I question my methods often, as I think all good educators should. So, if you have a minute please read this LONG post and leave some honest feedback and advice on what works for YOU.
Last year was a tough one (behaviorally) in my classroom. I felt I had more defiance, anger and "issues" come up than I ever have before. Actually it seems every year gets a little tougher. I've taught for 14 years and in the last 2 years I've had to chase down runaway kids, been spit at, screamed at, scratched and had to have many, many, many talks about why it is not ok to hurt others.
So, I'm spending my summer trying to prepare myself for next year. If the pattern holds I need to be ready. I want my kinders to have a great year. . .it's their first and I need to be at my best for them and their parents who might be sending their first (or last) child through kindergarten. They deserve a stress free environment, right? I'll share with you what I've done for years and then ask my question.
I've always had a "Behavior Management" system. Whether it's been "move your card" or "move your picture" or "move your clip." The overall idea was always the same:
1. You make a bad choice
2. You lose 5-10 minutes of _____ (free time, recess, computer time, etc)
3. Think about the "choice" that put you in this "time out"
4. When "time out" is over we'll discuss what choices where made and what you could do differently next time
And I can honestly say that, out of a class of 24 last year, there were 12 kids who had to repeat this process over and over and over and over. Sigh.
Here's my chart from last year.
Also, I think it's important to understand that the consequences part of my classroom management is not all I do.
We have a "Pond of Choice" for conflict resolution. (Love this by the way! If you want to know more click the picture to go to the website.)
We talk about above the line/below the line behavior (Top 20 Training: Great training and I love this too and use it alot!)
I've read Ruby Payne's book A Framework for Understanding Poverty. I understand the need to teach "those are your home rules" and "these are your school rules"
Great book by the way!
We read stories about appropriate behavior. We talk about what appropriate vs. inappropriate behavior looks like, how it affects everyone, what we can do to build a better community, and on and on and on. Love Julia Cook. . . she is FaNtAsTiC!
We talk about Warm Fuzzies/Cold Prickles and try to fill our Warm Fuzzy jar for a class reward.
We read Have You Filled a Bucket Today?
We role play, practice "redos", I sing my songs, chant my chants, do my little dance, weave my magic over their beautiful 5 and 6 year old minds and still:
**Bobby finds it ok to scratch Sally and draw blood because she touched his pencil**
**Billy thinks it's ok to yell at me because his shoe is untied**
**Susie runs out of the building and tries to hide because she doesn't want to go to music**
**Jenny screeches (yes, screeches!) at the class that life is not fair and she hates us all.**
Well, you get the point. Even after hours, days, weeks, months spent working on positive productive behavior kids still make bad choices, mistakes, errors, learning opportunities. . . whatever you want to call them.
And isn't it our job, as their teacher, to help them learn from their choices?
So, finally, here's where my question comes in:
The BEHAVIOR CHART
Some say they are not necessary and only "embarass" the kids.
Some say "keep it" and lots are even using this more positive version I've seen all over pinterest and blogs:
What do you think? I can see both points of view. I really can. I don't want to embarrass the kids but I do want them to stop and think about their behavior because how else are they going to learn from it?
I believe (even if it is controversial) that kids need consequences for hurtful/inappropriate behavior (that might be a post for another day!)
Do you "keep track" of inappropriate behavior?
If so, how?
If not, what do you do?
