Let’s start off with some honesty, I’ve been having some trouble with my pack of learners this year. I have a really wiggly group with little stamina. One day something works for them, another day it doesn’t. With all that in mind, we have been having a lot of conversations about using our classroom time wisely, being efficient and not wasting our learning time. I sound like a broken record most of the time but I think it’s finally getting through to my learners. This week I decided to give Think Sheets a try because it was the 4th week of school and they needed some tough love. I told them that we were going to give Think Sheets a try.
Needing to have them think through? Pin it to save!
We all know the routine, if someone was not using our classroom time wisely aka wasting our learning time they would get a think sheet and have to stay in for recess. I used a clipboard for my checklist and kept it in a special spot on my whiteboard ledge with a pen. Using a pen is important because no one can sneak up and try to erase a name, not that they would ever think to do that!
Nevermind the homework list, that’s another story! :[
My learners on the list had to stay in for recess and work on their think sheet. It was surprising how many of them took ownership of their bump in the road and used the vocabulary I have been repeating over and over in our classroom. Many of them wrote about how they were wasting their learning time by doing that choice and how they would make MUCH better choices next time.
A peek into my recess time… Most are in finishing their homework.
After I discussed their behaviors with them privately and make a plan for improvement, I would sign the bottom and ask them to put them in their STAR folders for safe keeping. I would highlight their name on my checklist to remind me of the students who have completed their Think Sheets.
This is my master but I’ve printed mine on pink paper for a pop of importance.
So far, I’ve only have had two students who did not bring it back the next day signed. They were told if they didn’t they would lose their recess again and we would be calling home. Both parents were very appreciative of us calling them to let them know of our plan of improvement. I will be keeping the Think Sheets in a binder for when conferences roll around so we can discuss these behaviors in person. Overall, it was my first VERY successful not stressful week of teaching this year and I owe it all to some tough love and Think Sheets!
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