(Motivating students/Improving Management)What tips can you share?
Post # 1: Have Students Help Bear The Management Load!
Let’s see what ownership does for management.
Most teachers use “table group” incentives (i.e. if the whole table is quiet, then that group gets a point & enough points lead to some kind of positive benefit.) But you simply can’t get every table quiet every time and never show negativity.
I am a firm believer in giving children “do’s”, not “don’ts.” But boy is that tough when you can so easily say, “don’t disrupt,” “stop talking to your neighbor,” “I’m sorry your group doesn’t get a point…” Children need positive actions to take with their bodies, not just their minds. Children need to feel ownership over their environment. So let’s brainstorm to turn theory into practice…
My question is, do your students really know how they can kindly help each other settle down?
This year I am making a commitment to explicitly model what to do, for table points.
At least 3 times a week for at least the 1st 4 weeks of school (& many times thereafter), I am going to show students (not tell) how to ask their neighbor to join in being quiet. I will give them 3 active steps to execute:
1. Drop all materials & use large, deliberate movements to straighten up & sunburst their arms into place, folded on the desk. (let the kids be physical in some way!)
2. Wait 3-5 seconds. Lean in & whisper to a talking students, “Name, please help me.”
3. Be proud & keep modeling perfect behavior, looking up at the teacher until your mates take the hint.
The PRIDE is the empowewring agent that turns the sheepish student into a role model - show children how to lift their chins, stick their chests out and stand up for wjhat is right. Later relate this sense of agency to doing what is right in other situations...so many tie ins!
I will report back on how this shift from teacher to student directed management works (or doesn’t) over time.
What other student directed tricks do you use?
Happy Teaching! – Ms. Chatty Teach
