Eastern Washington University
Voice Level is a technique that helps students to visually see where the noise level should be. At any given time of the day, students should be able to know where the noise level should be- silent, whisper, table talk, or presenter.
This tool is a great way to implement a positive community in the classroom. Many times we think of positive behaviors and accomplishments people around us do but do not tell them. Praise is one of the most simple and effective methods for engaging and motivating your students. Praise, when used correctly, may help children overcome behavioral issues and enhance their attitudes toward learning.
SLANT is a tool for getting student attention. In a call-and-response style, the teacher raises their hand and shouts, “slant!”. The students all respond, “slant!”, and then give the teacher full attention and a zero voice level.
Fuzzy Friend is a stuffed animal of any sort that will remain on a different student’s desk every day. Students will decide at the end of each day which student was helpful, friendly, giving, respectful, etc. will get the fuzzy friend to sit on their desk the next day.
The cool-down buddy tool is a corrective strategy that can help students who are going through emotions during class time and need a chance to cool down. When the student is upset, they can quietly walk to tap their cool-down buddy on the shoulder, and walk to the designated cool-down spot in the classroom together.
Brain Break Cards help keep students engaged during longer activities by giving them an activity break! These activities get students moving and energized in order to help them along when it is time to resume their tasks. Brain breaks are a great preventative tool to use to help keep your students alert and ready to learn!
In a kindergarten classroom, when there are multiple behaviors occurring at once, it can be hard to get the attention of the class and redirect the behaviors. Using an alternative to Simon Says, students follow actions I say, such as “if you can hear me put your hands on your head” and progressively get quieter until I have all students’ attention.
I wanted to include more ways for students to share their thinking, other than think-pair-share. Having students talk in pairs is great to share their knowledge, but sometimes in a kindergarten classroom, students can get distracted and off topic when sharing with their friend. With whisper in hand, students can share their understanding, by whispering the answer in their hand, and then releasing the answer.
This tool is a great way to create a community that supports each other and teaches social emotional skills for our students future. The tool is a jar that is used to shout out fellow students who are showing character traits that should be celebrated.
This tool would be used to signify that the class is transitioning. Different songs can be connected with transitioning to the carpet, to centers, back to their desks, etc.
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