The Perfect Pumpkin

A few years back I started a fun thing in my classroom in October where I took one of those cheap plastic pumpkins that could fit a few pieces of candy inside. I decided to do something called the perfect pumpkin where I pass it around to kids during the day that are showing positive behavior. The kid who has it on their desk at the end of the day receives the reward inside. I do this each day for the month of October. The kids GO CRAZY for this at the end of the day to see what their peers receive. I decided to create my own box template this year and also include a fun printable award and a class book about our perfect pumpkins from the pumpkin patch. October is one of my favorite months in my 2nd grade class and this is just one more reason why!

Enjoy this freebie that adds to your PERFECT PUMPKIN FUN in your classroom
and motivates classroom management this fall!

2 Tips to Tame the Morning Chaos

Hi, teacher friends.  It's Peggy Means from Primary Flourish with some tips to help you and your students 'flourish' with a morning routine.

Don't you just love this picture?!
Look at their enthusiasm ...
... their determination ...
... their speed ...
... their joy ...
all coming into YOUR classroom!

After years of frustration with the chaos of my mornings with the students,
I found 2 routines that tamed - not squelched - tamed and directed ...
... their determination ...
... their speed ...
... their joy ...
as they come into YOUR classroom!

I call it "Rise & Shine" because that's what I want the students to do...

rise to the challenges of the day ...

and shine with their best!

It is PowerPoint slide that you project every morning as the students arrive.  They can quickly see what they need to do to prepare for the day - and you have a few moments to take roll, lunch count, or any other morning responsibilities that you may have.

This really transformed my mornings!  Now the students were self-directed and productive!

And it was a snap for me to create every day - much easier - and cuter - than writing it on the whiteboard every day.

If you would like to give this a try - 

you can download it - 

for free!

I made the slides editable so you can add what you need to for each new day!
I think it will make your mornings so much easier!

There is just something wonderful about music and the effect it has on us!

I found that music playing as the students enter the classroom helps them 

transition and refocus their attention!

I have a morning playlist with a variety of tempos:

Quiet music on Mondays when their energy is high.

Lively music for the Fridays (and the day after a field trip).

Variety of tempos in between.

I hope these 2 tips will help you 'tame the morning chaos'!

DIY Keeping Track of Who You've Called on!

Hey hey all! Do you ever feel like you call on the same kiddos over and over all day long!?  I was feeling like that a few years ago.  I felt like I always always always was hearing from the same 4-5 kids all day long.  So I had an idea.

I have my kiddos numbered in alphabetical order, and it makes it SUPER easy to make tools and resources that you can use from year to year when you're writing their NUMBERS on things instead of their names! So, I got some fun colored popsicle sticks (from the crafting aisle at Walmart) and a fun pencil cup from Target Dollar Spot (I'm obsessed with shopping at Target!), and numbered the sticks 1-29, one for each one of my kids!

When we're in class discussion, I would just pull a stick to be able to call on a kiddo at random and call the number I pulled! But STILL I felt like I was picking the SAME STICKS....

SOOOOO I tried to problem solve initially by pulling their stick out of the cup when I called on them so I couldn't pull their number again until I had called on everyone and pulled all of the sticks out of the cup.  But then I left the sticks laying where I laid them for sometimes WEEKS at a time because I'd be all cute and take the cup to the library with us or to the carpet meeting area or to the guided reading table....  I LEFT THE STICKS EVERYWHERE!! I would ALWAYS forget to scoop them up and then {crap} their stick wasn't even in the cup to pull the next time!!

SOOOOOOOOO then I saw this GENIUS idea to use WASHI tape {and who doesn't need a good excuse to use washi tape?!?} from Michelle Griffo at Apples and ABCs.

I put washi tape wrapped around the end of the stick that had their number on it.  I start with all of the sticks washi tape DOWN and then as I pull those sticks and call on those students, I put the stick back in with the number and washi tape side UP! That way I know who I've already called on and their STICK STAYS SAFE IN THE CUP! :) 

EASY PEASY! And a FUN and colorful DIY!! Do you have a fun and creative way to keep track of who you've called on?!? I'd love to hear about it in the comments! Thanks for reading!!

