Classroom Management: The Sticky Solution

So much about teaching comes down to personality. Or, rather: it begins with personality. As I have written about here, we teach from the inside out.

I believe this is also true about classroom management. Just like lesson plans and creating a supportive classroom culture, one should sample others’ ideas, but then select and adapt to fit you, your students, and the overall culture of not only your classroom and school, but also the community you live and teach in.

I think it’s useful, however, for every teacher to consider the following questions:

• What is the purpose of classroom management?
• What are my expectations? Are these expectations realistic? Reasonable?
• How can I create a system of addressing behaviors and conflicts that allows my students to feel safe physically and emotionally?
• How can I adapt the physical space in my classroom to support positive interactions and learning?
• How does the culture of my classroom work to support my classroom management system?

Here is the method I have developed over the last couple of years. These ideas are not mine, but adapted from conversations, examples, and little tidbits I’ve picked up over the years.

I also have chosen a system that works well with my personality and teaching style. It’s important to me that I avoid judging students or shaming them: helping students correct behaviors so they can be successful in a community is part of educating them.

Step 1: The One-Rule Classroom.

I’m sure you’ve seen this; it’s all over teacher Pinterest boards. I have tried to track down its origins with no luck. I like it because it’s simple, it’s positive, and it emphasizes the true purposes behind classroom management: If what you are doing interferes with learning, hurts someone’s heart, or prevents you from being your best self, you shouldn’t be doing it.

At the beginning of the year, I post this and ask students to help me think of example behaviors for each part. I also ask them to imagine an undesirable behavior that this rule doesn’t cover. So far, none of my students have managed to do so.

Step 2: Introduce the Sticky Solution

Here’s what I say:

If you are hurting someone’s heart, I will remove you from the classroom immediately. I will not tolerate this kind of behavior. Ever.

For other infractions of this rule–and especially for disruptive behaviors–I will use a sticky note as a warning. I will simply place a blank sticky note on your desk. This means you need to stop doing whatever you’re doing.

If the behavior stops, nothing happens. Just throw the sticky away on your way out of class.

If the behavior continues, I will ask you to write your name on the sticky. And, again, if the behavior stops now, you will take this sticky with your name on it and just throw it away at the end of class.

If, however, the behavior continues, I will collect the sticky and add you to my list of lunch detention, or I might pull you out of class to complete a behavior reflection form. That’s up to me. I will use my judgment and make the best decision I can.

I will always listen to your side of things, though. I want you to know that I know that I don’t always see everything. You can always tell me what I need to know to better understand the situation.

You can always tell me if you’re struggling with something, or if you’re afraid.

After the behavior is addressed through detention, a little talk, or completing the behavior form, it’s over. All is forgiven. We move on, learning and having fun together.

And I will always like you and be in your corner, even when I am not pleased with your behavior. I promise.

What questions do you have?

That’s it. That’s what I do.

It usually works. In fact, typically, if I just pick up my little pad of stickies, students adjust their behaviors right away.

One more thing…

Of course, every child is different. Every situation is different. We teachers have such an incredible power here. We can choose to use these situations to help students grow or we can use them to belittle students and shut them down.

I heard this once some years ago, and it’s important to remember: It’s not about you.

Don’t take student misbehavior personally. Don’t punish them because it makes you feel better. We are all human with the very human gut-reaction to do both of these.

But, that approach just won’t work. It’s not about you. It’s not about me. It’s the kids. It’s always the kids.