directions on the SMARTboard but often there is an anchor chart something displayed. This board would be perfect for those"I'm done.... now what?" moments. This board would also be a great way to swap out "tasks" depending on importance or the week.

#2  and #3 Oh the classroom library! My library books are always in a disarry. Students find a book and throw in any old bin (even though they are all labeled!)...then students can't find the book they're looking for. I have over 400 something odd books... I can't figure out where they're at let alone keep track of them. These next two pins should hopefully help me out.The first one is an organizational app that allows students to log-in and digitally check out a book. I've already scanned in 275 books and I'm just over half way done... the rest will get done in August!

The second pin is "shelf marker / book bin marker" that allows students to mark where a book came from so they can remember to put it back in the right spot! GENIUS! I'm creating sticks for both classes! I'm tired of them not putting the books back correctly. It should make my life and my "librarian" of the week much more relaxing during Workshop.

#4 The best classroom management strategy is engagement. I thought the use of QR Codes was a great way to get kids learning without knowing it! It's a simple way for them to conduct research or even check over their own work! I need to use these more next year with our iPad cart!

#5 I've used passes etc. but there is moment when I forget who is in the bathroom or who I sent to the nurse as the fire alarm is ringing. So I thought this clever idea would be a great way for ME to know where my students are. I'm a very with-it teacher but as we get into workshop and groups, I'm so focused on my groups or conferences, that I often don't realize I said "Yes" to a bathroom question. This is on my to-do list of the summer!

#6 & #7 I hate when students interrupt during workshop conferences or small group RTI. So to hopefully help me manage my small groups as well as keep my class on task, I'm hoping to use #6 and #7. During writing workshop, students often want me to answer their questions even though they have a writing partner. However, I can barely get through conferences as it is! I'm hoping to make more use of my writing center area next year. I want to have a "One stop shop" for all things writing so students can check and monitor his/her own work FIRST before they come see me.

My seventh pin will hopefully allow students to "know" if I'm available to take their questions during workshops.

#8 I'm adding my eighth post to my summer To-Do list. I already have the clips, string, and card stock ready! I just need to put it all together! I need one of these signs to manage my own workshop conferencing time and schedule. I'm also going to try to do some group conferences next year. I just feel like towards the end of a piece, I'm shorting some students so we can wrap up the pieces and get them FINISHED! I have nightmares about conferencing... no joke! I can get everything but that piece to fall into place!

#9 Oh the writing process (AGAIN!)... It's called a process for a reason, even if its the teacher who needs help through the process ;)  .... I already have a system for keeping track of the writing process using numbered clips. But I like the idea of having these magazine bins for students to go too. I'm not sure if I'd want students to put drafts in the folder or just have handouts for help in their, but I think that would really help the flow of workshop. I have 50+ students so I don't think keeping drafts would be idea. However, keeping some editing checklists, revision reminders, etc. handy would allow students to move on without permission. I'm all for helping my kiddos gain independence!

#10 The next item(s) are on my wish list! Often at stations, it takes forever to go over all the directions because I know students won't read the directions I have typed up at each station. These little pods allow you to record your directions or voice. I think these would be great for giving instructions and hopefully would have more "buy in" than typed up directions. Plus the kids could listen to them again before asking for help. It would hit another learning style if nothing else!

Can't wait to see everyone's pins for this week's party! I'm always in the mood to repin a great idea! Hope everyone has a great week!

Sunday's Spotlight: Classroom Management

So, it's Sunday.... is the weekend really over? I've had a restful weekend but it's time to go back to work and school mode. Tonight, I'm joining up with An Apple a Day hosted by Leigh at the Applicious Teacher!

My team uses a variety of management systems to target individual and group behaviors... First, our team uses a dollar system as part of our behavior management. Students earn dollars by coming to school (just like a paycheck) and they can earn extra dollars for good behavior, great grades, or going above and beyond. We have laminated ones, tens, and twenties that students can cash in and exchange. We pay our students the following week either on Monday or Tuesday as part of our morning homeroom time. Students can cash in money at our store every other Friday or they can choose to save up their money. If students need to go to their lockers, talk, forget homework, have a no name paper, or need to rent a pencil, etc. they lose dollars. We all have a "MENU" posted in our classrooms that states the cost of various "items." This system works really well for most of our students. Students also an "buy" their way into some of our class parties or rewards with extra dollars if it is not earned. It's a big motivator especially when the store is fully stocked. We have parents donate to our classroom store 2-3 times a year to stock up on food, posters, school supplies, etc. We also have a raffle for $5 gift cards to Target, Game Stop, iTunes every other week. Students can use their money to purchase tickets at the store for the raffle. $1 for one ticket or 6 tickets for $5! This management system is idea for individual students.

With that we also have team "write-ups" that we call cautions (they used to be a bright yellow). We give four different types of write ups during the week. These write ups are labels that go into the planner so they can not be removed (it's noticeable if they try) and parents must sign. We chip in at the beginning of the year to buy all the labels and then print them out. We have a green homework caution, an orange disruption (talking, not following directions, etc) caution, a yellow behavior caution (more severe than talking or an on going problem), and a pink signature caution. All cautions are worth a value of one, except signatures which are worth 1/3 (The Logic: It's not always entirely the students fault for parent's not signing the planner or take home folder). It seems a little complex but the kids catch on very quickly. Here's the letter we send home to our parents.

Another clever trick of the trade are our, "homework receipts." These are a blessing when quickly trying to assess what homework has been turned in! They are also great records during conferences of "crazy excuses" and/or the volume of missing work. It's great documentation all written out by the student!

We collect ALL homework during our homeroom time in the morning. There is no sneaking, no mom bring it to school (not fair to working parents) and then we have chance to grade it in our minute free time. If a student does not have homework, then they fill out a No Homework Form. They fill out one per assignment. This is usually on bright yellow paper so that we know who is missing an assignment even if its collected in another classroom. It works out really well and then I list all my missing assignments on my white board and students may erase their names as they turn in the assignments. On our team, students have one week to turn in late work and then it's a zero. To save paper, we only copy these homework forms on half sheets of paper.

In addition, we have a separate whole class management plan. We have an a "500" race between each homeroom. The goal is to get 500 "laps" like in the Indy 500. Our "laps" are marbles. Every time a homeroom earns 50 "laps" they get a car cutout placed on a pictograph outside our classrooms. Once a class earns all 500 laps or 10 cars, they get a class Wii Party! This is a huge motivator for many of our students - especially since the other homerooms do not get this party. It's for VIP's in the Victory Circle ONLY!

We tally the laps at each of our team meetings on Fridays so the students always know which class is in the lead. One of the classroom jobs is to be the "Car Driver" and carry the "car" aka a tub from IKEA ($2.99 for a three pack!) from class to class.

The class earns laps for good behavior (above & beyond expectations), homework complete (100% class completion earns 2 laps!), following directions, teacher compliments, and highest test/quiz averages. Conversely, the class can lose laps for not following directions, talking, getting a bad report from a specials teacher, etc. We usually get through two rounds of competition within a typical school year (depending mostly on homework completion). This year we made it through one official victory and a partial victory. We're an extremely competitive team and it really drives some of the bubble kids to put in that extra effort to do their homework or study a little harder for a test/quiz. It's a system we don't have to "manage" since the students carry the cars and count the laps once they are given out.

Phew! It seems like a lot but since all four teachers use the same plan, it really works out. The plans benefit both the class and individual students who are making good choices!

 I can wait to see everyone's management ideas!