Since it is the beginning of a new school year we are all attending trainings and sitting through who did what during the summer while our minds are trying to figure out how we want this year to go. I have decided to bring back a few things I used to do and try a few new things. First I will mention things I do in my class that I will be using this year that have proven successful for me. Note that I do teach in a school with students from all over the world; most families having a higher than usual income.
Tickets: I use raffle style tickets (the ones with the numbers) as a currency to leave the room or buy a pencil. Lets face it, students like to find excuses to get up and out of the classroom. This procedure holds them more accountable for their behavior and it keeps me from having the "can I go to the bathroom" question all day. Start by giving each student 2 at the beginning of each six weeks. They can earn them for exceptionally good behavior, helping me around the room or being a good friend. Names should be written on these tickets in pen. If a student needs to use the restroom they come to me with their pass (we use their planner for this) and a ticket. They don't have to ask and I don't have to stop teaching to do this. I take the ticket and initial, they go. This also saves me from dealing with the students who NEVER bring a pencil. I will admit the love and logic trick works great for this but it can get old. They bring me a ticket and I give them a pencil. I do not ask for it back; it's theirs. At the end of the six weeks the kids get to exchange their ticket(s) for a piece of candy. You could also add points to the six weeks test if you can't or don't want to give out candy.
Shout-outs: Everyone likes to be praised, especially by our peers. Shout-outs give students the opportunity to say good things about each other. I ask students to fill out slips that I make, print and leave in a designated area in the room. They write another student's name and write something positive about them or something they did that really helped them out. I ask them to try and give a shout out to a different student each week and I give them examples of things they might write. They put them in a old coffee tin that has a hole in the lid for my review. I check all of them then put them on a bulletin board. I did keep track of who got a shout out and how many incase someone felt left out, but no one really said they felt left out or complained. This went over well.
Dismiss: The bell, it dismisses the students, right? I know that is a big pet peeve of most teachers. This is out students leave science. We clean up and pack up and sit in our chairs quietly. When the bell rings or is about to ring I say "have a good day ladies" and as a unit they reply back "have a good day Mrs. Page" they walk out the door or line up if the bell has not rang. Once the majority of the girls are out of the way is say "have a good day gentlemen" and they say the same thing that the girls did back to me. This instills respect for others. I will occasionally let the guys go first or if we are running behind I simply say students instead of ladies and gentlemen. This also makes dismissal less chaotic.
Gathering supplies: Each table has 4 chairs. each spot at the table is assigned a number or color. For example all the students in the south west corner are 1s and all the students in the northwest corner are 2s. I introduce this at the beginning of the year so when it comes to getting lab supplies I give jobs. Number 1s grab a triple beam balance. number 2s get 5 rocks. simple.
Independence is important for students so at the beginning of the year I show them what I expect and where they can find things they need. They don't have to ask to sharpen a pencil. Students just go to the sharpener and if I am addressing the class they make eye contact with me and wait till I stop talking. They can also get up and get a marker, glue, tape or map pencils if needed and it does not cause a distraction because we went over procedures at the beginning of the year. (if you are unfamiliar with this ready First Days of School by Harry Wong)
Something new:
I teach Gifted students, who happen to be mixed in a class with preap students. It has been a challenge to cover the standards required and dig deeper with my GT learners. This year we will be in constant competition. Each lab table will be a team and I will rate each class on their level of effort that class period. On Friday the table with the highest number will get a prize. This might be a candy bar, homework pass, time to use their technology or points. This way they are not graded on if they have the correct answer or not but how engaged they are in learning and how much work they are putting into their assignments. I plan on keeping a running tally on my board each week.
Electronic device jail: ugh electronic devices....useful in the classroom but a detriment as well! Electronic Devices are allowed in our school and classroom, the problem is figuring out how to monitor and use them affectively. This year I will have a no warning/ no excuse policy. if they are caught texting or playing on their device it will placed in "jail" and they will have to pick it up at the end of the day.
