You’ve been asking, so here it is! One of my most commonly asked questions on Instagram is about my classroom management system. In today’s post you’ll learn my system for Classroom Management that ACTUALLY works. Promise…or I wouldn’t still be doing it 8 years later!
Now first things first: there is no system that will magically solve all classroom behavior problems. Sorry to disappoint. 😉 Students will always keep us on our toes! Your plan is your framework. Use it as a solid structure to guide your class-keeping in mind there is no plan that solves all problems.
Whole Class vs. Individual
Along with the distinction above, I want to note that today’s post will only cover part of my Whole Classroom Management strategy. I will save the Individual System I use for a future post! Below is how these two systems differ:
- Whole Class Systems: These are strategies used for the class as a whole. They are primarily in use during whole group instruction and activities.
- Individual Systems: Specific, step by step behavior plans for helping individuals with regulating actions. The steps in the plan may be used for all students, but may vary for students with unique or more frequent needs.
If you want specifics on my Individual System, check out my YouTube video below!
And now let’s go in depth on the Whole Class system detailed below.
Classroom Management Strategy: The Scoreboard
During my time as a student teacher I had the opportunity to fully run a 1st grade classroom for a number of months. This classroom was full of many challenges, primarily relating to behavior. I quickly scoured YouTube for anything that would help, and that’s when I stumbled upon this concept. It was such a simple and effective strategy. My students and I enjoyed it so much, I knew I’d be using it forever!
“The Scoreboard” is an idea from “Whole Brain Teaching” . I have adapted their method to make it my own, but the original concept it theirs. The premise is simple: at the front of the class the teacher draws (or prints off) a smiley face emoji and frowny face emoji. Every time the class does something notably positive (a quick transition, excellent following of directions, etc.) the teacher gives them a smiley point. Likewise, when negative behaviors are shown (many are talking when they should not be, struggling to follow directions, etc.) the teacher gives a frowny point. This is not done in a mean spirited way, but is a quick and unemotional correction as a natural response to behaviors.
Earning Scoreboard Points
When the class earns a smiley point, they celebrate with a quick “Oh yeah!” and a clap. Similarly, when a frowny point is given, they give a quick “Awh” of recognition to adjust behavior. Every time, the mark is quick and fluid-not interrupting the flow of the day.
To clarify-if only one or a few students are off task-I deal with those students separately with an individual behavior plan. This system always favors the majority. For example, I might say “Wow! Almost everyone has out their math books before the timer!” before giving a smiley point. Likewise, I might say “Man, the time is out and only a few of us have our materials ready (marks frowny point.) Thank you to the friends who are ready.”
As a class, we also set expectations for when the class gets a frowny. We strive to be leaders who show the way. We don’t blame others, but simply encourage the best by being our best. This helps everyone win!
At the end of the day, the Scoreboard is checked to see if the class “won” or “lost” the board for that day. The class wins by having at least one more smiley point than frowny points.
Tallying the Scoreboard
In my class, we check the score during afternoon meeting. With traditional “Whole Brain Teaching,” the class would earn a small reward if they won the scoreboard for the day. This might be a short dance party, sticker, or game at the end of the day. If students lost the scoreboard for the day, no reward would be given.
However, in my classroom, this works a bit differently. If students win the scoreboard, I add a letter to what we call “The Mystery Phrase.” The phrase starts out blank, with just a space for each letter represented on the board. As students earn letters, the phrase spells out a classroom reward students will earn once every letter in the phrase has been added.
Why does this Classroom Management Work?
As a result of the Scoreboard method, I’ve found students to be more engaged and motivated during whole group lessons. Students encourage one another to do the right thing because they know they all win and lose together in these moments.
My goal with the scoreboard is to draw attention to the great things the class is doing with smiley points and to offer quick and concise correction with frowny points. On a typical day, my students earn around 6 smiley points and 2 frowny points.
Conversely, the Whole Brain Teaching method does this differently. In their system, they encourage teachers to keep the score close (within a point or two) all day. The reason for this is to keep the spirit of competition alive, encouraging students to keep working hard so they can come out on top.
While I see how the Whole Brain strategy could be effective, I personally choose to operate differently because I want our classroom to elevate the positive things far more than the negative. Though I do believe in fair, consistent correction, I think celebrating the positive more often yields a powerful effect: what gets celebrated is what gets repeated. When students notice certain behaviors equal smiley points, they are more likely to keep doing them!
The Argument Against Frowny Points
After sharing this idea on social media, I noticed a handful of comments that strongly opposed the idea of giving out frowny points. In their opinion, giving a frowny was equivalent to shaming the class.
