Classroom Management
Piggy Bank Savings, Timer, and Praise
Description and Rationale: In addition to my cooperative teacher's classroom management system of pulling cards, I implemented a "Piggy Bank Savings" classroom management system to assist with keeping students on task. I used the computer to print 10 pennies, about 4 inches wide. I also printed a picture of a piggy bank. I laminated the pennies, and glued the piggy bank to a piece of poster board which I also laminated. I put Velcro on the pennies, and also on the poster board. Each day, the students started with 5 pennies. When they were working quietly, I added a penny. At the end of each day, we counted the pennies in the piggy bank. If there were 20 pennies in the bank by the end o the week, then I allowed five minutes extra recess on Fridays. Another method I implemented was "Praise". When students were following instructions, I would call out those students’ names. For example: When I asked students to clear their desks for our transition into the next activity, I would say "I see that Mark has clear his desk and sitting quietly", etc... This method was also successful for me as well as setting a timer for one minute so that students knew they had to have their desks cleared by the time the buzzer went off.
Reflection: I did not feel comfortable changing the classroom management system that was already in place since the beginning of the school year. I added my own system to supplement the current system of "pulling cards". Since I did not see any consistency with the "pulling card" system, I believe that the students were excited over having something new and something they enjoyed participating in. In the future, I will use mixed coins and have students count the amount each day. I also believe that praise is an excellent classroom managment routine. As mentioned above, students want to do their best when their fellow students are being praised for something.
Description and Rationale: In addition to my cooperative teacher's classroom management system of pulling cards, I implemented a "Piggy Bank Savings" classroom management system to assist with keeping students on task. I used the computer to print 10 pennies, about 4 inches wide. I also printed a picture of a piggy bank. I laminated the pennies, and glued the piggy bank to a piece of poster board which I also laminated. I put Velcro on the pennies, and also on the poster board. Each day, the students started with 5 pennies. When they were working quietly, I added a penny. At the end of each day, we counted the pennies in the piggy bank. If there were 20 pennies in the bank by the end o the week, then I allowed five minutes extra recess on Fridays. Another method I implemented was "Praise". When students were following instructions, I would call out those students’ names. For example: When I asked students to clear their desks for our transition into the next activity, I would say "I see that Mark has clear his desk and sitting quietly", etc... This method was also successful for me as well as setting a timer for one minute so that students knew they had to have their desks cleared by the time the buzzer went off.
Reflection: I did not feel comfortable changing the classroom management system that was already in place since the beginning of the school year. I added my own system to supplement the current system of "pulling cards". Since I did not see any consistency with the "pulling card" system, I believe that the students were excited over having something new and something they enjoyed participating in. In the future, I will use mixed coins and have students count the amount each day. I also believe that praise is an excellent classroom managment routine. As mentioned above, students want to do their best when their fellow students are being praised for something.