Classroom Management Systems: Part 2

In my previous article, Classroom Management Systems: Part 1, I described one of my classroom management systems called transitions. In this article, I will describe a game we called, the class versus Mr. Harrison.

Starting the very first day of school, I put a "Class vs. Mr. Harrison" box in the lower right-hand corner of my whiteboard, directly underneath the transitions box described in the previous article.

• This box is divided in half by a vertical line.
• Underneath the left hand side of the box the word, "Class" is written.
• Underneath the right hand side of the box, the words, "Mr. Harrison" are written.

 

Friendly Classroom Competition

The class vs. Mr. Harrison game is a fun way for my pupils and I to have a friendly competition with each other throughout the year that is tied into classroom management. On the first day of school, I tell the class, "In June, on the next-to-last day of school, whoever has the most points in the class vs. Mr. Harrison box will be deemed the winner. If you win, I will bring every single one of you a really cool prize. However, if I win, every single one of you has to bring me two dollars on the last day of school."

Including Your Silent Conspirators (Parents)

You should hear the bellyaching that I get after making this announcement! It's hilarious! Now, you may be thinking, "This guy is out of his mind! I'll get in all sorts of trouble if I tell my students they have to pay me if they lose the game!" Don't worry! I discreetly let my parents know that in 21 years of teaching, I have NEVER had a class lose the game, and I would never take money from a student. I always make sure they win! But the kids don't know that, and I ask the parents to promise to keep that fact just between us.

Winning Points

Points are earned mainly by playing educational games together, and as a reward for good effort and good behavior. You can have a game of Hangman, or Twenty Questions that is worth 2,500 points to the winner. If every single person in the class turns in a homework assignment on time, the whole class earns 1,000 points. There are many ways to create point-earning opportunities!

Tying into Classroom Management

How is this game tied into classroom management? First, tie points to in-class behavior. Let's say the class is noisy and you want to get their attention. One great method is to say, "Signal's on!" and begin silently counting to five with your fingers in the air. If there is any noise in the room after five seconds, you give yourself 1,000 points. If all ten fingers go up, you get 2,000 points. It's amazing how quickly the class quiets down if they know they are giving me points by continuing their behavior.

Incorporate the Transitions Box

Secondly, you can use the transitions box to help your pupils earn points in the class vs. Mr. Harrison game. At the end of the day, if the class doesn’t have a single check mark in the bad side of the transitions box, that is deemed a perfect day. A perfect day earns the class 5,000 points for outstanding behavior. If they only have one bad check mark, that earns them 2,500 points. If they have only two bad check marks, they earn 1,000 points. The kids love to earn points this way! Once again, the transitions box has provided a motivation for proper behavior. By transitioning well, the class can earn points toward winning our game, and increasing their chances of getting a cool prize at the end of the year. Additionally, it's wonderful to send smiling kids out the door at the end of the day and hear them proudly proclaim to their parents, "We had a Perfect Day! We got 5,000 points!"

A Race Right to the End of the School Year

There have been many years where the scores for both sides break the 1,000,000-point mark, and the game is very close right up until the end of school. A secondary benefit of this system is the opportunity it provides for kids to get some hands-on practice with large numbers. But the most amazing benefit of the class vs. Mr. Harrison game is that it works every year, for the entire year, with every grade level I have taught. I don’t fully understand why, but the kids don’t get tired of this competition. Give it a try, I guarantee that it will make the school year more enjoyable for everyone, and it will be a valuable addition to your classroom management plan.