IMPORTANT: In order for time out to work, you must first understand the function of the student’s behavior. If his behavior is to avoid work, then time out is giving the student what he wants. Make sure the student has the skill to perform the task and try to motivate…
Line Up AND Learn Some Math!
“SHE CUT ME!” I heard that a number of times when students were lining up in my classroom. One of the worst possible crimes in elementary school is when a student cuts in line! Oh my! Other crimes while lining up were pushing, crowding, elbowing, complaining, name calling, etc. It…
Tis the Season to be Grateful: Gratitude Journals
During the days leading up to the holiday season, consider having students keep a Gratitude Journal. Whether you are a teacher or counselor at the elementary, middle, or high school level, this is something that is free, beneficial, quick, and easy that you can do with your students! On the…
A “MAGICAL” ALTERNATIVE TO THE FLIP CARD CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Weeelll…I’m going to cause a stir…I’m just going to say it…I do not think the flip card (color card) system for classroom management works! There! I said it! Classroom teachers, stay with me… Here are the systems I’ve seen: Each student has 5 colors in order (often blue, green, yellow,…
A NEW TAKE ON AN OLD SONG–A Counseling Strategy
“If you want to be happy and you know it, clap your hands!” Clap. Clap. “If you want to be happy and you know it, clap your hands!” Clap. Clap. “If you want to be happy and you know it then make sure your face will show it, If you…
Food Allergies in the School and Classroom
In the 13 years I have worked in school health I am amazed at the increase in the incidence of food allergies in children. When I started in a district of just over 4,000 students, we had one maybe two children with a food allergy. In that same district there…
MAGIC WAND
My daughter called the other day to lament on her difficult day in her day care class with 2 ½ year olds. It seemed like she had a day of “NOs” and “don’t do that” and “keep your hands to yourself”. You know that kind of day…we’ve all had them….
COUNSELING NOTES: What Did I Do Yesterday?
Any counselor that works in an educational setting—elementary, middle, or high, private or public—and has worked for more than one day knows that a schedule should be written in pencil. There will be interruptions. There will be unexpected crises. The one constant is that the day’s scheduled events will change….
STUDENT RECORDS: Yours, Mine or Ours?
I work daily with a great team of seven guidance counselors and four school psychologists. Each is highly skilled. It is not unusual for us to discuss, or even debate, a variety of counseling issues. One that resurfaces on a fairly routine basis is the issue of student records, particularly…
Behavior Flow Chart
So often when a student does not act the way we think s/he should act, we immediately discipline the child. Sometimes that works. Other times it just frustrates us. When I was in graduate school at University of Kentucky working on a master’s degree in Emotional Behavioral Disorders, my professor,…