1-2-3 Come Do Some Simple Behavior Management Activities With Me
No matter what grade I taught I always saw a change in behavior the last week of November, particularly if we had a dusting of snow on the ground.
Children were even more energized and chatty. You could feel an excitement in the air. Attention spans became shorter, while the need to wiggle increased.
Not one to squelch excitement, I wanted to transfer that energy into enthusiasm for wanting to behave appropriately.
With that in mind, I designed this packet of behavior modification activities, which are quick, easy and fun.
Students are engaged, on task & focused, which creates a calmer and quieter classroom. Woo Hoo!
This packet includes TEN of my tried & true “sanity savers”, which really help promote great behavior!
Choose just one, or do a variety throughout December & January.
Beautiful Behavior “Color Me” Booklet:
Coloring is a calming activity, easy-peasy for teachers to “print & go” and helps improve hand coordination at the same time strengthening finger muscles.
In this 6-page booklet, children earn the privilege of coloring in a section of the picture because they finished an activity, transitioned quietly, helped clean up etc.
As with all of the activities you decide the behavioral goals.
I've also included CRAFTIVITIES:
“Dash-und” Through the Day…
I enjoy play-on-words and my students love dogs, so “Dashund” for “Dashing through the snow” seemed a fun combination.
The Weiner or Dachshund dog craftivity is a simple “behavior chart” with all of the “pieces & parts” on a one-page pattern.
“You’ve Been Decorated!” is a construction paper pine tree, trimmed with hole-punched (good behavior) garland strips.
Children earn a hole punch for whatever goals & behavior you decide upon; such as completing an assignement, gettins 100% on a spelling test, helping clean up etc.
“Glittering & Sparkling Behavior”
Students earn the privilege to color a lightbulb on the snowman’s string of lights.
The strand spells out BEHAVIOR.
After the picture is completed, some sparkling glitter is added to celebrate.
If your kiddos are like mine, glitter is a real "hot button", making it a great motivating incentive.
A snowman peeks in to check on a flurry of snowflakes; each one symbolizing great behavior.
All 18 snowflakes on the individual “tiles” are six-sided but different, so take that teachable moment to reinforce that bit of science.
All of these craftivities when completed make sweet bulletin boards, so I’ve included a variety of posters to enhance your displays.
Whole Group Activities:
A Sweet Treat Is Coming Our Way!
T.E.A.M is an acronym for “Together Everyone Achieves More!”
This behavior management activity has a poster featuring a large mug of hot chocolate.
There's one featuring a 10-frame or, if you want to extend the activity & make it last longer, there's also a 20-frame bracket.
Students work together as a whole group to earn a “marshmallow” tile, decorated with a snowflake.
You can also add real mini marshmallows with a glue dot.
Is similar to the hot chocolate team effort.
Here everyone also works together, but the class is earning letters.
Once they spell TREAT or TREATS everyone earns whatever treat you decided on.
This could be a sticker, trinket, candy, extra recess, extra free play, a game etc.
4-Corners Gingerbread Shape Game:
This is one of my students’ all-time favorite games, so it’s often asked for to be the “TREAT” for the above letter game. It’s also known as the “Quiet Game” so it’s certainly a win-win for me.
Freeze & Melt Game:
A super-fun way to “get the wiggles out!”
Easy-peasy for teachers to implement; takes just a few minutes, and your students will really enjoy this activity so much, that if they are like mine, they'll beg to play the "Snowflake Sun" game.
I Treasure Good Behavior:
Even if you don't have a "treasure box" in your classroom, it is truly worth bringing in a tub or box filled with goodies for the last week of November; then keeping it visible through at least the first week of January.
It's truly one of my most successful motivational tools in promoting exceptional behavior.
I fill mine with trinkets from The Dollar store, cool pencils & gel pens, plus stuff I pick up at garage sales.
I also send a note home to parents informing them of this activity and ask for donations from a list of "treasure" suggestions.
Students need to earn 10 tickets which they “cash in” for a trip to the treasure box. (This way I could keep recycling my tickets!)
Children are responsible for taking care of their tickets as well as counting them, which practices math skills as well as valuable life skills.
"If money were no problem and I could have 5 super-fabulous gifts for Christmas, I'd like..."
This craftivity also makes a lovely December bulletin board too.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.
It's my sincere hope that something in my "teacher's bag of tricks" will be equally successful & enjoyed by your students as well.
"Children must be taught HOW to think, not WHAT to think." -Margaret Mead