Tori, Author at Next Day Teaching

A chart with student names and stars representing an individual behavior chart in a classroom

Why Individual Behavior Charts Don’t Teach Students What We Think They Do

When faced with the burnout that creeps in with whole-class reward systems, many teachers shift to using individual behavior charts. These could be clip charts, behavior cards, color systems, names on the board, etc. I’ve used some of these systems myself. I’ve seen many teachers use others. Here’s what I’ve noticed over time: Whole-class systems

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Shiny golden trophy and stars on a vibrant yellow background, symbolizing success and victory.

Whole-Class Rewards Break Down When Accountability Is Only Collective

Classroom Management

During my 16 years in the classroom, I saw and used a lot of whole-class reward systems. The issue isn’t the reward itself – it’s the way accountability is handled. Here’s what I mean: One of the more common ones was a “fill the jar” system. I’ve seen these with pompom balls, marbles, cute little

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Kids and teachers having fun with bubbles and balloons in a lively classroom setting.

The Real Purpose of Whole-Class Reward Systems (It’s Not Motivation)

Classroom Management

The purpose of whole-class reward systems is often framed as motivation. The thinking goes: If students want the reward badly enough, they’ll behave. But that assumption is exactly where many systems start to fall apart. Last week we talked about why many whole-class reward systems fail: Most whole-class reward systems fail because they put all

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A teacher guides students during a classroom activity, fostering engaging learning.

Why Most Whole-Class Reward Systems Fail (And What Successful Teachers Do Differently)

Classroom Management

Whole-class reward systems are often recommended as the ultimate classroom management solution, but they often solve the wrong problem. If your whole-class reward system works one week and falls apart the next, you’re not imagining things. Most teachers love the idea of whole-class reward systems. After all, they’re fairly simple to set up. (And they

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15 Whole Class Reward Ideas That Don’t Cost a Dime (Perfect for Fun Friday!)

Classroom Management

The trouble with setting up a class reward system like Fun Friday is the pressure of constantly coming up with whole class reward ideas every. single. week. It can be exhausting, especially after a week of teaching, to find new reward activities that will actually motivate your students. Time-fillers and free rewards can only take

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Class Meeting Reset Scripts That Work: Real Examples for Classroom Management

Classroom Management

When a class won’t stop talking or kids won’t stay in their seats, a class meeting is one of the best ways to get behavior back on track. Class meetings reset behavior with a quick, targeted discussion. When done well, they take less than five minutes and lead to a noticeable improvement in behavior. Depending

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Sample Class Meeting Scripts for Elementary and Middle School Teachers

Classroom Management

Class meetings work best when they’re quick, calm, and direct, but sometimes it’s hard to know what to say. Having a class meeting script on hand will solve that problem. In last week’s post, I walked you through how to run a five-minute behavior reset when your class is slipping into chaos. Today, I’m going

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Students sit on the floor in front of a teacher, who models raising her hand to ask a question

How to Deal with a Class out of Control by Using a Behavior Reset

Classroom Management

It’s tough trying to teach when your class is out of control. Your students might be going wild right before a long weekend, or they might have forgotten all the rules after winter break. Maybe you’re dealing with the daily post-lunch sugar rush, but one thing’s certain: This can’t continue. I’m going to share my

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The Classroom Rules You Actually Need (spoiler: there’s only one)

Classroom Management

Do you ever feel like you’re drowning in lists of classroom rules? The more rules you put up, the more behavior infractions you notice…which means you need to create more rules, right? And yet no matter how many rules you post, teach, and enforce…behavior doesn’t seem to improve. Stop me if this sounds familiar: If

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When Students Resist Your Classroom Management Plan: Practical Strategies That Actually Work

Classroom Management

If you’re searching for ways to help students who don’t follow instructions, these practical strategies can get your class back on track without apps or complicated programs. Because even if you know why and how to set up a classroom management plan, and even if you set up the best one ever, some students just

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