In our third grade classroom, we focus on creating a caring, respectful, and supportive learning environment where students feel empowered to make positive choices and work together as a classroom family. Below are some of the tools and routines we use throughout the year to help build responsibility, teamwork, and kindness.
As part of our Social Emotional Learning, we use the language of green choices and red choices.
Green choices are the preferred, helpful choices that keep our classroom safe, respectful, and fun
Red choices are the less preferred choices that can make it harder for us to learn and work together
I intentionally use this language instead of “good” or “bad” choices because I want every child to know that making a red choice does not make them a bad person. We all make mistakes. What matters most is that we learn and grow from them. We will talk about examples of green and red choices at the beginning of the year and revisit them often throughout our time together.
Each week, I will randomly choose two students to be our Classroom Helpers. These students will take on important responsibilities such as:
Delivering papers or messages to the office
Handing out and collecting materials like test dividers or assignments
Carrying the recess ball bag outside
Assisting with small classroom errands
Throughout the week, our helpers will also receive special positive affirmations and compliments from their classmates, recognizing their effort and kindness.
Our Snaps system is a fun way to celebrate kindness and community. When a student notices another student doing something kind or helpful, they can write a "snap" on a piece of paper and place it in our Snap Bin.
Here are some examples:
"I snapped Mrs. Maxwell for picking up my pencil when it fell."
"I snapped Johnny because he handed me my water bottle so I didn’t forget it at lunch."
At different points during the week, I will pull a few snaps from the bin and read them aloud to the class. For example, I might say, "I snapped Mrs. Maxwell for picking up my pencil." The class will then snap their fingers and say together, "Snaps for Mrs. Maxwell."
This routine helps create a positive and encouraging atmosphere in our classroom and reminds us all to notice and appreciate the kindness around us.
Our class earns rewards together by working as a team and demonstrating kindness, respect, and responsibility. There are a few ways we can earn class rewards:
Earning compliments from other teachers or staff, such as during specials or while walking in the hallway. Seven compliments earns a class reward to vote on.
Working together during lessons, transitions, group work, or emergency drills earns the class a firefly to fill our jar. When the jar is full the class votes on a reward.
Throughout the day, students may earn tickets for making green choices such as helping a classmate, following directions, participating respectfully, or showing extra effort.
Tickets can also be taken away if a student makes a red choice, such as not following directions, being unkind, or making unsafe decisions.
Students can use their tickets to earn individual rewards, such as:
A homework pass
A dress down day
A special pencil or eraser
Bringing in a tell-and-show item to share with the class