Classroom Management
PBIS
Here at KMS, we use a school-wide model of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports to create a positive environment.
We have three rules: 1. Be Kind 2. Be Safe 3. Be Responsible
When staff see students following these rules, we give them a golden ticket which they write their name on and exchange for a golden coin. At the end of the week, we draw out four tickets from the bucket and those students get to pick out a prize. They also get to say the Pledge of Allegiance over the intercom each day for the next week. When we reach a certain amount of tickets as a school, we get a school-wide prize. For example, we may get to watch a movie in the gym with popcorn, play bingo or go see the play that the high school is working on.
In our classrooms, we also use the tickets to gain classroom rewards. That may be extra recess, personal device afternoons, a movie or even a potluck party (those are our favorites!).
Responsive Classroom
Mrs. Baumann and I went to a Responsive Classroom course for middle school students this summer. We learned a lot of interesting things and will be implementing them in our classroom this year.
The first thing that we learned is that there must be logical consequences to our actions. If we make a mistake, there must be a consequence that MAKES SENSE for that mistake. For example, if we hurt someone with our words or actions, we should write them an apology letter instead of staying in at recess.
Secondly, we learned about implementing the use of "Time and Space". Time and Space allows students to know when they need to take a break, feel comfortable taking that break and then knowing when to come back from that break. This will be a strategy that will be used frequently in sixth grade.
Finally, we will be using more active teaching strategies and Advisory meetings. In active teaching, we include a lot more group work and cooperative learning strategies. Advisory meetings will be done in the mornings each day with our homeroom class. This will be a time where we will be getting to know each other and working through different things that come up throughout the year.
7 Habits
The Leader in Me is a book by Stephen Covey that we at KMS did a book study on during the summer of 2016. After reading the book, we decided that we wanted to implement the strategies that we read about. The 7 Habits are:
1. Be Proactive
2. Begin With the End in Mind
3. Put First Things First
4. Think-Win-Win
5. Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
6. Synergize
7. Sharpen the Saw
If you want to learn more about the 7 Habits or The Leader In Me program, go to