TEACHING 2ND GRADE
Teaching second grade, in this day in age, is completely different from what I thought it would be when I was earning my degree in college. It doesn’t matter how prepared or well-studied you are. Those kids find a way to kick your ass that first year. My first year, I didn’t think I’d be learning how NOT to yell. I learned how NOT to yell that year. Yelling was really easy that first year. It doesn’t work and it just isn’t healthy for anyone involved.
Once I got that part down, I could focus more on actually being good at my job. After 5 years of being pretty good at my job I realized something. You have to outsmart them emotionally and every year it’s different. Usually the first 2 weeks I do not sincerely interact much with my kids because I want them to know the rules and boundaries first. I am kind, firm, and I don’t let anyone have any special privileges that first week. I make mental notes about each kid as I notice them, but I don’t engage too deeply. They have to know they are all equals here. It’s extremely hard, especially if you have bias and we all do. Teachers, you know what I mean. You get a sibling of a kid you taught last year or you get the well-known hellion from first grade. Reputation is real even in 2nd grade.
Anyway, After a while, I get a feel for the types of emotions of this group I’ll be dealing with. Then I pick a one of my behavior plans accordingly. That’s right. I have a ton of different behavior plans. Gold tags may work for one class and not another. How you decide to use class dojo that year depends on the kids. This class doesn’t care about Fun Friday Centers as a rewards and last year my students LOVED IT. Point is, take your time to be firm, observant and even quiet that first week. Figure out what you’re dealing with before you deal, because you might just deal the wrong hand. Don’t freak though if you don’t get it quite right at first. That’s the why they call teaching an art. You can paint it how you want it and it doesn’t have to be paint by numbers. Here are some behavior resources, incentives, and resources/websites from teacherspayteachers.com that I’ve I found helpful:
(note: you should make a teacherspayteachers account if you don’t have one already. Most things you have to buy but they can be pretty cheap like the Gold Tag/Fun Friday incentive plan. There are also free resources as well.)
· https://www.classdojo.com/
· https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/
https://app.gonoodle.com/
· https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Positive-Behavior-Management-Gold-Tags-1925943
· https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Class-Jobs-Chevron-830621
· https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Behavior-Slips-2260359
· https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Behavior-Reflection-Behavior-Think-Sheet-and-Apology-Letter-848864
· https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Behavior-Slip-1554733
· https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reward-Coupons-55-Different-Coupons-for-Positive-Classroom-Management-282691
· https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Walking-Tickets-for-Behavior-Management-711742
