In the beginning.....
How to win control of your class....
It begins with consistency and ends with consistency. You must learn to reinforce the behaviors you want......all while smiling (because of the mimic response in brains, if you are smiling.....they will smile. Isn't that a crazy idea??? and if someone is smiling they are happy. Go on and try it...crazy!). Ok, so decide what your signal is going to be, now smile, and reinforce it. It may take a bit (don't give up), and BE SURE to reinforce using positive reinforcement (put in your phone as a reminder every 3 days or whatever it takes). Don't ever "let a behavior go". You MUST must must must .....be strong! If you teach the behavior well in the beginning of the year, and then reinforce intermittently you will get there( sometimes use crazy reinforcers, kids love that....hand out dum-dum suckers....and tell them it's because they are not "dum-dum's and know how to respond to your signal, or be honest and tell them how much you appreciate their efforts in listening you even when they are busy. Remember at least a 4 to 1 ratio of positive reinforcers! FOUR TO ONE!!!!!)
It is hard to do this half-way through the year. It will work SO much better if you start your year out doing this......on the very first day of school. When students come in for the first time (in high school you have a few days of a honeymoon period......use it!) Call them all up to the front of the room, huddle up, and teach them this concept (any signal is fine, I prefer a hand raise in high school).It will become the "this is how we operate in this classroom". As your year progresses, you can give more control to the students, allow them the "power" of the raised hand.Plan on your first 3 weeks of school spent on teaching behaviors you want and reinforcing.
+ :) = Happy class