As a response to those comments, I would say this: it’s all in the delivery.
Correction is a helpful and necessary part of classroom management. Nevertheless, teacher can fall into the pit of shaming students for behaviors quite easily. This typically comes with talking down to them, calling them out in front of others, raising ones voice, etc.
Unlike shaming, correcting a behavior quickly and calmly is respectful and purposeful. This redirect protects the class’ right to learn while not drawing undue attention to the problem. No one is perfect and everyone has moments of struggle. A frowny point is not a sign that students are “bad,” just that they needed a redirect.
Even on days we end with more frowny points than smiley points (which are rare, but have happened,) I don’t frame this as “we were bad today.” Instead I might say, “We really struggled with ______ today. Tomorrow we can work on that.”
The Frowny Point Alternative
Despite my reasoning, I understand some educators may not prefer to use the “smiley” and “frowny” faces. If you do not feel comfortable for any reason, I support you doing what you think is best!
Here are alternative options that could also work for the scoreboard:
- Students vs. Teacher (great for older grades)
- Thumbs up vs. Thumbs Down
- Listening ear vs. Non Listening Ears
- Praise Hands vs. “X” Hands
- School Mascot vs. Another animal
The Mystery Phrase
Now for the fun part-let’s dive deeper into “The Mystery Phrase” Undoubtedly, this twist on the original concept it my favorite part. My students LOVE earning letters for the phrase, trying to guess what it might be, and phrase reveal day! Here is more on how I use this system:
- The phrase lives on the whiteboard where all students can see.
- Phrases are typically 15-20 letters long and take around a month to complete.
- When students win the scoreboard, I choose what letter to add to the phrase.
- I insert a question mark in place of a letters because I do not want students to guess the phrase early! All question marks turn into letters on reveal day.
- Students can earn two letters for what we call a DOUBLE DAY. They earn a this if they have 5 more smiley points than frowny points. For example, 7 smileys to 2 frownys.
- If students lose the Scoreboard, no letter is added.
- Letters are never taken away.
- If students guess the phrase early, I neither confirm or deny.
- Students must earn every letter before I reveal the phrasel.
- When students earn a letter, it is just one space! Even if there are 4 letter “e’s” in the phrase, I only add one space at a time.
- Once all spaces are filled, it’s time to reveal! I reveal at the end of the day or in morning meeting the following day.
- A new phrase begins right after the old one is finished.
- If I cannot decide what I want the new phrase to be, I just add tally marks to the phrase area. Once I decide, I put in however many letters are needed (one per tally.)
Phrase Ideas
Finally, I’ll leave you with some phrase ideas you can use with your class! I typically start with simple, low or no cost ideas and save more expensive ones for the end of the year.
- No Shoes in Class for the Day (Stinky Feet)
- Write with Pens
- Bring a Stuffed Animal
- 15 minutes of free time
- Extra Recess
- Bring a Board Game
- Art for Kids Hub Drawing
- Guest Reader
- Read with a Treat
- Camp Out and Read Day
- Flashlight Reading
- Dance Party
- Donut Day
- Popsicle Party
- Making Slime
- Class Auction
- Class “Yes” Day (Explained more below)
- Show and Tell
- Popcorn and Pixar Shorts
- Blowing Bubbles
- PJ Day
- Lunch in the Classroom
- Lunch Outside
- Stem Challenge
- Family Feud
- Candy Table
- Pie in the Face Game
Free Download: Scoreboard Faces
If you would like the “smiley” and “frowny” emoji faces for your personal classroom use, I’ve got you covered! Download the faces for free by clicking here. Enjoy!
Get the Resources
Want to make your life even easier? Check out my Behavior Plan Resources! These plans include additional information and printable resources you can use to implement the plans with ease.
Additional posts you might enjoy:
Do you have a parent letter explaining your discipline policy to them for Meet the Teacher night?
I see that you made a class promise with your students early on during the year. That sounds like a wonderful idea, and it could pair perfectly with Our Class is a Family. Since I have been seeing this more often, I ran into a puzzling question. When you use the classroom promise, do you replace the rules of the classroom with this promise (rather than assigning rules at the beginning of the year without student input) or do you use this as an enrichment activity to use alongside the rules of your class? Thank you so much for your time, and I hope you have a lovely day.
I wanted to read what you do for individual behavior plans but can’t find it.
Hi there! I don’t have a blog post written about this yet, but I did make a YouTube video that explains this in more detail. Here is the link to that! https://youtu.be/I0YvSXo0Vx8
Thank you so much for the classroom management info. I just started this with prek because they have lost their sh#t.
Mary