Mr. S-
We just
wanted to let you know that our Classroom Management System is in full swing.
You had inquired about our team’s Super Improvers Team (Level 2 of our
Scoreboard), and we want you to be reminded that it is the best strategy we
have implemented for encouraging individual student improvement and success.
We wanted you to be aware we have also introduced a new class management
technique, the Guff Counter (Scoreboard Level 4). We have had several
students back talk and be disrespectful lately, and the Guff Counter is
specifically designed to eliminate this. We know, as you have stated many
times, “Student success relies heavily on keeping their E-tanks (emotional
tanks) full. It is difficult to keep E-tanks full when others are
disrespectful during class, and with months of school left, we felt it was time
to add this classroom management strategy.
Here’s how
the Guff Counter works: We have added a row, called Guff, to each of our
classroom scoreboards. When we see disrespectful behavior, either toward
us or other students (eye rolling, back talk, groaning, etc.), we will verbally
say, “That sounds like guff to me, where's my marker?" This will cue
the class to raise their hand with a "stopping gesture" while firmly
responding, “Please stop!” This effective classroom management strategy
unites the class behind the teachers and the team because it does not allow
disrespectful behavior to be tolerated. This quickly shows the guffer
that they are all alone and not supported by their classmates. During the
introduction/practice session, students lost one point for each disrespectful
word/gesture, but in reality, they will never lose points for individual guff.
Students do not want to lose points and will always stand behind the
teacher's leadership. They can, however, earn points for uniting together when they say,
“Please stop!”
“No one
may interrupt instruction and learning” is one of our team expectations, and we
can’t afford to allow rebel students to win a classroom struggle. Nor is
it our goal for any one student to be hurt or upset. The Guff Counter is
an effective classroom management technique because it allows us to correct the
behavior as a class so we can quickly continue with learning.
Thank you
for supporting our team’s Whole Brain Teaching efforts. We just thought
we should let you know about our current steps toward making our team stronger
and more proficient.
None of us
is stronger than all of us!
Respectfully
yours,
Team Canterbury Castle
