Classroom Management Ideas

In the Classroom - It really works!

When surveyed about using "The Keys to Success," teachers from a variety of schools commented on the practical ways the program helps with classroom management.

1.  When I had a few students who always entered class talking, I started giving out keys to those who were not.  The others soon followed and the talking ceased.

2.  If students get keys for completing their homework on time, some other students started doing the same.

3.  We will stop when we notice someone doing something exceptional.  As a class, we will discuss what key we think they were doing the best.  This allows for their input guided by mine.

4.  A child who has trouble remaining in her seat beams with pride when she is able to earn a 'discipline' key.

5.  I am working with one child on just better oral reading.  Some days he would come in with a very grumpy attitude.  When I offered keys for a better attitude, greater motivation to try with more effort, things have gone better.

6.  I actually have two boys in my class who started out the year very unmotivated and with bad attitudes toward me and their school work.  Now they are more motivated and I see good attitudes a lot more than bad attitudes.

7.  When one of my students was given a key for saying "thank you", all of my other students started to say "thank you" frequently.

8.  If the children are having a 'lazy' day, all I have to do is open my key box and the hands go up.

9.  I had a child struggling with cursive.  This child had a nice cursive paper, so I rewarded him with a key.  Ever since then, he takes pride in his work and tries to be neat.

10.  When my students are doing group work I reward groups who have remained on task and worked quietly.  I also used keys to reinforce finding something to work on or read when they have free time.

11.  I gave a key to two boys who were extremely kind to a student having trouble.  They were surprised but their positive behavior continued to help.

12.  Students would volunteer to do things that usually you had to assign to do.

13.  For the upper grades, the effort, preparation and performance key help develop good study habits.

14.  I enjoy the class [group] keys because it acknowledges their behavior as a group.  They have improved their behavior during the class and in the hallway because they know I am watching.

15.  (Regarding group keys) For some students, it is the only reason to behave at school assemblies - they know if they are messing around the class won't get a class key and their classmates will be angry at them.  For the students who always behave it is a great way to reward them so they continue to act appropriately.

16.  If I want the children to be quiet in the hall, I say, “Let’s try to earn a class key.” It almost always works.

17.  I had a student who was having difficulty sitting in a seat for the required period of time.  I told him that if I ever witnessed him sitting through the entire period, he would get a reward [key].  He immediately succeeded the following day.  Once he proved that he could do it, there was no longer an “excuse” for not cooperating.

18.  When explaining the rules at the beginning of the year, I introduce the discipline key to the students.  I tell students that if I see them following the rules of our classroom, they can earn a key.

19.  They have helped with organization and class discussions.  When I hand out keys for clean cubbies, suddenly, the others start looking neater.  If I seem to be having an extra quiet class, a few keys passed out seems to stir the pot and participation.  They also seem to improve memory.

20.  I had the children choose a key to individually work on for the day.  At the end of the day, they had to write if they were successful/tell how.  Throughout the day, I asked them to evaluate how they are doing individually.

21.  I have talked about a specific key and then told the class I would be looking for that behavior during the day.  Those showing that specific behavior would be awarded that key.  I then increased the time for rewarding the keys – watching for that behavior all week.

22.  I have used it as a positive reinforcement tool for students that maybe aren’t always as kind and considerate as they should be.  It does redirect negative behavior.