Behavior in the classroom can be unpredictable and nuanced, as every day brings new challenges and dynamics. I take a proactive and creative approach to classroom management by encouraging positive behavior through strategies that are responsive to individual student needs and interests.

I prioritize building strong relationships so that students feel seen, heard, and safe, creating a classroom environment rooted in trust and consistency. I also believe in motivating the class as a whole by setting clear expectations and working toward collective goals, such as earning class rewards. 

When interfering behaviors arise, I view them as opportunities to understand the underlying cause, which is often connected to emotional or social distress. By responding with empathy, consistency, and clear structures, I aim to support each student in learning self-regulation and responsibility while maintaining a positive and productive learning environment.

Behavior Chart Examples:

Daily Secret Student & Secret Mission: 

Each day, I randomly chose one student to be the "Secret Student." If this person followed expectations all day, they were rewarded with a positive note, a reward coupon to work around the room, a gold sticker, and a piece of candy. This helped motivate students intrinsically to meet daily expectations and do their best each day. Students also had the chance to earn a "Secret Shoutout" if they did an outstanding job following expectations, participating, and encouraging others, even if they were not the "Secret Student" on a given day. 

I also implemented a "Secret Mission" each day. Usually, I would observe where the class is struggling to follow expectations, and create a mission based on my observations. Other times, the "Secret Mission" would be as simple as writing their full heading on their assignment. 

Examples of "Secret Missions" Include:

- Tidy cubby

- Cleaning up the floor

- Putting chairs/flexible seating away

- Greeting teachers

- Using resources to answer challenging questions

Whole Class Reward Behavior Management Examples:

Student Quotes:

• "Ms. Thorne is also very strong because if people aren't listening to her, she will stand through it until everyone is quiet," -AC

• "She is amazing at teaching, and she even deals with difficult people all the time, and deals with them really well!" -JR