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
