I've finally figured out my behavior system!!!!!

Last year I did a classroom economy system and it was great. For the most part, it was a little much for me to manage the way we had it set up. However as a school we have decided that is a third grade only system.

I am teaching second so I needed to come up with something comprehensive, motivating and most of all easy!

I knew I wanted to use the class dojo. I blogged about it here if you want to read more. I knew I liked the idea of the super improvers wall from whole brain teaching. Then I was purusing pinterest and I can upon this pin from little minds at work, and I was hit with a sudden bust of inspiration! (I love when that happens! )

As I understand it (so correct me if I'm wrong) with the super improvers wall, students earn 10 stars from their teacher and they get to move up a level. It's a whole year long process. 

I modified this a bit for my own needs, personal style and preference. So here's what I came up with. 

When kids earn 10 points with the class dojo system  (if you wanted to do something like this you could have kids collect stars or points or even dollars using a different system). They get to sign their name on the bottom level. When they sign their name they get to choose a coupon. (I have coupons for everything from sitting at my desk to using a gel pen to do their work) 

There are five levels so each time the kids earn another 10 points they get to move up another level, sign their name and choose a coupon. 

The top level says hall of fame. When the kids reach the hall of fame they get a certificate to bring home and they get to come to the monthly lunch club with me in the classroom. I also plan on having a hall of fame wall, where I will take the kids pictures and place it underneath a sign for that month.

Here's the certificate I plan on giving out

Instead of a year long process I decided to do it monthly. I like this better because it lets kids who weren't doing so well start over and have a fresh start with everyone else. It also just seems less daunting and more achievable to me. 

So at the end of the month I will erase all the names, and we will start over. 

I am super excited about this system. My principal isn't big on clip charts and card turning systems. Which I can understand. If something is going to be shown for the whole class to see it should be all about achievement. Their is no level below beginning, and you can't be moved down. 

So what do you think? I would love any suggestions or thoughts you might have! 

If anyone else thinks they would like to use a system like this I have put it up in my TPT store for free.

Click here to visit my store and download it! 

One last question, What behavior system do you plan on using this year? Clip chart, super improvers wall, stoplight system, class economy or something else? Let me know in the comments. I love to hear what works for other people! 

All right that's it for now, but I will be back tomorrow for Monday Made It! 

Organizing the classroom library and a newbie blog hop.

So I went into my classroom today to start checking things off the list. Today's agenda was the library.

Let me tell you, my classroom library was a mess! I took all the books off the shelves in order to re-organize them. Here's what I was working with.

I have a ton of books, and last year I didn't have a very good organization system. Most of the books were labeled with stickers, but I got a lot more books through books fairs and donations, and in my rush I just put them in the library without putting stickers on them. 

Of course the kids didn't know where to put these books without stickers so they just put them in any 'ol box, and led to kids not putting any of the books back properly, and suddenly my library was a disaster. 

Anyway, my goal this year is to have the most organized library I can. That means EVERY book will have a sticker. I will not put any new books in the library without a sticker. 

So Here's the final product!

Fiction on the left and non-fiction and the right. I wish I had enough boxes to be match-matchy but I don't, one day.

Here's an up close picture of the books without a bin in the first picture. Many of the books in my classroom were mine as a kid. I was OBSESSED with this series when I was young. Many of the books have my name signed in them in my little kid handwriting, and the kids love that. Any information that gives them a glimpse about what I was like as a kid is fascinating to them. 

Here's a fun fact. When I was about 13 this series ended and I had pretty much outgrown them. I boxed them all up and put them in the basement. I told my mom I was going to save them for when I became a teacher someday. I love that it actually happened :-) 

Here's the rest of the books. These are mostly fiction. Once again wishing I had matching book boxes. 

Here's the backside of that shelf. 

So I still have to finish labeling all of the book boxes. I use the library labels from lakeshore, but they don't have a category for everything I need so I've got to make some of my own. 

So I did not come up with this idea. I saw it on another bloggers site. However I can't for the life of my remember who it was. If it's you, or if you know who it is please let me know so I can give credit. 

Her idea was to give the kids a little arrow to place on the book boxes when they check out a book. That way you can see at a glance who has a book out. I downloaded the arrows from her and wrote up that little sign. 

Here's how it will look when the students check out a book. 

So whoever you are thanks for giving me this idea! I'm think it's really going to help keep the library organized and prevent the kiddos from sticking the books in their cubbies and forgetting about them. 

Okay So I'm linking this up to the newbie blog hop over at Third Grade is the Place for Me. Go check it out if you want to join in! I've been blogging for just over a month so I definitely have a lot to learn. 

1.  what state you are in

2.  when you started blogging

3.  your current teaching position

4.  your teaching experience

5.  share a blogging tip / blogging resource

1. I'm in California! West Hollywood to be exact.

2. I started blogging at the beginning of June

3. I currently teach 2nd grade. I teach on a loop though so next year I will teach third and then go back to second. 

4. I graduated from my teaching program in 2009, and got my first job the following fall. It was a intern position and I taught a literacy block in first grade. A second grade position opened up the next year and they gave it to me! Yay! I completed my first loop and I'm excited to go back to second. 

5. Here's my tip- Join the linky parties that interest you. You don't need to try and do them all, but they are a fun way to get your name out there and find new blogs.

Monday Made It

I'm linking up with Tara at 4th grade Frolics again for this weeks Monday made it. 

I was inspired by this pin

I love this because it is a simple way to check for understanding. Ask a question, and give students sticky notes to answer. You can quickly see at a glance who didn't turn one in.

Here's mine!

I used punch out numbers I found at rite aid glued them onto the poster board and laminated it. Then I added the duct tape border. 

Now I am no perfectionist. The numbers aren't straight and neither is the duct tape. Oh well, 

I think it adds character. 

At the top is where I will write the question. 

By the way, numbering my students is the best thing I've ever done. No one else at my school does it so I was a bit hesitant, but it seriously makes life so much easier. Plus the kids like it for some reason, go figure. 

Alright that's it folks, I'm off to see what everyone else has made!