We need to be able to enforce boundaries and standards of behavior, but it can be hard to come up with consequences that we can use as elementary music teachers when our class times are so short and there are often several days between the times we see them. But there are some common practices I hear teachers recommending to others regularly that I think do more harm than good- here are my top 3 consequences I wish elementary music teachers would stop using, and what I do instead. 1. Give a class intentionally boring worksheets as a consequence for expressing or demonstrating negative attitudes towards regular lesson activities As logical as it may sound to think that students will appreciate the fun and exciting lesson activities more if they experience what a boring lesson is like, if there is toxic, negative energy going around for whatever reason about your class, making it more boring is not going to help- it's going to make it worse. There is always a ringleader or two that is the root of the negative energy, even if it feels like the whole class is against you. Start by explaining at the end of the lesson that the negative energy is ruining the vibes and preventing the class from having fun and from learning- not every activity or class has to be their favorite, but everyone needs to do their best and have a positive attitude: "don't yuck someone else's yum". Tell them that starting next lesson, you are not going to allow anyone to ruin the positive energy. If possible, make someone- the principal, the social worker, etc- aware of the situation and that you are trying to turn around the negative energy in a class. Warn them ahead of time that you may need backup during a particular class period while you handle the situation, and work out a plan, either for someone to push in or be prepared to take students, if you need it. I know sometimes teachers don't have adequate support staff or their administrator is unsupportive- in that case I would get a colleague on board who is willing to have a student or two come in their room. But I would encourage you to try to advocate for someone to be available to come in if needed- I've found administrators and support staff appreciate when you explain all the things you've already tried and that you are wanting to do this as a short-term strategy to keep everyone in class instead of having to throw them out or stop your lessons in the long run. Once you've established that you expect everyone to keep negative energy to themselves, start the next lesson overflowing with positive energy, grinning as soon as you see them to show you're excited about having a good time that day. Don't plan anything different than what you normally would have, but be super excited about everything. Give positive reinforcement for all the students who are engaged, whether that's points or whatever other positive reward you have in place in your school or classroom (if you don't have one, start one and explain what it is to everyone!). As soon as the first person starts to make a negative comment/ face (even if it's right as they enter the room), try to quickly catch them and remind them to keep it positive. If they don't, ask them to sit away from the rest of the class and take their negative energy elsewhere and go back to having fun with the others. If they are still disrupting the lesson, offer to let them write down their negative thoughts instead of saying them out loud and spreading their negativity. If that doesn't work, put the backup plan into action: ideally I think it works best if there is someone that can be on call to come and sit with the negative student(s) while you proceed with the others, but if not, get them to leave the room, whether it's the principal's office, another classroom, or somewhere else. The goal is to turn the tide so that the majority of the class that was getting sucked into the negativity before, gets sucked into your positive energy instead. If you have to have a student (or several students) leave the room, it will be important to follow up with that student after class. Often they will be happy that they got to leave the class they were complaining about (which is why it's best to find a way for someone to come in if at all possible)! So there needs to be a consequence for that specific student, whether that's giving makeup work, calling/ writing home, or something else to make sure that student doesn't want this to keep happening. Having that positive reward for the students who were engaged will help here too, since obviously the ones who left will not get whatever the others did. It will get easier and easier to get those students to at least tone down their negativity to a manageable level once the attitude of the rest of the class is positive- it has never taken me more than 4 class periods of this to turn the class around. 2. Put away instruments and ban their use from the entire class because of chaotic behavior while using them or damaging an instrument(s) If students don't know how to use instruments properly, giving them less opportunity to learn how is not going to help long-term. It's also never helpful to punish an entire class for something that most likely wasn't something everyone did. First of all, I have a strict rule in place of, "if you play before I say you'll make the instrument go away". I tell them every single time we get out instruments, and I also remind them often that I'm not here to judge if it was intentional or accidental- if you touch/ make sound with something when you're not supposed to, you will miss a turn with that instrument. The key is to make sure the time they lose the instrument is short and then they quickly get a chance to try again and do it right. If as a group a class is too chaotic while using/ getting out instruments, slow it way down to