YOU GUYS!
It’s time for another confession.
You can read my latest confession {HERE} if you want to.
So.
Lots of people have told me that I have great classroom management. I’m not bragging because honestly? Every time someone tells me that, I’m always like SAY WHATTTTTT?
I mean, I know I can get a large group of first graders – up to thirty-two of them, plus maybe even some extra kids from a friend’s classroom – to echo me, follow along in a song with me, listen super duper quietly while I read a book, or laugh when I say funny things.
But honestly?
If I’m being completely truthful with you . . . and this might just be a primary kinder/first grade thing, but still . . .
When I’m teaching an ACTUAL lesson, I can never just get through it from start to finish all smooth-like. And I’m talking a FIVE to SEVEN MINUTE LESSON because research shows that kids can really only sit still and listen and focus according to their age plus one minute. So my six year olds SHOULD be able to listen for seven minutes and my seven year olds should be able to listen for eight minutes BUT I JUST SHOOT FOR SEVEN MINUTES MAX.
Well.
Most of my lessons go like this:
Me: I am so excited to talk to you about –
Kid 1: Ooooh, I can’t wait!
Me: Well, anyway, today I am so excited to talk to you about Bossy E! Bossy E is so bossy that . . .
Kid 2: I know about Bossy E! I learned this in kindergarten!
Me: Good for you. Let’s remember to raise our hands when we have something to – Okay, boys and girls, let’s not all raise our hands right now. Let’s put our hands down. Put your hands down. Put your hands down, please. Thank you for putting your hands down. Just waiting for one more . . .
Alright! So Bossy E is so bossy that he –
Kid 3: Is Bossy E always a boy? Or can Bossy E be a girl? Because my sister is super bossy and she’s a girl.
Me: You know, it’s just a vowel. It’s just a letter. Not a boy or a girl. But my sister is bossy, too! Do you know that one time, when we were younger, we were driving to Minnesota and she made me get a speeding ticket?!
The Whole Class: WHAT?! No!! WHAT?! Mrs. Oldham got a speeding ticket?!
CHATCHATCHATCHATCHAT
NOISE LEVEL IS IN DANGER OF BLOWING THE ROOF OFF OF OUR CLASSROOM
Me: If you can hear me, clap two times. Touch your head. Touch your shoulders.
(Without talking, then I’ll touch my knees, my ears, then I’ll put my finger over my mouth)
Me: Well, I got off track! We’ll have to talk about that sister story a little bit later. Let’s get back to Bossy E!
Bossy E is so Bossy that –
INSERT CLASSROOM PHONE RINGING
or
THE INTERVENTION TEACHER KNOCKING ON THE DOOR
or
THE SPEECH TEACHER KNOCKING ON THE DOOR
or
A KID COMING BACK FROM INTERVENTION OR SPEECH KNOCKING ON THE DOOR
or
A FIRE DRILL
Is this normal?
Is this regular?
Does this sound like you and your classroom?
I MEAN . . . IT IS EXHAUSTING.
So when people say I have good classroom management, I am just always a little bit perplexed because GOOD GRIEF CHARLIE BROWN I AM NOT TEACHING ANYTHING HERE FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.
Here’s what I started doing THIS WEEK now that we’ve returned from break because my kiddos would not stop talking to me or each other during a lesson.
Okay, so here’s what I’m doing now. And it’s seriously saving my sanity and keeping my kids out of harm’s way.
Those three round counters are basically like THREE STRIKES AND THEN YOU’RE OUT. While I’m teaching, talking, going over directions, or even reading a book, my kids know that they’re supposed to be ACTIVELY LISTENING.
We discussed what that looks like – eyes up front! Not looking down in your lap! Or playing with your fingers like they’re brand new, and you just got them for your birthday, and you haven’t had a chance to play with them yet.
It also means you’re not talking to someone next to you. Or nudging someone next to you because you can see underwear peeking out of the waistband of the person who sits in front of you.
It means YOU ARE LISTENING TO THE TEACHER.
Well . . . as I go along for those six to seven INSTRUCTIONAL MINUTES, I will remove a counter WITHOUT SAYING ONE WORD TO ANYONE ABOUT IT if I am interrupted, or if I hear chit chat, or if someone is playing with the velcro on their shoes, or anything else of any other kind that makes my eyes twitch.
I just silently remove it and keep on going.
And again.
And again.
HOWEVER . . . if we have three counters left or two counters left or even just one little counter left at the end of a mini-lesson . . . THEN . . .
Those three counters earned (or two or one, whatever they had left) go into our Ten Frame.
And our Ten Frame is our daily classroom incentive so that we can get . . .
WAIT FOR IT . . .
One WHOLE starburst!!
Ha!
This is exactly what we would get when we had our Music Box but that lost it’s efficiency before break which is why we’re earning counters in our Ten Frame. Which is also mathematical so it’s like I’m TEACHER OF THE YEAR or something.
Obviously, you do not have to give students candy. I mean, an ENTIRE starburst is a bit excessive, but that’s just me.
You could give PBIS Points, gold tags, a stamp, a sticker, Dojo Points, or whatever works for you!
Sometimes I use Table Points.
But right now, this week anyway, filling up our Ten Frame is working wonders.
And maybe, just maybe, I am good at classroom management . . .
If they would JUST STOP TALKING ALREADY.
๐
Jana says
Oh my gosh…I haven’t been excited to teach this year until just now. I can’t wait to try this on Tuesday! My class is beyond chatty and this will help. What do you do if they lose all 3?
Linda Groce says
This is awesome!! I have GOT to try it out next week!! Genius!
Molly says
I will be trying this on Tuesday.
Beth says
Love this Will be using next week. I have a great group this year but lots of chit chat so needed this idea.