Classroom Behavior & Management

The Learning Pit

Causes of Behavior

ACEs in the Classroom

Realistic Ways to Build Relationships

Reasons for Behavior & How We Can Help

There are many causes for behavior in the classroom. The most commons reasons for behaviors that I have seen in the classroom are lack of appropriate coping skills, lack of appropriate or ways communication with others, sensory processing problems, trauma, and escape. We, as teachers, can use positive and negative reinforcement to minimize these behaviors.

The biggest thing that I beleive we can do for students to miminize behaviors is build relationships and truly get to know our students. Utlizing a couple minutes each day to sit and chat with kids about their likes is one early intervention to create positive relationships. I also believe that when we stick through the hard behaviors with our students, students will begin to trust that you can handle their big feelings and emotions.

Positive Reinforcement is giving the child something rewarding to that child in order to encourage positive behavior. This is not bribery but can be a reward. People often associate negative reinforcement as a bad thing; however, it isn't meant to be bad. Negative Reinforcement is actually the removal of something in order to promote positive behavior. I also believe in the power of Group Contingencies. Group Contingency is reinforcement as a group or whole class.

Below, I will explain some different ways that I have used positive and negative reinforcement in my classroom.

Individual Feelings Check In

I utilize these stickers with certain kids who are working on understanding their own feelings about certain subjects and assignments.

Behavior Check-in and Out Sheets

Our school, specifically upper grades Special Education teacher, uses these sheets to help kids and adults track how their days are going. We can then use the data from these sheets to track behavior IEP goals and help us understand when and what needs to be updated. They are consistent through the upper grades, so all teachers and staff know how to do them with all students.

Woah Board

Students can initial the Woah Board for doing the right thing and going above and beyond. When the board is filled, we spin the spinner to see what plots get a price.

For our March Madness school wide PBIS structured activity, my class is working on appropriate classroom volume. To encourage students to maintain a quiet and appropriate volume, we have a challenge. We use the above screen sound meter from classroomscreen.com (linked below). Every time the sound meter dings, we move our clip down the board. When the class is at the appropriate volume, without any dings, for a set time (we are working at 5-10 minutes) the clip moves up the board. They can score points when they "Stay in the Game" and "Score." Students can earn point and spend points in my classroom to receive prizes like hot chocolate and free homework passes. Additionally, the ding sound has started to train their brains. When they heard the sound, they know they must turn down their volume.

Classroom Screen

Chance Tickets

Chance Tickets is one of my favorite positive reinforcement tools to promote positive choices and behaviors. Student earn themselves a ticket for making positive classroom decisions without being asked. Some examples are holding a door open for a peer, being quiet during individual work times, using manners, etc. Randomly, I would draw a ticket from the jar and the child that has their name on the ticket would earn a prize.

Secret Student or Mystery Student

This positive reinforcement contingency theory can be utilized many different ways. I most often use Secret Student and choose one student per day. If this student has a positive day, and has met the guidelines of a Secret Student, their name is revealed and they earn a prize. Some of their favorite prizes were: use my pens for a day, VIP Spot, and eat lunch with the teacher! You can also choose a Mystery Student for certain events or even during bathroom breaks.

Punch Cards

This positive reinforcement strategy uses punch cards for each student. When the student fills their punch card, following expectations and guidelines discussed ahead of time, they earn a prize.

I have also observed Punch Cards working successfully to encourage positive grades on tests such as AR tests.

I Noticed Notes

One of the most simple positive reinforcement strategies that I use on a regular basis, are 'I noticed cards.' With 'I noticed cards' I write down one positive thing that I noticed about the student that day. This little card of recognition has been a positive for many of my students. Often, the students save these to look at later. You could give kids a journal or folder to keep them in.

Example:

Sam, I noticed that you were listening and had eyes on the teacher during the read aloud today.

Bucks or Coins

Students can earn coins going above a beyond in the classroom with this positive reinforcement strategy that I utilized in a classroom that I substituted in. Students could then buy the rewards such as: sit by a friend, hot chocolate (she had a k-cup machine in the classroom), eat lunch with the teacher, laffy-taffy, and so much more!

Less Problems

When students have behaviors in certains subjects because they either don't like the class or they struggle with the class, I have used this negative reinforcement strategy. If a student is able to show me with less problems that they understand the math and not have a behavior, than that student can earn the opportunity to do less problems. Students can also do a few problems and then take a break to do something they enjoy.

Warm and Fuzzy Jar

The Warm and Fuzzies is another group continegency tool that has worked well in my classroom. When the whole group is doing well at something, then a Warm and Fuzzy is given. This is a good reward for when compliments from other staff about the class are given. It can also be used in specials when other staff are informed. Some of our favorite whole class rewards were: off-campus activity like a walk to a nearby park, ice cream treat, donuts, movie afternoon, and tie-dye party.

Verbally Praising Peers

When teachers verbally recognize the positive choices of certain peers, it can often change what others are doing around them. Kids naturally want praise when they hear others receive praise. Positive praise especially when standing in line, has gone a long way with many of my past students.

Example: Sam, You did a great job cleaning up your markers when the direction was given.

Ideas of Positive Praise

BINGO

One fall, my class was working on certain classroom expectations that I had re-taught over the first semester. For our winter party that year, I had the class work together to earn the party by making a BINGO on the Class BINGO Board. If they made 2 BINGOs, I would bring the class an extra party treat. Needless to say, they earned their party and their treat plus worked on positive behaviors in the classroom. We were working on positive specials classes, positive class transitions, and getting compliments from other teachers for positive behavior. I threw in some other positive classroom expectations as well.

Verbal Countdowns

Giving 5 minut warnings before it is time to clean up has helped some. Also, teaching the countdown expectation, and then verbally counting down at every transition can help students know where you expect them to be at what number you expect them to be there. This strategy does take practice time until the kids learn where and when you expect them to be there.

Countdown Demo

Visual Timers

I have utilized many visual timers for individual work times, play times, etc. I will link my favorite classroom timers below.

Basic Timers

Volcano Timer

The classroom screen below is a free online program. It is great for staying organized on your SmartBoard. I love that you can create personalized backgrounds (I use Canva), morning messages, quotes, polls, drawings, stoplight, and other various and useful tools.

Classroom Screen

Canva for Teachers

Online Sound & Noise Meters

I have also enjoyed using online sound meters with chatty classrooms. There are lots of fun ones out there that you can utilize. Below are my favorites. Your Smartboard or computer does need a speaker to utilize them.

Classroom Screen

Classroom Zen also has breathing tools, brain breaks, and typing practice.

Classroom Zen

Bouncy Balls

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