A Little Behavior Management and More

My school is a Franklin Covey Leadership school.  What that means, is that we try to teach our students the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People at a young age.  It is a wonderful opportunity for our students to become leaders at an early age.  Our philosophy is that everyone has a skill or habit that they excel at in life.  We discover and help the students discover what it is they possess leadership.

One thing we do is that we teach everyone that they have an Emotional Bank Account.  Students can make deposits into their emotional bank account and others bank accounts.  You can also make withdrawls from your account by doing things that are unkind and don't represent leadership skills.  Our class has a "Class" bank account also.  I have it on our door, and when we receive complements of any kind, or I see students demonstrating leadership without being told, I add money to our bank account.  If I hear that someone was doing something unkind or not demonstrating leadership without me being present, I can make a withdrawl.  Our goal is to have a full bank account or reserve for our lives to be balanced and full.  The kids love it, and so far this year I have not had to make any withdrawls.  These first graders take it seriously!

 
Another great idea that I do for attendance and our question of the day is use Shrinky Dinks.  I found Shrinky Dink Paper and made a shape of a head template.  I let the kids make their own portrait.  I took them home and shrunk them and added a magnet to the back.  They turned out so CUTE!

When students enter the classroom, they immediately go over and read our question of the day.  This question is just a question for students to make a choice, such as, Would your rather eat pumpkin pie or apple pie?  Then I have a column for each answer.  Students will move their magnet to the column that they choose.  It is a great way to take attendance, add math, and have fun first thing in the morning.  I am planning to add my questions soon!