desk pets Archives - Teacher's Brain

5 Classroom Management Tips for Back To School Time

August 11, 2023 teachersbrain Back to School, Classroom Behavior Management, Classroom Decor, kindergarten survival, Teacher's Pay Teachers, Teaching Tips

It’s that exciting time of the year again – back to school!

Are you ready?

I know we’re all eager to create a warm and productive classroom environment where our young learners can thrive, and one way to make that happen is with an effective classroom management system.

What is a classroom management system?

A classroom management system is a set of strategies and techniques that we can use to create a positive and organized learning environment. It encompasses a range of practices, from setting clear behavioral expectations and routines to fostering strong teacher-student relationships.

This system empowers us teachers to effectively manage student behavior, encourage active engagement, and promote a conducive atmosphere for learning and growth.

If you’re looking for some rockin’ classroom management system tips for elementary, you’re in the right place!

So, let’s dive into some tips and ideas for effective classroom management that have worked wonders for me over the years.

Tip 1: Set Clear Expectations

Start the school year by discussing and establishing clear expectations with your students. Let them know what behaviors are acceptable in the classroom and what the consequences might be for breaking those rules. Keep these expectations simple, age-appropriate, and positively framed. It’s like setting the compass for your class journey!

Tip 2: Create a Fun and Organized Physical Environment

A classroom that’s inviting and organized can do wonders for managing behavior. Use colorful decorations, student artwork, and interactive displays to make the space engaging. Arrange desks and seating to minimize distractions and encourage interaction. Don’t forget to designate specific areas for materials and supplies – it helps keep chaos at bay.

Tip 3: Use Positive Reinforcement

Celebrate your students’ achievements and good behavior with praise, rewards, or simple gestures like stickers or high-fives. Positive reinforcement can go a long way in motivating them to follow your classroom rules. It’s like sprinkling a bit of magic encouragement to keep their spirits high!

Tip 4: Implement Routines and Procedures

Kids thrive on routine, so establish consistent daily routines and procedures. From entering the classroom to transitioning between subjects, having predictable steps can help minimize disruptions. Remember, routines aren’t about rigidity; they’re like the rhythm that keeps your classroom orchestra in tune!

Tip 5: Foster a Strong Teacher-Student Relationship

Building a positive rapport with your students can make a world of difference in classroom management. Get to know them, show genuine interest in their lives, and listen actively when they talk. When students feel valued and understood, they’re more likely to respect and cooperate with you. Think of it as nurturing a garden of trust and connection.

Looking for the perfect classroom management system? I have you covered with this free Desk Pet Starter Pack Resource!

Need a great way to help your class improve daily behavior? Desk Pets are great for helping with classroom management! Try these FREE printables to help you begin your Desk Pet Pal Positive Behavior System Journey!

What is in this download?

Pg. 1 Cover

Pg. 2 Link Page to Full Resource

Pg. 3 What is a desk pet?

Pg. 4 Adoption Application EDITABLE PowerPoint

Pg. 5 Labels (Adoption Center and Hotel)

Pg. 6 Editable Page to create Writing Prompt or other Idea

Pg. 7 Zoo Habitat for a Pet

Pg. 8 How to Fold the Habitat

Pg. 9 Other Resources

Pg. 10 Credits

Get it for free here!

Looking for more classroom management tips? Check out my post here!

5 Back To School Resources That Will Make Your Year Better

July 29, 2023 teachersbrain Back to School, Classroom Behavior Management, Classroom Decor, education

It’s almost time to head back to the classroom!

As we gear up to welcome our new students and reunite with the familiar faces, it’s essential to be equipped with the best resources to make this academic year a smashing success.

If you’re looking for back to school activities, classroom decoration ideas, classroom management resources, or back to school resources for teachers, you’re in the right place! I’ll be sharing some fantastic back-to-school resources that will help us create engaging lessons, foster a positive classroom environment, and make this school year the best one yet! 🚀

What do you do to welcome kids back to school?

It all starts with your classroom! Creating a warm and welcome environment can work wonders when it comes to easing students’ stress and making them feel comfortable. Add colors and even a fun classroom theme to bring life to a cold and bland classroom.

The next step is implementing a good classroom management system that will make expectations clear, and then you want to have some fun with back to school and get to know you activities!

Here are 5 back to school resources to get you started!

1. This Boho Rainbow Classroom Decor Bundle is adorable and welcoming!

back to school classroom decoration ideas

Create an inviting classroom decor with this calming boho Rainbow-themed set! This is a calm theme with editable pages to easily personalize. Use the suggested fonts or create your own.

