Author: TCR Staff

Behavior Management

Tips for Encouraging Good Student Behavior

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Red Pen Reversal
Teachers often use a red pen to mark answers that are incorrect. Instead of using a red pen to check all wrong answers, use a red pen to check all right answers! Write “okay” on all correct answers. Leave answers that are wrong untouched. This is another silent message to students to go back and correct the wrong answers. They know, without you saying, that the problems are wrong, and they know which problems to correct. Be sure to use a red pen or pencil. Students have learned to associate red marks with the word, “wrong.” Using a red mark for the right answers is a way of using reverse psychology on them.

Tattle-Box
Tattling can be a big problem in a classroom. This type of behavior usually occurs when a student is trying to gain teacher attention. Students can tattle for the following reasons:

  • to get others in trouble
  • to hopefully get an award
  • to gain attention
  • to feel superior over others

Try using a tattle box. Cover a shoebox with paper. Label it, “The Tattle Box.” When a student tries to tattle, have the students write the problem down on paper and drop it in the box. Be sure to keep paper and pencil handy beside the box and be sure to read the papers!

Another tactic to curb tattling is when a student comes to tattle, ask a question: “Is it in or out?” In other words, you are asking the student “Are you tattling to get someone in trouble or out of trouble?” Only listen to those who say “out of trouble.” Students catch on quickly that you are not going to listen to their negative tattling.

Sticker Praise
Mark extra good work with a smiley sticker and watch the smiles on students’ faces. It is simple, but it works. Stickers with words of encouragement are also great for rewarding and motivating good work.

Behavior Management

More Ideas for Rewarding Good Behavior

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Classroom Coupons
Why not create coupons to give as rewards for good behavior, special efforts, good work? Coupons could be for eating with the teacher, a night off from homework, having lunch with another class, moving one’s desk to a preferred spot, etc. Coupons are a fun way to reward.

Compliment Box
Have a special box for just compliments. Encourage students to write a compliment when they catch a classmate doing something nice. At the end of each day, read each note aloud and then, give the notes to each student who was complimented. This tactic can build up students’ self-esteem. You might want to keep a list of those who receive notes in order to make sure that each student gets a note from time to time.

Payday
To make this technique work, you must have a pocket folder for each student. On the first day of a two-week period, students are given a set of homemade money, cut and stapled in a durable envelope with their names on the front. Students will, initially, write their names on the back of the money. Set up a system of values.

Students can lose money for the following reasons:
$ ___ no pencil
$ ___ no homework
$ ___ chewing gum
$ ___ eating in class
$ ___ running in the hall

Students can earn money for the following reasons:
$ ___ a clean desk
$ ___ a good grade
$ ___ bringing homework
$ ___ being helpful

Adjust rules as you wish. Have an end-of-the-period sale. Provide small items that the students can purchase such as stickers, books, pencils, etc., or even a no-homework night.

Rewards at No Cost
If you do not want to always buy things as rewards, here are a few reward ideas that do not cost anything.

  • be first in line
  • draw on the board
  • use the computer
  • no-homework-night pass
  • go to the library
  • be the teacher helper
  • do work at the teacher’s desk
  • move desk to another place
  • read to a younger class or student
  • have extra center time
  • go to another room for lunch

Zip the Lips
Make a large set of lips, complete with zipper. Cue in your students that when you make a zip motion over the lips, the meaning is the following: “Zip your lips.” In other words, get quiet!

Fishing on Friday
Want to have good behavior during the week? One way to encourage following rules is to have a special surprise. First, obtain a small fish bowl. Place the students’ names in the bowl if a student was good for the week and followed all the rules. At the end of the week, have a drawing. Have some type of special treat or prize for the week’s winner.

Smile Face Reminder
Sometimes it is hard to remember to smile. Make a large smiley face and suspend it from the ceiling. When you notice it, it will be a great reminder to stay positive.

Be Human
Students need to know that teachers are human, too. Everyone makes mistakes, even the teacher. Sometimes it is effective to deliberately make a mistake in order to let the students react and correct! When using this approach, be careful that you do not let students get away with being disrespectful. Students respect is a necessary component of good teaching.

Silent Signals and Signs
Silent signaling to your class is always a plus. To silently signal to students that they should stop talking, create a signal light. Put up the red signal when they are too noisy and need to be quiet. Put up the yellow signal when they can talk and share in low voices. Use the green signal for saying talking is all right. If money is no problem, purchase a small stoplight through a teacher supply company.

Other proven methods involve using hand signals. A thumbs up can mean “excellent” or “I’m proud of you.” Work with your students to develop signs. This can be a fun way to talk about people who are deaf and how they communicate with each other.

Behavior Management

Ideas for Rewarding Good Student Behavior

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Punch-a-Hole Card

Need a way to reward good behavior? Make a card for each student and divide the card into small squares, large enough to place a hole punch. Randomly give punches to the student’s card, ensuring that the student realizes that he or she has earned the reward. Keep the punch card in a visible place on the student’s desk. This way, you can check to make sure that you are not missing a student or unfairly giving one student too many punches on his or her card. Randomly reward behaviors such as the following:

  • completing work assignments
  • following instructions well
  • studying with another student
  • attention to task
  • helping another student
  • showing kindness to another

Consider using one of the specialty design punches, such as shapes like stars or hearts, rather than using the ordinary hole punch (stickers are also another great alternative). Additionally, set a time limit on the card’s use, such as a card for every two weeks, or so. You will find that students will count the number of holes they have earned. This makes the card a constant reinforcement of good behavior.

(Caution: The good student will typically earn hole punches too quickly. Therefore, make sure that these types of students do things over and above the behaviors they normally exhibit. Therefore, you are setting a goal for the good student to achieve.)

Have a special reward when each student has earned a set number of hole punches. Students must know they are working to attain a goal. The goal should be within reason.

Lesson Plans

Activities that Inspire Learning: Spelling Activities

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Listed below are a variety of unique ways students can practice their spelling words. You may want to assign a specific activity for students to complete or provide the list to the students and allow them to select an activity in which they are interested.

Story Writing
Have students use their spelling words in a story. You decide how many words they are to use; the number may vary according to individual student ability.

Illustrations
Draw a picture representing five of the spelling words. (This can be much harder than it sounds; check over your list before you give this assignment.)

Word Sentences
Use as many words from the spelling list as you can to make sentences with each letter in the word forming the first letter of a word in the sentence. For example, the word “paint” could be used as a base for writing “Paula ate ice cream nine times.” You may wish to let them work with partners at first if they have difficulty with this assignment.

Small Words
Students are to find the small words in their spelling words. Making it into a contest is the most fun, and many reluctant students will amaze you with all the words they can find. (If it is an unusual word, they must copy down the meaning.) Use the following rules:

  • Use no foreign words or proper nouns.
  • Words must be two or more letters.
  • Each word counts as one point.
  • If a student uses a nonexistent word, two points are taken off.
  • The person with the most points wins.

Synonyms, Antonyms, and Homonyms
Write spelling words in a list on the left side of the paper and draw three additional columns with “Synonyms,” “Homonyms,” and “Antonyms” written across the top. At least one category must be filled in for each spelling word.

For more spelling activities, check out these best-selling books: