Go Character Education - Teaching Positive Character Traits in the Classroom with a Pokemon-like Feel

Are your new students obsessed with Pokemon?

Would you like to teach your little monsters about positive character traits?

Are you hoping to infuse responsibility, respect, and gratefulness (just to name a few) into your classroom schedule?

Well, I have the perfect program for you!

I've created Go Character Ed, a character trait program to infuse positive character trait instruction throughout your day.

I've collected, created, and packaged together loads of resources for you:

- Read Aloud Lists

- Classroom Activity and Lesson Ideas

- Task Cards

- Bulletin Board Display Items

- Posters

- Bookmarks

- Wristbands

- Postcards/Notes Home

- Reward Certificates

- Tickets / Brag Tags

- Discussion / Scenario Cards

- Journal and Prompts

....and more!

Infuse character traits into your language arts centers with task cards that contain quick activities that students can complete independently, with partners, or in small groups.

Students can write and reflect on the traits in their own personal journals.  Print the cover on colored paper for a little extra flair.

Reward students for showcasing positive character traits, or simple remind them, with wristbands and bookmarks.

Fill your teaching toolbox with warm-ups and activities to explicitly teach the character traits to your students in small blocks of time.

Print off the tickets and pass them out to students as part of your behavior management system.  I plan to pass them out as our classroom currency earned for displaying role model behavior.  Students can collect them inside vending machine capsules that slightly resemble Poké Balls.  At the end of the week students will be able to exchange them for prizes.  The colorful ones could be laminated as Brag Tags.

 Each character trait will be available individually, or you can purchase them bundled together for a nice discount.

So far I have the following packs available:

- Responsible
- Respectful
- Grateful
- GROWING BUNDLE

Why wait, catch them all now!

Give Me Five Classroom Display for Monday Made It

This week I decided to start working on my classroom posters and displays as well as classroom management and what tools I'd like to display in or around the classroom to assist with classroom management.

One of the many ways I get students attention throughout the school year is with the phrase, "Give Me 5."  I hold my hand up in the air and each finger represents something students should be doing to show me that they are actively listening to directions:

Body Still
Eyes Watching
Lips Zipped
Ears Listening
Brain Thinking

I decided to create a classroom display this year to hang in my room.  It will serve as a reminder for students or my expectations when I hold my hand up or say, "Give Me 5."



Want a copy?  You can download my Give Me 5 Classroom Display here in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.

Check out all the other Monday Made It's at Tara's Blog: 4th Grade Frolics!

Happy Monday!

Behavior Management and Monday Made It

This week I decided to take a look at my bag of tricks in regards to behavior management.  At the beginning of each school year I work with students create a set of class rules.  Throughout the year I try my hardest to be firm and consistent to reinforce those rules.  However, sometimes I need something dazzling to motivate my little darlings.  Here are a few ways I manage positive student behavior:

Lucky Lottery
If I notice students making wise choices I pass out lottery tickets.  They simply place their name on the ticket and put it in our lucky lephrechaun pot.  At the end of the day I pick the lucky students who get to use the computers while waiting for the bus.  Sometimes I pick names for students who get to eat lunch in the class or other various "rewards."  A sample of some of my lottery tickets can be downloaded here.

 

Teacher Vs. Class Game
 This is a game students love.  I post a t-chart on our bulletin board (or draw one on the whiteboard.)  One side I label Teacher and the other side I label Class.  Throughout the day if students make good choices and are on their best behavior I give them tallies.  If they make poor choices then I get a tally.  Whoever has the most tallies at the end of the day (or week) wins!  Usually, before we start, we decided on how long the game will last and what reward we want.  I let students decide on their reward.  Usually they select something such as eating lunch in the class, recess time, or a free homework pass.  I select something like students must write a letter to me about their favorite part of school or they have to draw me a nice picture.  Whoever wins, wins the reward decided upon.  Download a sample T-Chart to use in your class here.

Mystery Envelope
 Sometimes I place an envelope on the board containing a mystery surprise.  Students try to collect stars, tallies, or letters to make up a word.  When they do, they win the surprise inside the mystery envelope.  To spice things up, you can post several envelopes, each with a number from 1-6.  When students earn a reward, roll a dice to see which mystery envelope they get to open!

Classroom Economy
One of my favorite teachers is Beth Newingham.  She has a whole section of her website showcasing her classroom economy.  You can get check registers at your local bank (if you ask, they will often donate some to your class) or you can create your own.  Check out her website.

Happy Rocks
While looking through Pinterest pics I came across Happy Rocks from Kinderi. How does it work? During the school year, when I notice the class making positive choices I will add a happy rock to the jar. When the jar is full, we will have a whole class surprise. What rewards will I use for a surprise? I was thinking the first time I will bring in Pop Rocks to make their mouths happy. Other rewards could be outdoor recess (our school does not have a daily recess built into our schedule), a day where students can pick where they sit, or free time on the computers. We shall see!

This week, I'm linking up with Tara from 4th Grade Frolics again for her Monday Made It!

I stopped by Dollar Tree to purchase a cute plastic jar with a blue lid (to match this year's color scheme) and some colorful rocks.

I made a cute label for the jar, drew smiley faces on each rock, and placed the rocks in the jar. 

Want to make your own? You can download my label here.

I like to use a variety of systems throughout the year.  When one management technique gets worn out, I simply surprise students with another one.  What do you use for behavior management in your class?

Oh....and don't forget to check out my quick and easy giveaway!