The Thankful Turkey by Molly from Classroom Confections
After twenty years in the
classroom, I have always said that classroom management precedes learning. Set the expectations from day one, reinforce them
daily, and before long you will have a classroom filled with eager learners. Although I have always been one to have firm
expectations when it comes to proper behavior, the method of reinforcing
behaviors tends to vary. What I do in August to reinforce proper behavior may
need to be reworked once November comes around. When kids come back to school
in early January, I may need to get creative again and come up with something
new. Quite honestly, I find that the
change is not only exciting for the kids but for me too.
classroom, I have always said that classroom management precedes learning. Set the expectations from day one, reinforce them
daily, and before long you will have a classroom filled with eager learners. Although I have always been one to have firm
expectations when it comes to proper behavior, the method of reinforcing
behaviors tends to vary. What I do in August to reinforce proper behavior may
need to be reworked once November comes around. When kids come back to school
in early January, I may need to get creative again and come up with something
new. Quite honestly, I find that the
change is not only exciting for the kids but for me too.
With that said, I am all about
focusing on the positives. I am a believer that if you tell kids they are doing
something right, if you give them compliments, the students’ behaviors will
start to follow that same positive pattern. When you see a child smiling, tell
them how much you loved seeing them smile. When you see a child doing something
brilliant, tell them. If you tell a
child they did something well soon after the action occurs, they are more
likely to repeat the behavior. Positive
reinforcement can quickly take that child who struggles to behave and make him/her
realize how nice it is to be told they are doing a good
job. It can be as simple as how a child sharpened a pencil correctly or how
they pushed their chair in. Complimenting and reinforcing those little
behaviors that typically go unnoticed will carry over to the more obvious
classroom disruptions that need to be corrected.
focusing on the positives. I am a believer that if you tell kids they are doing
something right, if you give them compliments, the students’ behaviors will
start to follow that same positive pattern. When you see a child smiling, tell
them how much you loved seeing them smile. When you see a child doing something
brilliant, tell them. If you tell a
child they did something well soon after the action occurs, they are more
likely to repeat the behavior. Positive
reinforcement can quickly take that child who struggles to behave and make him/her
realize how nice it is to be told they are doing a good
job. It can be as simple as how a child sharpened a pencil correctly or how
they pushed their chair in. Complimenting and reinforcing those little
behaviors that typically go unnoticed will carry over to the more obvious
classroom disruptions that need to be corrected.
November is a time when I find I
may need to rework my reinforcement plan.
Halloween has come and gone, stores are starting to put up holiday
decorations, and kids can start getting overly excited. Behaviors can start to slip. In pondering how to turn this time into
something positive, I came up with a positive reinforcement plan called, “The
Thankful Turkey has arrived.” Basically,
it’s just a fun way to reinforce positive behavior. All you need is a little stuffed animal
turkey or really any turkey you would like to designate as the ‘Thankful
Turkey’, and I have created the rest. Of
course, the teacher has to ‘sell’ the program to the kids, but it can be a lot
of fun if you are a good salesman. The
turkey arrives to your class at the start of November, bringing with him a
poem. The poem is all about the turkey
watching over the class for the month.
Also included are other poem notes that the turkey can leave over night
for the kids, such as a note for students displaying extra good behavior, a
note that serves as a reminder to behave properly for those kids that are
struggling, and lots of other positive notes the turkey can leave for great
behavior. Remember, it’s all about
having fun and reinforcing the positives. Learning will follow right behind.
may need to rework my reinforcement plan.
Halloween has come and gone, stores are starting to put up holiday
decorations, and kids can start getting overly excited. Behaviors can start to slip. In pondering how to turn this time into
something positive, I came up with a positive reinforcement plan called, “The
Thankful Turkey has arrived.” Basically,
it’s just a fun way to reinforce positive behavior. All you need is a little stuffed animal
turkey or really any turkey you would like to designate as the ‘Thankful
Turkey’, and I have created the rest. Of
course, the teacher has to ‘sell’ the program to the kids, but it can be a lot
of fun if you are a good salesman. The
turkey arrives to your class at the start of November, bringing with him a
poem. The poem is all about the turkey
watching over the class for the month.
Also included are other poem notes that the turkey can leave over night
for the kids, such as a note for students displaying extra good behavior, a
note that serves as a reminder to behave properly for those kids that are
struggling, and lots of other positive notes the turkey can leave for great
behavior. Remember, it’s all about
having fun and reinforcing the positives. Learning will follow right behind.
You can click on the picture below to see the product on TPT. For a chance to win it leave a comment below.