Behavior Management Strategies - Mystery Word Wall + Scoreboard Method

The past two weeks, we've featured various behavior management systems that target different student subsets - individual, small group, and whole group. Some educators find the use of behavior management systems beneficial, while others find that their students respond better to other methods. While you'll have to judge for yourself {and keep in mind that each year will bring new and different challenges that may require different approaches}, here's another whole class system that may be a positive, yet fun and low maintenance addition to your classroom behavior management plan.

Stephanie over at Falling Into First designed this mystery word wall as a supplement to her use of the Whole Brain Teaching's scoreboard management method. As a class, as students are observed following directions and classroom rules, as well as going above and beyond to help their classmates, they collectively earn "smiley points" on the scoreboard. On the flip side, if they are observed making poor choices as a whole students receive "frowny points". At the end of the day, if the class has earned more smiley points than frowny points, they are rewarded and get to flip over a letter on the mystery word wall. Once all of the letters have been turned over, students have earned the prize displayed (i.e. movie and popcorn day, show and tell, etc) and a new message is added to the wall.

As with any system, while there are pros and cons, the mystery word wall and scoreboard method reminds students that they have control over their behavioral choices, helps students learn that even if they've made mistakes throughout the day there is still an opportunity to earn a reward through hard work, and builds a sense of community as students work together to achieve a common goal!