Welcome to #3rdchat! We are so glad to have you tonight discussing all things classroom management. Introduce yourself and drop a gif showing how your week is going so far!
Hello! I am Lesa Haney. I learn alongside amazing kids and colleagues in Dripping Springs, TX. My week has been fast and furious. All good, just crazy busy. #3rdchat
Q1: Sometimes, classroom management is a struggle. What is something that you currently struggle with in terms of classroom management that you would like to gain advice from our amazing PLN about? #3rdchat
A1: This is the chattiest group of friends I have had in my whole career. I love their energy but they do not stop talking. Is this something you deal with as well? What are some tips and tricks? #3rdchat
A1: I feel like in regards to classroom management.. my biggest struggle is TIME management. I display big timers for the class, I put a timer on my iPad- but I always feel like I am running from on thing to the next... any suggestions?! #3rdchat
A1: I have a student who is acting out in my classroom and my teammates classroom. Throwing things, standing on desks, etc. we have tried so many things, but no progress. Meeting with mom is tomorrow. #3rdchat
A1: We are having a great year. One thing I am having a bit of a hard time in is when it is time to wrap things up after math stations. I have a timer going. I give a 5 min warning. When the timer goes off, the kiddos keep playing. Other times is not so challenging. #3rdchat
I use a bell as an attention-getter (I feel that it helps with talking and noise level) - I just ding it once and it catches their attention...#3rdchat
I have a student job of carrying a folder for absent students. They put the students name on their papers and carry it from class to class. Then put it on their desk at the end of the day. #3rdchat
Oh... the talkers- I have a chatty group too, we have just been practicing and practicing and practicing expectations. They will get it eventually- right? #3rdchat
Do you use @ClassDojo ? I give points for the students ready for the next activity when the timer goes off, and take away points for the students not ready. #3rdchat
My kiddos stay in my class all day - I've tried having their table partner help out but for some reason it's not really working this year #3rdchat (I do like the folder idea)
One of the awesome teachers in my building has that as a student job. When they oss our papers that student gets work for absent students and places it in a folder on their desk... #genius! #3rdchat
A2: What has really helped with me, even though it seems obvious, is extremely clear expectations. My district picked up CHAMPS several years back and "CHAMPSing" out the expectations explicitly before they do them leaves nothing to be questioned. #3rdchat
A2: I'm always amazed at the power of music. I will give students until the end of a song to be transitioned to the next activity. I sometimes look for the first ones ready and "notice" their efforts. I also love Kagan times and online classroom timers. #3rdchat
A2: lots of transitions as we are departmentalized. I have a 2 hr ELA block, so we transition from Grammar, Vocab, Reading, Writing, and Read aloud. Timers and @ClassDojo points are my secret tools to success! #3rdchat
MUSIC IS KEY!!!! We use music for our soft starts in the morning.. and I am amazed at their ability to transition without any guidance from me! #3rdchat
A2: At BOY I ask for student input. What has worked well/not so well. We spend lots of time practicing and adjust as needed. My group this year loves a challenge so beat our best time works wonders. #3rdchat
A2: Set expectations for transitions and make sure materials are readily available. I make sure transitions are smooth but allow for time so students can take a mental break between lessons. #3rdchat
Do you think the acting out is because of the work? Is there any staff that can sit with him anytime during the day or a place he could go for breaks? Maybe you could try a check or sticker system where the student earns a motivating reward? #3rdchat
Yep! My students now know that when I set the timer they need to move quickly! I started narrowing down the time as much as I can while remembering that they need a minute to be kids! #3rdchat
A3: I do #flexibleseating. Therefore, my students have community supplies with the exception of their textbooks and notebooks and few items they keep in their pencil boxes. I keep some supplies in tubs and some in their cubbies. #3rdchat
A3: Ss have their own supplies in their tubs (we have flex. seating so we don't have desks). At the beg. of the year I tell them how many of each supply they keep, then I keep the rest in a community place.When they run out of something they come to me to get more of it! #3rdchat
A3: Pencil wars has saved my sanity! My students have a pencil pouch for 5 sharpened pencils given by me. They get those 5 pencils for the week. I only sharpen on Fridays! Training weeks were rough, but now it’s saving so much time and energy! #3rdchat
after last year I realized that there are some students that are challenging and there are some that have deeper needs that a teacher (unfortunately) does not have the tools to meet
a sticker chart was created for a S of mine last year (not by me) and he lost his mind #3rdchat
A3: I went to putting supplies in a central location for table groups. Caddies with pencils, markers, crayons etc. keep supplies from getting lost in inside students’ desks. Also visible so I could refill. #3rdchat
A3: We have a flexible seating room so organization is a must. Kids have cubbies with plenty of room for pencil boxes and books. Most of us clean up very well after our activities. #3rdchat
Thankfully our counselor is with us fully. If she can’t be there, our AP jumps into action. My teammate is 8 mos pregnant, so her safety and the students safety is key right now. #3rdchat
I love that! This year I went to a “sharp” and “dull” container and that helped me immensely. I’m rarely sharpening and when it breaks it’s a non-issue- just put it in the dull side and get a fresh one! #3rdchat
A3: We do have desks with a small storage space for books, but this year all rooms got Seat Sacks!! which I luv!! I also use a small slim basket for pencils and such. #3rdchat
A3: We keep books in book boxes and that helps save space in their desks. Our desks are in groups, so I try to use a group leader to gather up papers or get supplies. #3rdchat
A4: I currently do not have classroom jobs, but it is something I would like to do again. I just need to find a way to make it manageable and not overwhelming for me! I am excited to hear all your ideas! #3rdchat
A4: I use the @ConsciousD family job board. Every student has a meaningful job that way. I love all of their jobs so it's hard for me to choose just one that I like the most! #3rdchat
Q4: Everyone has a job. I have two teacher helpers. They help me by running errands, gathering and distributing materials, getting our morning meeting started, reminding me to take attendance. I totally need all the help I can get.
