Classroom Rewards

We all have our own little tips and tricks for managing the classroom. This is the time of year when we reflect on those things that work and the things that don't.  Today I wanted to share with you something that worked for me last year.

That is Class Dojo rewards.  I know there is a lot of debate over Class Dojo and whether or not it should be used, but I am not getting into that debate. I understand all sides and say to each their own.  Today I am going to share with you how I use Class Dojo and how it works for me! Plus, I am going to share a freebie with you!

I love to use a rewards chart with my dojo. What I love most, is that Class Dojo tracks your students' points for me!  That means no extra work for me!  Can you hear my happy dance?

So, I have this rewards chart and every time that a student reaches a new goal, they get a new reward!  Click on the picture to grab this rewards chart for your own room!

I check their rewards total about once a month or so and update my bulletin board.  My bulletin board has each students' monster (the one that they create the first week of school) and the color "belts" that they have earned.  I have to apologize because I cannot find my picture of my bulletin board.  Basically, however, I just put a small strip of colored paper next to each dojo monster to show what color "belt" they have earned.  Now, last year I titled this board Karate Kids thinking that with all of the new movies and tv shows about karate and dojos, my little ones would be sure to "get" this.  They did not. =(  So, I am giving you the opportunity to help me come up with a new title for this bulletin board this year.  Leave me a comment with a great title and I will choose the best one for a chance to win a product of your choice (under $10) from my store!

Buckets and Tattling

When we return to school, I have big plans for teaching some conflict resolution skills and the difference between tattling and telling.  After winter break, I usually review the rules and being nice to one another, but I think that this year’s class will need a little extra review!  They are not a bad class by any means, they just have a little difficulty getting along. So….

We are going to begin bucket filling! I have done this in years past and I am not really sure why I didn’t start it from the beginning of the year, but it’s better late than never!  I am setting mine up so that each student has a cup to hold their warm fuzzies.  They get warm fuzzies each time that they fill someone’s bucket.  At the end of each week I plan to give them PAWS (our school reward system) for each warm fuzzy they have in their bucket.  I picked up my warm fuzzies at the Dollar Tree!  What a great find!

If you don’t know what bucket filling is, check it out! There is a copy of the book on YouTube!

I also created this telling vs. tattling minilesson.  First graders have such a difficult time understanding the difference between tattling and telling.  I created several posters to help them with understanding the difference.  It also includes three sorts in with the students have to decide if the situation is tattling or telling.  Believe it or not, most of the situations are ones that I hear in my classroom on a regular basis!  And there is also a worksheet for students to draw a picture of an example of telling and an example of tattling.

 You can pick up your telling vs. tattling activity pack here!

Hope you enjoy!