My First Ever TPT Freebie and Classroom Management

I am happy to announce that I have finally posted a worksheet on Teachers Pay Teachers...what's that?  Oh yes...I said A worksheet as in only one.  I really should have started posting worksheets back in May when a fellow teacher told me about TPT  but summer came and I didn't...do...anything...work...related...at...all.  So now here I am scrambling to start a new school year and trying something new like TPT.  The good news is...it's FREE. :)  Check out my compound word sandwiches worksheet!


Our district back to school very long meeting celebration was yesterday.  I don't feel like my brain is out of summer mode quite yet.  Someone will ask me  a direct question and I have to think REALLY hard about what to say...it's bad.  Anyone else experiencing that?

I had a request about how my classroom management system works...here's the original source by Rick Morris.  We were encouraged as a school to use this system or something very similar to it.  As a grade level we knew we had to use the same system because of walk to read.  At first I was VERY reluctant to change...what I had worked.  I had the classic red, yellow, and green light system.  Kids NEVER got to move their clip back UP.  I was cruel and heartless and I was totally okay with that.  Anyway...I had to face reality.  So I made this chart...

It is similar to the original idea but as a grade level we chose to take out one level.  So here's how it works.  The kids each have a clip with their name on it and every day their clip is on the ready to learn section (that is very tough, heavy duty string on the chart).  The students can move up and down the chart all day long.  It was hard to keep track of, which is what I was scared of in the first place, but I really do love it now!  When my students reach outstanding they get to receive a ticket (I bought colored 3x5 cards at the Dollar Tree last year and cut them into fourths, actually my friend cut them all for me...thanks Bethany! I keep them handy.  Sometimes in my pocket or on the shelf close by.  The outstanding student then writes their name and puts the ticket in here. 

On Fridays I pull out two tickets and those two now famous kids get to choose something from the treasure box. Now you may ask, what about those kids that go above and beyond?  Well they get to move their clip to ME!  I wear their clip for as long as they continue that super outstanding behavior and they also get ANOTHER ticket!  They LOVE LOVE LOVE that I wear their clip and it really helped at the end of the year last year.  That is also another idea from the original source.


Thanks for reading!  Apple on!