setting boundaries in the new year

we returned to school Thursday
truthfully, I appreciate coming back to school on a Thursday. Those two days feel like a whole week!
We did manage to fit in a New Year resolutions and goal setting.
I think this is the perfect time to review our rules and set some new ones!
I have come to the point where these kiddos really need boundaries.
it’s my fault
I allow it to happen
but I do not like them just getting up and getting new supplies
you see, they are lazy!
rather than put their hands into the depths of hell to find their board marker or glue stick
they get up to get a new one!
thus, we have no extras and it is only day 92
so boundaries!
we use Class Dojo for points. {in case you didn’t know}
I love it!
platforms
they’ve made lots of improvements
I sent home amazing 2012 year end reports
it told them which days were their most positive and negative
it breaks down earning and losing points into pie charts
it is just awesome! they loved seeing all the data!
image
awesome right!?
what does this have to do with boundaries?
well, as a class we changed a few ways to earn and lose points
image
image
they think “dilly dallying” is hilarious! they used it all day! Don’t dilly dally…don’t dilly dally
if only they knew how much of it they do!
I convinced them that leaving a messy desk in the afternoons will indeed cause lightning to strike them down!
no homework? no problem! you just get punched!
okay, we just thought those symbols were hilarious!
so my resolution?
make sure I keep up with giving and taking points
I have the app, it is just quirky sometimes, but I will stick to my guns!
I was lenient with homework-no more!
I was not giving as much as I should have for helping out others without being asked or raising your hand rather than blurting-no more!
so go for it! Signup now!
and here are some helpful hints-I have found that in order for my iPhone to communicate with my ancient computer at school and for the points to change on the screen, I have to be in IE on the computer.
parent reports are sent each Friday automatically now! I was searching everywhere the last Friday we were in school to send them-well, no need!
and, you can assign avatars from either the critters or the monster library! I always thought it was one or the other. So we now have a nice mix!
happy Saturday!
I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Mac Book! Of course delivery was attempted yesterday at 2pm! Who's home to sign for a package at 2pm?! in the meantime, here is how I am working!
IMG_2390

18 comments:

  1. I have considered doing this so many times and then have chickened out.....my brain can't take anymore right now...lol! Happy New Year:)

    4th Grade Frolics

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  2. I've been wondering about Dojo for a long time! Thanks for this post! I have a question...do you use anything else for management in your classroom besides Dojo? For example, would you use a clip chart as well as Dojo?

    Halle
    Across the Hall in 2nd Grade

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    Replies
    1. I planned on using a clip chart with my whole brain practice cards, but after I started class dojo in October, I was never going back! In fact, we do not use scoreboard either because we have a schoolwide incentive program {or two hehe} as part of PBIS

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  3. I just seriously stalked your blog, and it's awesome!! I'm your newest follower. P.S. Sarcasm is a sign of extreme intelligence! Embrace it :)

    Karen
    LittleSecond-GradeSomebodies

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  4. I have never heard of this...thanks for sharing. We return Monday and I was trying to come up with something to help me (and my sanity). I am struggling with students having a lack of boundaries as well and I am willing to try anything! Thanks again.
    -MO

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  5. Thank you so much for outlining the usage! I've heard a bit about it, but didn't realize how easy and FREE it is :) I've already created one for my class.
    -Michele
    New Adventures in First Grade

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  6. Love Class Dojo and I used it for centers last year and it worked well. I would love to get it up and started for my students this year, but I am not sure where to display it. I use my promethean board all of the time and that would be the best place. Where do you display yours?

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    Replies
    1. I keep mine up on the screen all day. If we are using it, I just minimize. When I have groups, the kids pull in back up and keep up with the screen saver too!

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  7. I have an account but haven't really used it. Maybe I will since I do have a spare computer up by my desk that the kids really don't use. That way I don't have to project it and take up space that way but it's still (sort of) visible.

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  8. I've toyed with the idea of Dojo for a while... But with 3 classes, would it work??
    Hope you are having a restful weekend :)

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    Replies
    1. you can actually have as many as you want! You can end a class and pull up the next in seconds! go for it!

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  9. I love class dojo. :) I need to add reading logs to mine as well. I just have the wb teaching rules.

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    Replies
    1. I started with just using those, but found I needed to adjust a little so they knew exactly what they lost points for. We still go by the WB rules in class

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  10. I love Class dojo too! I might have to add dilly dallying. That is a good one!

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  11. Thanks for sharing--it looks like they have updated their pictures a bit... which is great (they are more "understandable" for my beginning readers)! We used it last spring and LOVED it!!! My kiddos loved picking their own monster (I thought it was one or the other too!).
    Karen :o)
    Mrs. Stamp's Kindergarten

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  12. I use Class Dojo too. I love it! I find it motivates my students better than any other system I have used.

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  13. Dojo is new to me. I will have to check into it. Thanks for sharing.

    Shelly
    Smiling and Shining in Second Grade

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  14. I started using Dojo today with my kiddos, thanks to seeing your post and realizing I really wanted to actually try it this year (last year I chickened out). I think it was a good motivator overall as my kiddos were really into getting points. I'm just wondering a few things....It seemed every time I gave a kiddo a point, it would come up on the screen but the sound was delayed--do you have that problem?? (I'm using a Mac laptop and my Ipad) Do you ever have kids end the day in the negative?? And are you giving points like crazy so they are getting tons or do they mostly stay under 10? I'm trying to figure out how often to give points during a set time...I guess I need to just play around with it and work with it. Thanks for your ideas!
    Stacee

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