Classroom Management FREEBIE!

I once thought it would be fun to teach my class how to be popsicles.  I know what you're thinking--she taught her class to be popsicles?  Yep, I taught them to be popsicles.  I taught them to stand with their arms at their sides like they were a popsicle.  Now, popsicles can't talk, right?  And popsicles can't move on their own...do you see where I am going with this?  When you ask a group a kids to act like a popsicle, they eat that stuff up!

We practiced a few times in class how to be popsicles, then I told them every time they heard me say the word "popsicle", they had to be one until I told them to "melt".  What I didn't realize at the time, was that I had struck classroom management GOLD!  The principal walked in one day, so I used that magic little word--and guess what?  Every single kid in my class was being the very best popsicle they could be.  They didn't make a single peep.  They didn't move a single muscle.  Now, you can imagine what the principal thought, right?  She thought that I was an amazing child whisperer.  And you know what?  I was. When my principal left the room I whispered "popsicles melt" and those adorable little stinkers went right back to what they were doing, and I was left standing in awe.

 I soon used the little trick when parents or visitors came in and I needed a moment to talk with them without disruption.  I even had a mother bring in a puppy (Yes, you read that right.  She brought a frigging puppy!) for a show-and-tell.  Normally 25 little students would turn into 25 crazy monsters with a dang puppy in the classroom, but not mine.  Nope!  Every kid stood like a popsicle until I could quietly ask them to come sit in a circle for our guest.  It was amazing.

My little kidsters would ask me if I was proud of them, and I would beam brightly back--until it hit me.  I needed to track their awesomeness!  Thus, the popsicle chart was born.

I hung this bad boy on the wall, and each time my students reacted well to the popsicle command, they earned a tally.  When we had earned 10 tallies on our popsicle, I brought them a prize.  Can you get what I got them?  You betcha, I brought POPSICLES!  If you want a student to work hard for you, bribe them with a promise of popsicles.  It has worked for me every year of teaching.

Go here to get your poster for free.  I have included 6 colored posters to choose from.  Enjoy!

Teach a kid, give someone a hug, and have a wonderful day!

~Leslee