Student Contributor: K. Shaqhan Recognition for good behavior is crucial to reinforcing the desired behavior, especially if a student often misbehaves. This tool is used on students that need that special attention when they've done something good. This will begin to motivate them internally and externally to behave better.Throughout the school year the teacher will know which students have trouble staying on task, listening to direction, or being … [Read more...] about Happy Go Home Note
Collaborative & Teacher Directed
Humor Interference
Student Contributor: C. Rothwell When used carefully, humor can extinguish negative behaviors and help maintain an enjoyable classroom environment. The teacher must be able to make a joke in the moment that defuses the tension and depersonalizes the situation.Using humor is a way for the offending student to “save face” while showing that the teacher isn’t threatened by “losing control” or being overwhelmed by correcting off-task behaviors. An important … [Read more...] about Humor Interference
Yacker Tracker
Student Contributor: K. Coan The Yacker Tracker looks like a stop light with green, yellow, and red lights to measure noise level in the classroom. This device is great for helping students maintain an appropriate level of noise during different tasks throughout the school day. When the classroom begins to get too loud, the tracker will flash red and begin buzzing to alert students that their noise level needs to be adjusted.The Yacker Tracker provides a … [Read more...] about Yacker Tracker
Positive Phrasing
Student Contributor: L. Whites Positive phrasing is praising students who are demonstrating pro social skills. It is helpful when some students are having a hard time staying on task so they can see what they should be doing.Positive phrasing is a very helpful tool and can correct behavior without being disruptive to the classroom. You can use this tool by acknowledging students who are demonstrating pro social or on-task behaviors, so that students who … [Read more...] about Positive Phrasing
Teacher Voice
Student Contributor: L. Witmer Although it is often easy to get frustrated when attempting to redirect students that have gotten off task, it is important to remember that raising one’s voice or losing one’s composure is unlikely to help make the corrective process a positive experience. By staying calm and using a quiet tone of voice, redirection can be accomplished in a more constructive manner.Teacher voice should be used in pretty much any situation … [Read more...] about Teacher Voice
Target Talk
Student Contributor: L. Whites Target talk is encouraging students to behave by acknowledging the pro-social skills they use. This is helpful because it makes students aware of when they are using these skills and encourages them to continue to use them.Target talk is a great tool to use in any classroom. It is important to note that the vocabulary you use when practicing target talk is extremely powerful and should be a shared list of meaningful words … [Read more...] about Target Talk
Touch Interference
Student Contributor: A. Bonnington Touch interference is a nonverbal way of communicating to a student that a behavior isn’t correct. This tool is a good way to prevent embarrassment by avoiding putting them on blast in the middle of the lesson.Touch interference is used to communicate by simply touching the student on the hand letting them know that the disruptive behavior is not appropriate. This tool is most effective when the teacher shows them the … [Read more...] about Touch Interference
Running Errands
Student Contributor: F. Lebo Writing a “note” to another teacher and allowing the student who is acting out to run it to the teacher. This gets (allows the student to leave class) the student out of class and gives them a break and time to take a breath.This can be used if you have a student that is consistently acting out and need a way to get them to calm down or out of the class for them to take a breath without making them feel like they are being … [Read more...] about Running Errands
Practicing Routines
Student Contributor: A. Bonnington Practicing routines can be used to help the students learn their routines and how to best complete a task. The routines should be introduced in the beginning of the school year and used almost daily. By doing so, the students have time to learn and rehearse the routines, making them more effective.The tool should be used from the day the routines are established to aid in mastering them. The purpose of practicing routines … [Read more...] about Practicing Routines
Reading Nook
Student Contributor: S. Peterson The Reading Nook is an area in the classroom where students can have a quiet to read. This section of the room is filled with books, comfy places to sit, and a relaxing environment. This is a good place to encourage students to read.The Reading Nook can be used in any classroom. It can be filled with bright colors depending on the age group. Brighter colors were encouraged for younger grades. The bookshelves can be filled … [Read more...] about Reading Nook