Classroom Management Strategies for Elementary That are Simple and Effective

Summary

In this episode of 'Teaching Made Easy', the host, Center Fairy, shares her favorite simple and adaptable classroom management system inspired by Whole Brain Teaching. The system emphasizes basic rules, a scoreboard for positive and negative behavior, and quick, consistent feedback to maintain a positive classroom culture. It's designed to be easy to implement and customize to meet the needs of different student groups without the need for complex tools or additional costs.

Takeaways

• 🧩 Classroom management systems should be adaptable and simple to maintain consistency across different groups of students each year.
• 🎓 The speaker has tried various systems and found them complicated, expensive, or emotionally taxing, advocating for a simpler approach.
• 🏆 The 'whole brain teaching' organization's basic classroom management system is recommended for its simplicity and effectiveness.
• 📝 The system is built on a set of basic rules or expectations that foster a positive classroom culture and are adaptable to different scenarios.
• 👍 Rule off, rule on: A sticky note system allows for the temporary modification of rules to fit the activity of the day.
• 🎲 The scoreboard is a key component of the system, using smileys and brownies to quickly and consistently track student behavior.
• 🏁 The scoreboard operates on a whole-class level, with rewards or consequences for the group as a whole, starting small and scaling up as needed.
• 🔄 The system allows for the quick and efficient giving of points, with a 'one-second party' to acknowledge good behavior without disrupting the class.
• 🙅‍♂️ Frownies should be given in a general manner to avoid singling out students, focusing on the behavior rather than the individual.
• 🎁 Rewards should be meaningful but not overly extravagant, and can be rotated to keep the system fresh and engaging.
• 🔄 The system is designed to be easily modified and customized to fit the needs of each class, emphasizing flexibility and practicality.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?

The main focus of the video script is to share a simple, adaptable, and cost-effective classroom management system for elementary classrooms.

Why does the speaker believe that many classroom management systems are not ideal?

The speaker believes many classroom management systems are not ideal because they are complicated, require significant upkeep, and can be costly, which is not necessary when simpler solutions exist.

What criteria did the speaker have in mind when looking for a classroom management system?

The speaker was looking for a classroom management system that is simple to maintain, adaptable from year to year, and free of cost.

What is 'Whole Brain Teaching' and how does it relate to the speaker's classroom management system?

Whole Brain Teaching is an organization that promotes simple and effective classroom management methods. The speaker served on its board and became a trainer for its methods, which are the basis for the classroom management system discussed in the script.

Why did the speaker stop being associated with Whole Brain Teaching?

The speaker stopped being associated with Whole Brain Teaching because they felt the organization was making the system more complicated and less maintainable, which went against the speaker's belief in simplicity and adaptability.

What are the basic rules or expectations in the classroom management system described in the script?

The basic rules or expectations are: follow directions immediately, raise your hand for permission to speak, raise your hand for permission to leave your seat, make smart choices, and keep your teacher happy.

How does the 'rule off, rule on' system work in the classroom?

The 'rule off, rule on' system allows the teacher to temporarily suspend certain rules for specific activities using a sticky note on the rule chart, and then reactivate them by removing the note when appropriate.

What is the purpose of the scoreboard in the classroom management system?

The scoreboard serves as a visual representation of students' adherence to the rules. It uses smileys for positive behavior and brownies for negative behavior, allowing for quick and consistent feedback throughout the day.

How does the speaker suggest using rewards in the classroom management system?

The speaker suggests starting with small rewards, such as a minute of free talk at the end of the day, and adjusting or changing the rewards every two to three weeks based on the class's needs and progress.

What is the speaker's stance on individual behavior management within the classroom?

The speaker mentions that individual behavior management is different from whole-class management and suggests tackling it with another simple tool, which will be discussed in another video.