November Classroom Behavior Management Games

Happy November, teacher friends!  I love this season so much in the classroom!  You can really feel that the breaks are so close and Christmas is in the air!  Sometimes, along with that comes the need for more redirection because students can sense it, too.  That's when I pull out a classroom behavior management game to get us back on track.  The goal of these games is to take students from being extrinsically motivated to intrinsically motivated.  I want them to make the right choice because it's the right thing to do and not just for a prize.  How you, as the teacher, approach that makes all the difference and sets the tone.  They need a good amount of positive feedback when playing these games for them to be successful, such as, "I noticed how quickly and quietly you transitioned from the carpet to your seat."  You can then ask a student to add a game piece to the board.  If you have strong routines and a classroom management system in place, I promise that you will see a noticeable difference in the way your classroom runs with my Classroom Management Games.

Classroom behavior management for elementary students for the month of November!

Classroom behavior management for elementary students for the month of November!

I wanted to make the prizes simple and free, so I always post this list as a reminder for me.  I will pick maybe three and have students vote on what they want to work towards.  This gives them a goal to strive for.  We also go over expectations for the game and the specific ways they can earn a game piece.

Classroom behavior management for elementary students for the month of November!

Each game will focus on a specific behavior.  Once we get that behavior or routine down, we move onto a different game.  Transitions are something I am always working on, so I made this one, Transitions are as Easy as Pie.  When students exhibit a quick, quiet, and smooth transition, they get to add a piece of pie to the game board.  Once the pie is built, they earn the reward.  

Classroom behavior management for elementary students for the month of November!

Some groups tattle more than others, so it's up to you on whether or not you use this game.  The group from this year tattled fairly frequently, so I would have definitely used this game!  Students can earn a piece by effectively solving problems amongst themselves.  I earn a piece for tic tac toe if someone tattles.  Be sure to go over what is a tattle and what needs to be brought to the teacher.

Classroom behavior management for elementary students for the month of November!

Good manners is so important to me.  I want my students to display good manners throughout the building and to be models for others.  When they get a compliment for having good manners, such as in the cafeteria, they earn a dish for the Thanksgiving table.  This game really gets them thinking about how they act inside and outside of the classroom.

Classroom behavior management for elementary students for the month of November!

Your definition of goodness might be different than mine, but for me, I am looking for students showing acts of kindness to other students and to adults at school.  When they are caught showing goodness or kindness, they get to add a piece to the BUMP board.  If they are exhibiting a less desirable behavior, I get to add a piece.  You can bump each other's piece off the board; I don't bump them but they do bump me quite frequently.  The goal is to get four in a row.  I also let students tell me if someone is kind to them for a piece for the class.

Classroom behavior management for elementary students for the month of November!

The turkey challenge is just a classic game of students vs. teacher.  Choose the focus you need for your class, such as raising their hand or being engaged.  Students are the turkeys and are trying to earn pieces for their side.  If they are not exhibiting the desired behavior, the teacher earns a piece.  Whoever has the most at the end of the lesson or day wins.

I print each of these games on cardstock and laminate them.  I use round Velcro dots from Amazon to attach the pieces to the game board.  I display the game at the front of the room, so that students can have that visual of what they are working on and for.  You can even ask your students what they think the class needs to work on to give them more ownership over the game.  You can find the link to the games HERE or by clicking on any of the photos.  An update to the December games is on the way, so be on the lookout for that!  Thanks for stopping by!

Classroom behavior management for elementary students for the month of November!








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