Good News and Bad News

I love to read teaching blogs.  I come away from them feeling inspired and enthused about what I am doing.  However, occasionally I will read a post and feel a little depressed.  You see, when everything in so-and-so's classroom is all rainbows and sunshines and academic excellence and you feel your own teaching is still a work in progress it can kind of weigh you down.  This post is not about rainbows and sunshines.  Well, just a little bit.  Most of it is about management problems...yikes!

Let's start with some good news.  James and I just returned from a fabulous vacation in England and Wales!  It was our first trip with just the two of us, my first trip out of the country, AND my first ever flight.  The whole experience was terrifying and exhilarating and challenging and amazing!  We had a fabulous time experiencing new things together. Here is a little glimpse...

For having never traveled any kind of significant distance, this was an eye-opening, perspective-changing experience.  And it was new and refreshing to be able to spend so much time with James. It was just the most fun I've ever had.

Okay, now to the bad news.  I took 7 days off of work for this trip.  SEVEN.  The sub plans just about did me in.  After those seven days it was Spring Break.  When we all got back into our classroom I quickly realized that something was wrong.  My students were misbehaving.  I pride myself a bit on having a well-ordered classroom and I always take great pains at the beginning of the year to ensure that this is the case, but between having a substitute and having the freedom that spring break brings to a child, not to mention the fact that summer is right around the corner my kids are just a little bit sloppy in their behavior.  I spent my first days back reeling them back in after they had obviously been given a little too much slack. I decided to put a new plan of action into, well...action.  Here is what I came up with on Friday after school.

I've seen this type of thing all over the place and I am hoping it does the trick for my class.  I like the idea of them having individual accountability for their behavior, and being made aware of where they stand.  This is a bit of an experiment (I always find myself experimenting with my kids in April and May!), but I have high hopes.  If the kids reach "Good Job!" they get to enter their name into a drawing for various prizes.  If they achieve "Way to Go" they get to choose a class coupon.  "Ready to Learn" and "First Warning" are exactly what they say.  "Second Warning" will revoke a portion of a privilege (2 minutes off recess, etc.), and "Stop and Think" will require them to step aside and fill out this form that will go home to their parents.

What do you think?  Will this work?  Will it be effective?  Here's hoping for the best! Thanks for being my listening ear while I share some good news and bad news.  Oh, how it helps to have good teacher friends listening!  Time to put these things out of mind until Monday and go enjoy Easter with my family.  Happy Easter!

Oh, and come back soon for some exciting, EXCITING back-to-school news!!

***UPDATE: My clip chart and stop and think sheet are available free at this post!***