"Stop and Think" Sign by Alisha Satterwhite

Hi again!  My name is Alisha Satterwhite.  You might also know me as "Busy Me Plus Three"!  I wanted to share something with you that has really helped me out this year and in previous years.  It is my "STOP" sign.  This is a great classroom management tool and also helps the students by reminding them to think and problem solve!  I have done this in different ways.  I have attached it to each side of a popsicle stick.  I just printed it, cut it out, and glued it back to back with a popsicle stick in between.  I have also done the same but attached it to a piece of yarn to make a necklace.

I use this mainly during guided reading and math small groups.  When a student comes up to you and you are working with a group, you simply raise the sign.  You don't say a word, you just raise the sign.  This allows the children to "stop and think" about what they need to do.  I teach my kids that they are not to interrupt me for any reason (except if they are about to throw up).  I have already taught them about Hand Signals and our "When I am Done Chart".  Each child also has an index card with his/her name on it.  So, if they have already asked "three before me" and still have a question, they just place their card on the table.  This way, they do not interrupt and I will talk with them when I have a few free seconds (most of the time in between groups).  So, if they come and interrupt, I hold up the sign because they should NOT be interrupting small groups!

I also use this sign and attach to my "Stop Box".  If a student is given a warning, his or her behavior folder goes into the box.  This reminds the student to stop and think about his or her behavior or choices.  The next time I have to talk with the student, his or her folder is marked.  This has worked wonders for me!  

I hope this helps as you begin to plan for the new school year!  Have a great rest of the summer!

Conduct Rubrics - Common Core Kingdom

Hello! I am Julie Bochese from Common Core Kingdom. I am so excited to be blogging for iTeachSecond!

I live in Ponte Vedra, Florida with my husband and two dogs. We are expecting our first baby in September.

I have been teaching second grade for four years. Before that, I taught 3rd through 6th grade. Second grade is definitely my favorite! My school is a designated Leader in Me School, where we practice the Seven Habits to implement our leadership magnet. I had the opportunity to lead many of our schools Leader in Me initiatives. Our goal is to foster life long leaders who take initiative in their own lives.

One of the most important tools I have used in my classroom to help my students take initiative for their own choices is implementing a conduct rubric. Rather than assign students grades, I teach students to evaluate their own behavior and rate their conduct using a rubric. They then use this rubric to create behavior goals for the following week.

At the beginning of the year it does take time to introduce this process. I usually begin the first week of school by creating the rubric with my class. If they create the rubric, they have ownership of it! (Being a Leader in Me School, we base our rubric on the Seven Habits, but any criteria can be used!)

Students rate their conduct on Friday mornings during morning work time. During the first few weeks of school, I model how to rate my own conduct using the rubric. I then formulate my own goals. Taking the time to model the process is important, because you want students to learn to be truly reflective. If you invest the time early on, it pays off in the end. After the first few weeks, all of my second graders are able to rate their conduct and formulate goals independently.

After students complete their conduct grades and goals for the week, I call them up for a short conference with me. In the beginning, conferences take a little bit longer. Some students think that if they just put "A," that is what they will get! It is important to have a discussion with each child and review the rubric, so they are able to accurately reflect upon their choices. They quickly learn to be honest! As students get used to the process, conferences tend to be very quick (less than 30 seconds).

I ask parents to sign their conduct goals each week. My school struggles with parental involvement, so unfortunately I do not always get them back signed; however; they are there for documentation if a parent ever questions their child's conduct grade.


Having students evaluate their own conduct is beneficial for many reasons.
1. Teaches students to be reflective of their choices. They learn they are in charge of modifying their behavior.
2. Students learn to make goals. They feel success when they achieve their goals.
3. This is a great parent communication tool! Parents understand their child's conduct grade because it is not just given to them by the teacher. Their child evaluated themselves!

Grab a copy of the conduct rubric I use here: Conduct Rubric & Reflection



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