6th grade schoolteachers run the constant risk of being saddled with a nightmare class of noisy students. Most teachers will confess that most classes and most students are delightful and willing to learn and apply themselves.
However, some classes are unruly. The students are noisy and disrespectful of the teacher and their peers. As a result, the 6th grade teacher will often find it difficult completing the course material in a timely fashion. Further, the few students in the classroom who are willing to learn and apply themselves are all but ignored as the teacher’s attention is diverted to dealing with the troublemakers.
This short guide will give you 3 quick tips that you can use immediately to gain control of your classroom, motivate your students and encourage them to apply themselves for success.
Tip #1: Implement A “Point And Reward” System
When a student does something in the classroom or on the school grounds that deserves reward, give them points. If they participate in classroom discussions or simply help a peer complete a task during the lunch session, reward them with a certain number of points.
Each week (Fridays work well), allow your students to redeem points for a bigger reward. The reward could be watching a movie during class or taking them out for frozen yogurt (they use money they bring from home, of course) during their lunch session.
The students who have accrued enough points to enjoy the reward will be encouraged to continue behaving in a manner that results in more points (participation, helping others, etc.). The students who have not accrued enough points will be encouraged to do what is necessary to accrue them in the future.
Tip #2: Implement A “Point Retraction” System
This system works perfectly when implemented at the same time as Tip #1 above.
When a student behaves in an unacceptable manner (not completing assignments, fighting with peers, forging parents’ names, etc.), take points away from that student. Retract them. As you do so, let the student know how your taking the points away from them will impact them in the near future. For example, let then know that when you take the other students out for frozen yogurt, the penalized student will not have enough points to join them.
Over time, this teaches students the value of good behavior. It teaches them that there is a tangible (and nearly immediate) benefit to acting in an acceptable fashion throughout the week.
Tip #3: Implement A Daily Auction System
This system works perfectly when implemented at the same time as both Tip #’s 1 and 2 above.
Go to a local thrift shop or “$0.99 Store” and buy cheap items that you can auction off to your students at the end of each day. It will not matter what the item is as long as it is something that a child may want. Most 6th grade students will be so excited to do something fun and competitive at the end of each day that the item itself is less important than their ability to participate.
If you have implemented the “Point And Reward” and “Point Retraction” Systems from the first two tips above, the “Daily Auction” system will fit seemlessly. Students who have enough points to participate in your daily auction will be encouraged to continue behaving in a manner that helps them accrue more points. Other students will adjust their behavior accordingly.
With a particularly unruly class, the above systems are doubly-effective. If the entire class (or a huge majority) is misbehaving, tell them that you are cancelling the day’s auction because of their behavior.
By implementing the three systems above, you can easily complete the year’s course work while maintaining your control, composure and personal sanity.