What is in the download:

An Editable Calendar Set
Editable Birthday Chart
Editable Daily Visual Schedule
Classroom Jobs Set
Color Word Posters & Name Tags
An Alphabet Line (Print and Cursive)
Back to School Welcome Banners, Forms, Posters & Labels for Binders

2. Try out the Desk Pet Pals Classroom Management System

back to school classroom management system

Need a great way to help your class improve daily behavior? I have you covered with this editable Powerpoint and Google Slides! Use these slides to personalize editable text boxes. Use mini erasers or the virtual pets provided to improve student’s behavior.

This resource comes with everything you need to implement this fun and engaging resource including behavior contracts, charts, pet store price list, signs, writing prompts, pet personality posters, and so much more! Just add some pet erasers.

Try it out free here!

3. Wondering what’s a good activity for the first lesson? Try out this Back To School Gingerbread Man Campus Hunt activity!

back to school Ginger Bread Man Hunt resource

Are you looking for a back-to-school activity to help students learn where different locations are on your school campus? This is a week of lessons integrating reading with a campus hunt for the Gingerbread Man! There is enough to keep your kiddos busy for weeks learning with this fun theme. It is full of extras too! Check it out!

4. Try out this First Day Jitters Glitter Slime Activity to ease the nerves

Love reading First Day Jitters to your students to help them get rid of their nervousness during the first week of school? The Jitter Glitter Slime included in this week lesson plan is always a huge hit with students! Use this at the beginning of the year to get students excited about science and teach them about inferences!

5. Don’t forget a fun craft! Check out these First Day of School Hat Crafts

Looking for an engaging activity to do with students to celebrate the first day or week of school? Have them create their own first day of school hat to wear while using the provided writing prompt to explain their favorite part of the first day, and give them a certificate!

I hope you and your students love these resources and that you have a marvelous first day of school!
Want more back to school resources? Check out these beachy classroom decor ideas.

Desk Pets: A Classroom Management System Students Will Love!

November 5, 2021 teachersbrain Classroom Behavior Management, Teaching Tips

Among the many academic subjects we teach our students, we also teach them so much more that goes beyond that. They learn how to follow rules, make friends, be kind, be responsible, respectful, make good choices, and so much more.

Positive reinforcement is a great way to celebrate this behavior. It will encourage the behavior to continue when students are doing a good job. This can be done in many ways but a good classroom management strategy is a fantastic place to start. You can read about one of my favorite strategies, Blurt Beans, here.

With a good classroom management system, you will not only show students the consequences of their actions when they don’t make the right choice but also encourage and celebrate them when they show that they are responsible, respectful, kind, etc.

If you are looking for the perfect system for your classroom that will get your students excited and motivated to continue to do well, you have to try out Desk Pets.

Desk Pets are a unique classroom management system that will reward students for their good behavior by giving them “desk pets” to keep on their desks and accessories to go along with them.

The desk pet is an animal eraser. You can read with it, write with it, or even play with it at designated times of the day.

Here’s how to implement the Desk Pet system into your classroom

To start, students will earn Desk Pet Dollars from your classroom when they are doing a good job, following the rules, helping others, staying on task, showing respect, being responsible, etc. After they earn their dollars, they then get to spend it to adopt a desk pet of their choosing!

The desk pet gets to hang out with them at their desk. In order to buy habitats, supplies, and other accessories that will keep the desk pet “happy”, students will need to continue to earn more Desk Pet Dollars. This provides the incentive for them to continue making good choices even after they got to pick out a pet.

Later on in the year, students can even have the option to give their desk pets a permanent home by taking them home (if you choose to).

When students are not following rules, they may be charged a Desk Pet fee that they have to pay using their earned dollars or their pet may be taken back to the adoption center.

Students love this system! They can share with their friends what animal they received and what accessories they have to go along with it. This inspires more good behavior because students will want what their friends have.

If you want to get started with Desk Pets, you can do that free with my starter kit here.

It comes with the rules you need to get started. You’ll get an adoption application, a zoo habitat along with instructions on how to set it up, Desk Pet signs, and an editable page for writing prompts.

If you want the full resource, you can check that out here. It comes with all of the printables you need. You’ll get behavior contracts, Venn diagrams, pet store price lists, Desk Pet journals, and more!

This will definitely be a hit for your students, and it will definitely make you a memorable teacher!

Desk Pets for the Classroom: a Behavior Management Tool

August 24, 2021 teachersbrain Back to School, Classroom Behavior Management, Distance Learning, Teacher's Pay Teachers

I’m obsessed with how Desk Pets improve classroom behavior!

