Whether you’re a “clip up… clip down”, “pull your stick”, “change your card”, “move your tile”, or any other behavior management technique using teacher beyond or in between, individual management generally plays a pretty large role in the school day.

Sometimes, it takes more energy than anything else we do. It’s so nice when the routine works well, the system is doing it’s job and the well oiled machine that can be a primary classroom is running smoothly. Well, mostly smoothly. Ok… routinely with a little wackiness thrown in quite often. 😀

There are those time when a lil’ one will just forget where s/he is and become a little monster-like, or monkey-around instead of doing actual classwork, or simply need a lot of extra practice on a skill that should now be mastered. These little rough patches can take their tole. But, with a little parent support – they can be kept to a minimum.

Keeping parents abreast of those types of situations and asking for their help in resolving them is very important.

The MONSTER NOTE lets parents know that their child’s tile was moved to red. I detail the behavior on the notes section. I copy these on red copy paper. The Monster Note monicker is for me – I don’t share the name of the note with the kids nor their parents. To everyone else it is officially known as a “red note”…. for kiddos who decide to be little monsters. 🙂

The HELP PLEASE note is to let parents know their child is struggling with a particular skill. I copy this one on yellow and add details about what the child is having a hard time with along with any assignments or worksheets I think might help.

The INCOMPLETE WORK note goes home stapled to an assignment a child did not finish after having ample time. This usually works well for children who talk instead of staying on task, go to the bathroom continually – thinking it’s a way out of working (I’ve always wondered what the thought process is there… do they believe the work will disappear while they’re gone?), or who work soooooooo sllllloooooooowwwwwwlllllyyy… they just can’t get anything completed. I usually copy this on orange just so it stands out when it’s shoved into a backpack.

When I first started teaching I was very nervous to send home notes like these to parents. I didn’t want parents to think I didn’t have everything under control. When I accepted that having control and notifying parents actually worked together I finally started sending home these simple, clear notes. I quickly found it very effective and helpful in fixing negative behaviors and increasing student ability. Sure, sometimes the parents aren’t as supportive as I’d like. But the times they do work outweigh the times they don’t.

It is also important to send home good notes, too! I give my students special “smartie pants” notecards for attentive, exemplary behavior and contributions to class lessons and discussions. Those are always a big hit with both the kids and their parents! I mean, they come with candy! Of course they are adored. {which would explain why one of my kiddos stole another kiddos smarties last week!…. I STILL can’t be positive who did it – but I have a strong suspicion. grrrr} I also write positive comments on the “Friday Notes” I send home each week.

I’m linking up with What the Teacher Wants’ Management Linky Party (LOVE this button btw… can’t get enough of Melonheadz!)

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