whatever point you need to be able to monitor each student more closely. Sometimes that means only half the class plays at a time instead of everyone at once, having one student at a time go and get out their instrument while the rest of the class waits and watches and you narrate the correct way of doing it every step of the way, or having a few students designated to get out an instrument for others, etc. 3. Having a class practice coming into class silently/ calmly over and over until they are all coming in the way you expect I used to do this ALL THE TIME at the beginning of my career. Having students practice a behavior or procedure the right way when they do it wrong is obviously a good thing. But again, punishing an entire class for something that is probably not something everyone is doing is only going to make students feel frustrated and agitated, not calm and focused like you want them to be. If the vast majority of a class comes into my room too rambunctiously, I will definitely stop and have them go back and try again. But 1) I only do it one time and I make sure to give positive reinforcement to the ones that do it right, and 2) I do not have them go back in the hallway- I have them line up as close to the door as possible but still inside my room, and then walk to their spots from there. I find going back in the hallway is counterproductive because I never know who else is going to walk by making noise and/or distracting my students, and usually sound carries a lot more in the hallway so every little noise is amplified. I keep them in my controlled environment to practice instead. If it's just a few students, obviously I just ask those few students to do it again. If the class has practiced once there will only be a few students, if any, who still aren't doing it right- in that case I will have those few students try it again by themselves. But again, only once- after that it just turns into a power struggle and it's not effective. If I still have students who are running/ talking loudly etc after that, I tell them we will practice another time and move on. I talk to the homeroom teachers and/or principal and figure out a time when I can take them by themselves and practice walking appropriately (some years I've been lucky enough to be available to do it during their recess, other times I take them first thing in the morning when everyone else has circle time, or immediately after class). As a sidenote, one thing that has helped tremendously with this problem specifically is I've stopped needing my students to walk in silently. Yes, they should not be yelling, running, or touching other people or things, but the thing that has helped me get everyone focused right away without requiring them to be silent is to immediately start student-led warmups. It took away so many power struggles to start class this way! Check out this post on how I do that, and this post for a whole bunch of activity ideas for warmups. I know this may ruffle some feathers but I hope this gives teachers some new ideas to try that will help turn the tide in a positive direction! I would love to hear your thoughts on these common consequences, and any other strategies you have used effectively in these situations, in the comments below.
Tupperware organization doesn't have to be complicated, even if it can feel like it while looking at your unruly collection.
I have a surefire closet organizing system that will help you stop being a clothes hoarder forever. Clothes are one of my favorite things in
Have you ever had a class with so many difficult, disruptive students that you felt that you could barely even teach? What can you do to get past it? In this post, I am going to address this problem with my best advice, and some advice from others as well.
Thousands of teachers have used these tried and true GUARANTEED tups to stop students from blurting out. Chatty Class? YOU NEED TO READ THIS!
From scrapbooks to online photo books, I couldn't keep up once I had kids! Now I'm using Chatbooks photo books to simplify the way I print photo memories.
We've all been there. Photos can creep up on you and surprise you. Here are some cool, and creative photo storage ideas for your family photos.
Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? Tonies Carmen Sandiego Audio Play Figurine is trotting across the globe on mysterious missions as the world’s greatest thief - using her skills for good. Join Carmen and her hacker helper, Player, as they adventure to Ecuador, Indonesia, and India in this action-packed adventure to stop the criminal organization VILE and save the day! Tonies Carmen Sandiego Audio Play Figurine Features This Tonie teaches kids about: Geography Culture History Details Run Time: 65 minutes Age: 5-8 Yrs See Entire Tonies Collections
Ditch the chaos and embrace a more intentional 2025 with the Digital Minimalist 2025 Planner. - Yearly calendar with all the key dates - Monthly calendar and to-do lists - Weekly layout for prioritizing tasks - 2 pages for unlimited note-taking This minimalist planner is your ticket to an organized, stress-free life. Stop wasting time searching for important information or forgetting crucial deadlines. Stay on top of your schedule, boost your productivity, and focus on what matters most. Whether you're a busy professional, student, or just looking to simplify, the Digital Minimalist 2025 Planner was designed with you in mind. Its clean, distraction-free layout makes planning a breeze, so you can make the most of each day, week, and month. Reclaim your time and energy - get the Digital Minimalist 2025 Planner today. Digital Download. No physical product will be shipped. You can easily print at home, in a local printing shop, or an online printer. Due to the nature of digital products, I cannot offer any refunds or exchanges. Thank You!
