KMK: Classroom Management – English Points

So, last time we talked about classroom rules. Today I’m going to tell about the system of punishment for breaking those rules. Every day at the beginning of class I write the letters ENGL on the blackboard.

During the lesson if students misbehave I’ll erase a letter. They hate that. You should hear the wails and moans when one of those letters disappears. If by the end of class there are no letters on the blackboard the class takes a dictation test. If however they do something extraordinary as a class I will add a letter. At the end of the class I roll a die and whatever number comes up is the number of letters they get to complete the word ENGLISH (including exclamation marks). When that happens they earn an English point. Thirty points earns the class a video party at the end of the semester.

This technique was being used by the native teacher at my school and I quickly adopted it. It really keeps the kids focused on that long term goal of a party and it keeps them motivated to earn more points and keep track of how many they have and how many more they need.

Next up, you’ll need a way to regain control of a class about to spiral out of control and warn the students quickly that they’re getting perilously close to losing a point. Stay tuned!