Odds and Ends

Below are some neat strategies I've seen used in classrooms throughout the years.

1.  "I need to talk to_______" 

What do you do if you have a particular student who often wants to talk to the principal or the counselor if they are having a difficult time, but they aren't available? Jackie Schumann, Kindergarten teacher at Whitson, put a picture of the principal, Becky Kramer, on a bulletin board in the corner of the room. When that student is escalating, Jackie suggests she tell Mrs. Kramer how she is feeling or what the problem is.

2.  "I need help NOW!"

What happens in your room when you are working with a small group and a student doing seat work needs help?  Try Mary Sands' (Randolph - 1st grade) idea.  She used empty toilet paper rolls and put red electrical tape around one end and black tape around the other end.  A student passes out these "teacher calls" for each student during seat work time.  When a student has a question, they turn the "teacher call" so the red end is up.  This sends a silent signal to the teacher.  The student then follows the expectations to continue working on something that they are able to do.  When the teacher finishes with her small group, she checks to see who needs help.  She turns the "teacher call" to the black side up after she has answered the student's questions.  You could do the same thing with playing cards.  Face up might signify needed help and face down would indicate no help required.

3.  Silent Signal

How do you get your class to be quiet without making more noise yourself?  Try this “attention getter”.  Without saying anything, write QUIET in large letters on the board.  Face the class and demonstrate your silent quiet signal (finger over lips, etc.).  If students continue to talk, erase the last "T" in the word.  Continue erasing letters if the talking continues.  If they are left with any letters at the end of the day/class period/etc., they are allowed 5 extra minutes of a preferred activity.

4. Pocket Smile

Do you have any tricks to help students who are in a bad mood?  When Trish Monk (Randolph - Title paraprofessional) has a grouchy student in her small reading group, she will ask if he/she would like one of her smiles that she has in her pocket.  If the answer is yes, she will reach into her pocket and pull out an imaginary smile.  This usually gets a positive reaction.

Secret Message

Using A "Secret Message" To Promote Appropriate Group Behavior

The report below was submitted by Catherine Teh while she was a graduate student in the Department of Special Education at Hunter College of the City University of New York. 

Implementation:

            I began implementing the "Secret Message" technique at the beginning of the week.  I gathered all my students on the rug and voiced my concern about how much I would love to see a change in their hallway behavior.  I acted enthusiastically about having a secret message in mind and how I could not wait to share it with them.  The room was in complete silence.  My students were so eager to find out about the secret message, we could hear a pin drop on the rug.  I further said that the only way they could figure out the secret message is to display appropriate behavior while walking down the hallway.  One of my students raised her hand and asked to clarify the behavior I wished to see from the class.  Another student jumped in and replied that the class would have to be quiet while walking in two straight lines.  For every trip we successfully attempted, the class would be rewarded a letter.  If the students did a great job, they could be rewarded up to four letters a day.  The students all agreed to play the "game" and they worked together cooperatively while walking down the hallway quietly as a class. 

Outcome/Result:

            The result was great.  I do not think I can come up with another strategy that worked as effectively as the secret message.  They were so excited that almost all of them started guessing what the whole message was every time when I added a new letter up on the board.  By the end of the week, the students had earned my secret message that said, "Let's watch a movie together."  We had a great time watching the movie about the ocean.  They enjoyed the movie and they were ready to start a new secret message for the next reward.