We’ve all been where you’re at. Your students are difficult to manage, they won’t stop talking... it’s all just too much! Your blood pressure starts to rise, you feel overwhelmed, and you start yelling at
How is your seating chart working in your secondary classroom? Avoid these mistakes and make your seating chart more powerful.
It’s that time of year to begin reflecting on our classroom practices and what we can do to improve upon the next year. Re-tweak our classroom management style, read some professional development books on becoming a better writing teacher, or rethink how we are managing and differentiating centers. But what about reflecting on the items […]
What to do when overwhelmed at work? Here are 5 practical ways to cope with overwhelm at work. These are Tips to stop being overwhelmed at work, these 5 things to do when overwhelmed at work will help you stop feeling overwhelmed at work, how to not get overwhelmed at work.. You will know what to do when overwhelmed at work,What to do when you are overwhelmed at work, how to not be overwhelmed at work and be productive at work and avoid work burnout, organized at work. So, reset our work life.
Learn 13 Practical Tips to Avoid Procrastination at Work. What is procrastination? What are the causes of procrastination? How to Overcome Procrastination and Laziness.
Being told that you mumble can be frustrating, especially if you're trying your best to speak up. Since mumbling makes it hard for people to hear you, improving your speech will help you communicate better and share your thoughts. You can...
How to push past procrastination and be a more productive person.
This year has been a crazy one! It started with my husband getting a new job and needing to start work in Florida for the first 6 months of the year while the kids and I stayed behind to finish out…
It was so nice to stop saying "shh" all the time.
Wondering how to create a winter capsule wardrobe? Discover winter wardrobe essentials and how to style them for endless outfit ideas.
If you need help with photos, download my free Getting Started Checklist so you can enjoy your memories now and leave a meaningful collection behind.
Teach your students to stop tattling with the 5 B's classroom management system.
Interactive notebooks weren't for me. Here's what I'm using instead.
Learn pro techniques for portraits, poses, lighting, landscapes and more with our one-stop photography cheat sheets
I used to hate homework, but now I love it. Read as I share the do's and don'ts for giving homework, and the homework strategies that worked best in my classroom.
This product is a complete manual that you can give to your staff at the beginning of the year to keep everyone organized and working efficiently. It can act as a one-stop booklet for all of their yearbook class/club needs. This product is editable to suit your specific yearbook needs. This Product Contains: A letter from the Advisor Mission Statement Grading Guidelines Yearbook Rules Yearbook Vocabulary Camera Use Contract Fill-in Page Ladder 12 Month Calendar Pages for Notes Tabs for organization I get these books spiral bound for my staff and I add school specific sections for teacher emails and student rosters.
***This post contains affiliate links for Walmart, Target, hand2mind, and Creative QT. By purchasing an item on these using these links, I will receive a small commission on your purchase.*** I am SO excited to share my new classroom space and Makerspace with you! I’ve recently moved classrooms after being in the same room for...
Tired of constantly writing restroom passes when your students are supposed to be learning?Here's a successful remedy. How to Stop Writing Restroom Passes
Lately, I’ve seen a huge amount of teacher organization binders on Pinterest and teacher blogs. Unfortunately, they aren’t meant to be used by most special education teachers, counselors, or social workers – they’re all organized for classroom teachers. So, over the course of the next few weeks, I’m making one for the rest of us ...
Build momentum cleaning your home, and learn how to declutter your home fast in one weekend! Experience a new home. Free printable included!
the KonMari method of decluttering doesn't work for everyone... and here's why. Pros + cons, plus tips on what to try instead.
Build a home for the miter saw with this mobile miter saw station and storage. The fence uses a guide and stop and the cabinets have tons of storage.
Using Secret Student or Star is an easy and effective classroom management strategy that only takes a minute to implement. Download this free resource
How do you stop students from blurting out in the classroom? Do you have some processes in place to curb blurting, but they're just not working for you