#3rdchat
I finally have my students understanding that they are responsible for their own learning, not his. It has helped other behaviors immensely. They stay focused and don’t try to help anymore. #3rdchat
A4: I have a girl & boy helper each week and they do it all: pass out, line leaders, errands, etc. We just rotate alphabetically. Their favorite thing is when they get to choose a friend to help with a bigger task! #3rdchat
A4: We are a @TheLeaderinMe school, so every student has a job, and they have to apply for their job. My favorite is the phone operator! I have one student assigned to answering the classroom phone. #3rdchat
A5: classroom jobs are now leadership roles/assistants - Everything! Teacher's Asst, door&lights, trash/floor, pencils, technology asst, lunch helpers, mailbox...I can go on LOL #3rdchat
I try to develop a room that is very student-centered (student agency) #3rdchat
A5: We do a version of Give Me 5. We are the Tigers so we say "Tigers, Paws Up." Anyone can do this, not just me. When the kids are ready to present or want to make an announcement, they do it too. #3rdchat
A5: My FAVORITE way to get my students attention is with callbacks ("waterfall waterfall" they respond "shhhh"). We have a handful they love to do and I feel like they do best when I use these. I will also countdown to when I need their attention and that works well! #3rdchat
A5: I have a simple countdown from 5. By the time I get to 0, they are showing me my listening expectations. Sitting up straight, eyes and ears are on me, hands are in their lap/on their desk, and their body is turned to me. #3rdchat
A5: my favorite is
T: "Hands On Top" and Ss reply "That Means Stop" and they have to put their hands on their head (they literally have to stop and listen) #3rdchat
A5: I have a soothing chime that I ring for them to focus on me. They have until the 3rd chime sound to cease their activity and wait for instructions. #3rdchat
A5: I would stand in front of the classroom and close my eyes. The kids would go from talking to whispering to quiet. Once it was quiet, I would speak. Saves my voice and keeps the stress in class down. #3rdchat
A5: I got a wireless doorbell that just plugs in. It is great! 50 different chimes! I’ve only used one so far, but they have Christmas tunes! I use it for getting their attention! #3rdchat
A6: I love brainbreaks! I will be honest however, most of my brainbreaks are through @GoNoodle. We use a lot of the FLOW and Mr. Catman videos. Those are their favorites. #3rdchat
A6: I love brain breaks! @GoNoodle is my favorite tool to use... but when I am in a crunch and can't get to my computer easy ones like mum ball and heads up 7 up do the trick! #3rdchat
A6: I love brainbreaks! I will be honest however, most of my brainbreaks are through @GoNoodle. We use a lot of the FLOW and Mr. Catman videos. Those are their favorites. #3rdchat
A7: Mindfulness is new to me,but the one I like the best is the different types of breathing. When I can feel that the class is getting amped up or wiggly we will stop whatever it is we are doing, do a little breathing, and then we are able to continue on! It is AWESOME! #3rdchat
A7: Mindfulness is an expectation in our building. I've used some @MindYeti videos but for the most part we turn on some quiet music and belly breathe. #3rdchat
A7: as a @TheLeaderinMe school, we set classroom missions. The students create a classroom mission and a personal mission, then create goal steps for how to get there. It helps the students with ownership of their behavior and their learning. #3rdchat
Q8: Part of a strong classroom management plan is developing a good classroom community. What things do you do to build your classroom community? #3rdchat
A8: Morning mtgs have been a game changer in my room.I feel like we become more of a family, than just classmates & things just flow better. I also feel like having a "soft start" to the first 15 mins of my day helps meet the needs of any strugg. Ss at that time as well. #3rdchat
A8: we have a morning meeting every morning to start the day. The students have an opportunity to answer a random question with a partner, then share with the class. I then share my answer. I also take time during recess to talk to my students one on one #3rdchat
A8: I had a superhero theme in my class. We said our heroes pledge every day. I told them that this pledge was a promise to each other. Small rituals like this helped my students feel like they were part of our community. #3rdchat
A9: I LOVE @Seesaw! This has transformed my classroom over the course of the last couple of years. I love how excited my students get to post on their journals and now they can do it so easily! #3rdchat
A9: I feel like we are a work in progress in all areas of classroom management.. but I will say as a T, I am doing a much better job of practicing expectations when we don't meet them to my standard instead of just letting it go! Practice is where it's at! #3rdchat
A9: my kids are getting serious compliments in the hallway! I’ve never had great hallway behavior, so I’m super excited that they are being so awesome! #3rdchat