All over the internet, in the teacher’s lounge, on TikTok, and on educational blogs, the latest buzz is about Desk Pets! The original idea came from Marissa Begay. Buying cute erasers is nothing new for teachers regarding classroom rewards, but Desk Pets take it to a new level! I can’t stop creating new ideas for these mini erasers! Just like students, teachers love to be part of the fun! This is why I suggest teachers have their own Desk Pet Pal! Also, students see that even adults have rules to follow. Clearly, the principal would give you your Desk Pet Dollars. lol

What are Desk Pets?

Desk pets are adorable small erasers students can adopt in the classroom. Undoubtedly, I found mine on Amazon. Students keep their pets at their desks. If you don’t want them at their desks all day, you can have a designated time for them to be at their desk. Not only can they write with them, but they can also read to their Desk Pet. Students fill out classroom adoption papers. It reminds me of Build-a-Bear workshops. To turn these amazing pets into a reward system, students earn Desk Pet Dollars to purchase accessories or habitats for their pets. They can even adopt pet friends if they earn enough points. You decide on the points students have to earn to get a Desk Pet Dollar. Teachers track points with Class Dojo or a simple, portable tally chart.

How do Desk Pets work?

First, the rules need to be made clear. To make sure these Desk Pets don’t drive you crazy, set the ground rules, or better yet, have the students create the rules to help them take ownership. Honestly, I don’t think it’s a great idea to begin the year by introducing this classroom management system. I would wait until the classroom rules are being followed, and students have developed a respect for your classroom. Additionally, I begin with using them as math manipulatives rarely, so students get a little familiar with the erasers before teaching the expectations. Before the holidays is a perfect time to introduce this system.

After students fill out the adoption application and adopt their pet, send home information to families to get them to reinforce the excitement and responsibility of having a Desk Pet Pal. Definitely, encourage parents to ask about the pets, earning points, and dollars.

There’s more…

Set up a way that students can achieve a Permanent Home Adoption Certificate later in the year if they acquire a large number of points. Every time students earn maybe 10 points, they get a dollar. Furthermore, create a pet store where they can buy food, treats, toys, beds, bowls, or habitats. These can be felt pieces, simple construction paper, cotton balls for a bed, and bottle caps as bowls. Additionally, allow students each week to buy their pet something.

Every day you should set time aside, even if it’s 5 minutes of quiet reading time with their pet. This is “free time” that they don’t have to earn with points. Furthermore, have an Adoption Center where you display the pets in a safe area.

Desk Pets make great writing prompts! Students enjoy writing about their pets. If having them all day at their desk is a problem, decide on a place to store them until the appropriate designated Pet Playtime. Teachers have pet daycares, hotels, or simple plastic bins for this purpose. Another idea is to use the hotel to store the animals daily. It prevents lost pets. Even more, teachers create a class goal to have a pet party.

What are students most excited about?

Students get excited by spending dollars at the pet store and building new habitats for their pets. Furthermore, students are learning about science, math skills with counting dollars, responsibility, writing, and rules. My own kids who are past elementary age loved these little erasers, so use them at any age. Without a doubt, students will remember you for the fun, engaging way you helped them to stay on task. I know as a parent, I love the idea of Desk Pet Pals!

I teach virtual school. Can Desk Pets work for me?

YES! Google slides make it easy to use digital desk pets. Also, digital clipart can be sent to the students. And, have students use writing prompts with their pets. It should be noted that you can offer clipart of accessories, food, or toys in exchange for Virtual Pet Points.

What happens if they get lost or stolen?

Great question! Without a doubt, you will experience cute erasers going missing. I have a Pet Detective form students can fill out and reward posters for students to create for missing pets. Then, I tell the student their adoption contract is voided and they can adopt a new pet until the other one is found. Certainly, if someone gets caught stealing, remove points from their data log. I like to track behavior points for difficult behaviors and use the data charts in meetings.

I love that the mini erasers can be used for other educational purposes too! Here are some ideas:

Math Manipulatives
Creative Writing Prompts
Opinion Writing
Design Posters or Write a Book About the Pet
Hide them in the room to play I Spy or Write the Room
Sort by Colors
Create a Report on the Animal
Learn How to Care for a Pet
Design a Pet Habitat

Check out these pre-made PowerPoints and Digital Google Slides that will save you time coming up with Desk Pet ideas and activities.

Try this FREE Sample to get started on your Desk Pet Journey!