Sweet Behavior

In the past, I have always done the compliment chain and warm fuzzy jar to reward my students.  I wanted something different this year.  So, I decided to make different sweet treats to reward my students for good behavior.  I didn't want to do just brownies because you always have at least one kid that doesn't like brownies.  So, my packet includes brownies, cookies, cupcakes, dessert bars, and cinnamon rolls.  When they get a compliment from another teacher or they are behaving for me in class, I add a sweet treat to the cookie sheet.  Once the cookie sheet is full, I bake them the treat and bring it in.  So far my kids have filled up one cookie sheet and I baked and brought in brownies.  They were excited about the treat and excited to find out what treat they were working hard for now.  If you are interested in downloading this packet, you can get it at my TPT store.

I bought my cookie sheet at the Dollar Tree for $1!!  If you do not have a cookie sheet, I have included a picture of one that you can just print off.  I also laminated my treats so that I will only have to print them once.

Compliment Chain & Warm Fuzzy Jar

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The compliment chain is a GREAT way to enforce positive behavior inside and outside of the classroom.  Whenever my students get a compliment from another teacher/adult, they get a link for their compliment chain.  Once the chain hits the floor, they get a big party.  I use this as a chance for a pizza party, ice-cream party, etc (A party that they do not normally get during the school year.) It usually takes a while for the students to fill their chain.  That is why I use this as an opportunity for a big party.  

To Make:

 

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Print out the Compliment Chain page. I like to print out 2 copies (one for each side) Glue this page to construction paper.  This helps to make it durable.  Punch holes at the top of the page so that you can hang it from the ceiling.  Then cut a slit at the bottom. Slide a piece of paper/cardstock through the slit and then glue/tape it together. 

 

-->Make plenty of copies of the compliment chain links. When the students get a compliment, add it to the link.

You can also get a FREE copy of the Compliment Chain template HERE. 
 Compliment Chain

Warm Fuzzy Jar

 I use this instead of doing a marble jar.  I use cotten balls instead of marbles.  (If the jar tips over, it is MUCH easier to pick up.) 

Monkey Classroom Theme

I do a monkey theme in my classroom.  I've had this theme for a few years and plan on using it a few more since I have a lot of decorations for it.  Here are a few of my decoration ideas.

One thing I am trying this year, that is new, is using plastic/vinyl tablecloths as my backgrounds.  Paper fades really easy and I know fabric does eventually.  So, I figured I could try this out for the year.  I am also hoping that it will be easy to clean the dust off the tablecloths.

Go Bananas Over Reading

 I use this bulletin board to keep track of when students reach their AR goal.  They get a sticker for every month they reach their goal and a sticker for when they reach their 9-weeks goal.

NO Monkeying Around

 This is for my Warning system. These are my monkey pop out cards.  I glued the back to yellow paper because they are a pain to get up on the board and to get them straight.

 When students first come in the classroom in the morning, they move their banana to show if they are buying a lunch from the cafeteria or if they brought their lunch from home.  This is also a VERY quick way to take attendance in the morning.

Swinging into 2nd Grade

This is my door decoration for the beginning of the year.  I also take my kids pictures on promotion day at the end of the previous year.  I cut out their head and tape it onto the monkey.  They turn out really cute and the kids really enjoy seeing themselves as monkeys.

I bought these as plain wooden monkeys a few years ago.  I got them at a craft story really cheap and painted them myself.  I hot glued them onto a clothes pin, and I use them to hang up my kids work in the hallway.

Swinging in to Help

This is behind my door, and I use it to display classroom jobs.  I use Velcro to hang the monkeys on the leaves.

Tattling Toby

I saw this idea in a Really Good Stuff magazine.  They had a Tattling Turtle with a cute poem.  This is a great idea for K-2.  There is a lot of tattling in the younger grades.  I have used this for 2 years now, and it works great.  The kids know to tell all their tattles to Toby or to write them down on an index card and put it back in the tattle box.  I promise them that I will read the cards at the end of the day.  I make sure they know the difference in what they should tell me and what they should tell Toby.  If they do begin to tell me a "Toby Tattle"  I will just say "Remember you are suppose to tell Toby this one."  It literally cut my tattles in half!! I LOVE Toby!!

The Tattling Toby poem

Dear Students,
Tattling Toby will listen to you,
When you have something to say.

Just talk to him or write it down,
And tell what happened today.

But if you or anyone else is hurt,
Please do not delay.

Come to me so I can help,
And make sure that you're okay.

Your teacher, ______________________

"Egg"cellent Behavior

Spring fever has set in!  I wanted to find a way to keep the kids on their best behavior.  So, I printed out the "Egg"cellent Behavior sheets.  I placed one in each Easter egg.  When I catch a student doing what they are suppose to, they get a compliment from another teacher, or they are caught doing something exceptional they get to pick an egg from the Easter basket.  This is great instant feedback for the students.  Plus they always enjoy getting incentives that aren't typically offered.  You can download them for free in Word format (so you can change the rewards) at my TeachersPayTeachers site.

Ouch! That hurts me!

Being a second grade teacher, I get a lot of students complaining of things that hurt.  I also learned the hard way how important it is to document document document.   So, I started the Ouch book.  In this book, I have clinic passes and a clinic log.  Every time I send a student to the clinic I log their name and the reason they went.  Even though the nurse keeps a log, it is nice to have your own documentation.