Behavior Management Strategies - Fall Themed Behavior System

Now that you have several months behind you, chances are you'll be needing to reevaluate your system for behavior management. Generally, as the year progresses and students get to know each other, they become more comfortable and more social with one another. While this is great, it also poses a management problem when students get so wrapped up in visiting that they forget to listen for cues, use inside voices, raise their hands, etc. You might find an additional incentive-based system a great (and positive) solution for reminding students of classroom expectations. Not only is it fun, it also invites students to work together toward a common goal/reward.

Pumpkin Behavior Management Idea

Here's a simple system that would work perfectly for fall/October...

As students demonstrate positive behavior throughout the day/week, they have an opportunity to earn pumpkin seeds for their class pumpkin. [NOTE: Whether you decide to work on a specific expectation or all of your classroom expectations is up to you. Just make sure to be clear with your students!] We suggest awarding the pumpkin seeds at the end of each day, recognizing the positive behaviors you noticed throughout the school day.

Once students have earned a specific number of pumpkin seeds, they'll earn a piece for their pumpkin patch. In this example, there are nine total pieces. When the pumpkin patch is fully 'grown', students then earn a class reward - i.e. an extra recess, no shoes day, sit by a friend day, etc.

Again, this system is super simple, but provides a positive way to reinforce/remind students of appropriate classroom behavior, as well as offers an opportunity for students to work together!