Classroom Management
The classroom management we have been using since shortly after my arrival is called the "traffic light system." I have successfully used it at schools in other countries and it has always worked and still is! The students enjoy it and learned how it works very quickly.
In the morning, each students starts on "Green" which means "Go" and "Keep on doing what you're doing." After a couple of warnings they are moved to "Yellow" which means "Slow down and think more about what you should be doing instead of what you are." Yesterday during a Parent/Teacher conference I was asked what examples of this would be.
The children know them well and every so often I ask them, "How do we stay on the GREEN, or why do I sometimes move your name (little circles with their name on it) to YELLOW?" They know our class "slogan" which we say every day, which is "LOOK, LISTEN, and LEARN." They need to be looking while one of us is teaching, so we know (or hope) :) they are listening, which is the only way they can learn unless we are doing something active. Even then, they must be listening to either the teacher or other students speak as we do an activity. Not listening, talking while a teacher is teaching, not helping to tidy up or follow any direction or instruction a couple of times is what can have them moved to the yellow.
To be moved to the "RED" - they know it means "STOP doing what you are doing please, and follow the classroom rules of looking, listening, and learning. This also includes participating, not being rude, not hurting others' feelings or hurting them physically, and being respectful to each other and of the classroom.
The students know that by the end of the day they can be moved back by changing their misbehaviour as long as they don’t purposely misbehave or disobey all day and then suddenly start doing as asked. Nobody has done that and each child works hard to be back on the green if they are moved during the day.
At the end of the day, if they are on the GREEN light, they receive a sticker on their chart below. After 10 days in a row of receiving a sticker, they are then given a ‘surprise’ which many have received one or two of already. Even if they have missed some days of being on the GREEN, once they reach 15 stickers, they still receive a surprise. It has been working out very well and they all seem to like this method.
Schedules and Routines
As can be seen on the whiteboard, we have a “Visual Daily Timetable” which the children can use to easily see the schedule for the day. They also like this and someone always notices if we decide to make a last minute change if needed or if a specialty class (P.E. or music for example) has been cancelled for that day. The word is printed below the picture so it also helps them to remember how to spell it.
Our morning routine is to start with the date, and each day a child who is sitting quietly with their hand raised is chosen to come up and fill in the chart. “Today is _________” “Yesterday was _________” and “Tomorrow will be _________.” (they write in the day in the blank spot) It helps them all to learn the days of the week in English, in order, and how to spell them correctly. It also gives them practice speaking in front of the class.
Another student comes up to put on the date by picking from some pictures I have made of ordinal numbers. Ex. “Is it the 1st or the 9th?” This gives them practice in saying the date properly instead of “May thirty.” (They would say, “It is May 30th.” Lastly, another student comes up to pick out the picture that describes the weather (below that chart) and put it in the correct spot. This also gives that child practice in speaking to the class. We make sure that everyone has equal turns at things like this as much as possible!
To help teach responsibility and for everyone to feel important, (since they are!) each week we fill out this display I made. We rotate jobs and it so cute to see how seriously they take them! They are always eager to help with other things too but they are also often say, “May I do my job now?” Since I started doing this I have seen a great improvement in their willingness to help with other things and to do so with a good attitude. They know that doing their ‘job’ does not earn them a sticker, just like doing their school work doesn’t. It is just now part of their routine and what they know they have to do.
"Rules"
The main rules can be seen above, and usually I just need to point to them. "Eyes looking, ears listening, lips closed, and hand up to speak." There are three more that say "Feet still, hand still and sitting quietly." The visual makes it easy to keep teaching because I continue talking as I look at a student and point at the poster and keep on going. It works!
