Has the calendar hit March and you’re wondering where your sweet and independent students went? You might be dealing with classic classroom spring fever. As it turns out, everything seems to roll along quite smoothly after winter break until March hits. However, if you’re a classroom teacher you already know that spring fever is REAL. It seems as if students have suddenly forgotten all the expectations and are struggling to complete work. If this sounds like your currently reality, this post is for you! We are going to discuss 5 easy and quick tips to help cure that dreaded spring fever and get your classroom back on track and smooth sailing!
#1: Movement is Key
Movement is key so let that motion move you into spring break! By this time of the year, students may be literally vibrating with energy on the carpet or in their seats. One thing I’ve learned, especially with my own 6 year old boy, is to harness that energy and help them put it to good use. This may mean building in more breaks than you have in months just to get out those wiggles. Just think about the activity students are completing and say to yourself, “how can they move while completing this?” I also love to create opportunities where they use movement while learning. Some of my resources for building movement in the day are:
These are just a few easy ways to incorporate more movement into daily lessons. Beat that classroom spring fever by springing into action! Get creative, have fun, and remember it is meeting your student’s needs when you help them get all that energy exerted in positive ways.
#2: Whole Class Incentives
Want to know one of my biggest classroom management secrets? It’s whole class rewards! I know it sounds simple, but I promise it is SO effective. Students LOVE working together to earn their reward. So how does it work?
Begin by having students vote for a reward. There are over 50 easy and FREE options for students to choose from that they will love. Some choices include Bring a Stuffy Day, extra recess, or Pajama Day. Best part? They’re editable so you can make it your own for your students. After they’ve decided what they want to work for, insert the puzzle. Whenever all students come to the carpet after the first time prompted, or when everyone is walking quietly in the hallway, they’ll earn a piece of the puzzle to complete for their class reward. Each piece shows progress towards their goal and it’s so much fun watching it all come together!
Rewarding students is so important to motivate them and it gives them experiences they can remember forever. This tip combines positive incentives and teamwork while having fun! These are an engaging and visual way to motivate the entire class to work together and show off all their great behavior. Check out all the options HERE!
#3: Embrace the Madness
We’re talking March Madness that is! Kids get so amped anyway, why not use it to your advantage? Play a game of trashketball and watch the kids go WILD. This fun and engaging game is also editable so you can use it with any skill your students are working on. They BEG to play again and again!! Check it out HERE!
#4: Get Outside
Do you have students just itching to be outside? Maybe they keep staring out the window or are even begging to be out there. I say go outside! Bring your learning into nature and enjoy that beautiful spring weather! You can play a game of scoot on the sidewalk with some chalk, you can grab some clipboards and task cards and let them play in pairs, or simply bring some book bins out and get cozy reading in the sun. It’s easy and they’ll have more room to spread out, with room for all their wiggles.
Check out THIS post for more ideas for getting outside! Grab the Sidewalk Chalk Scoot freebie by subscribing below!
#5: Time for a Refresh or Reset
Maybe behaviors have escalated so much that it’s time for drastic measures. It could be time for a classroom refresh or even a complete reset. It’s possible that your classroom simply needs a refresh to help get you back on track. However, sometimes a complete reset and overhaul is what will help get back your sanity, and instructional time.
Are you interested in a step-by-step guide to hit that refresh or reset button with ease? You’ll gain easy and effective strategies that you can implement tomorrow! Take the game-changing journey to head back towards what we all want and need – classroom harmony. Learn all about it HERE and get your classroom back on track with independent students who THRIVE all on their own.
The heart of every classroom woe often boils down to one thing: classroom management. When your management game is strong, the rest just falls into place like magic. Smooth transitions, engaged students, and organization to a tee – it all hinges on how well you manage your space. That’s the secret sauce to a stress-free classroom. And because I love to de-stress teachers at every turn, I’ve created the ultimate toolkit for your classroom management. From Teaching Timeline Checklists to nailing down hallway expectations, we’ve got your back. It’s the ultimate toolkit to build that solid foundation, giving you the confidence to hit that reset or refresh button without breaking a sweat. Transform your teaching game with the Classroom Management Essentials Growing Bundle to make it all a breeze! Since it’s a growing bundle, anything added later on will be FREE!
I hope you enjoyed learning easy and engaging ways to tame that classroom spring fever. Don’t forget to subscribe to my email list! Not only will you get the most up to date tips, tricks, and classroom projects… and of course more fun FREEBIES including the Sidewalk Chalk FREEBIE! But you will also have exclusive access to tons of digital how-to videos! If you would like to learn about this and other things happening in my classroom follow me @sweetnsauerfirsties on Instagram.
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