Coloring Clothespins

While setting up my classroom, I've attempted several craft projects I found on Pinterest.  The newest one I attempted with relatively good success was coloring clothespins for my behavior management clip chart.

I did not have RIT dye, but knew you could use food coloring to dye the clothespins, so I did what anyone would do...I googled it!  You can click on the image above to find the directions I followed for this project.

I have several glass jars I've been saving for a project this fall.  I used those and then washed them out afterwards to use them later.  Glass jars work better because they don't stain, but you could use plastic containers if you don't mind.

The directions said to soak them for an hour, but I soaked them overnight, just in case!

This is what they looked like when the project was finished.  I used Neon food coloring, and the green did not take as well as I wanted it to.  Next year, I will definitely try this again, adding more drops of food coloring, and experimenting with mixing traditional colors with neon to make more fun colors.  I love all of the bright colors and shades Kaley Ann made!

Teacher Week: Taming the WILD!

Hello!  I'm joining Blog Hoppin' this week for their teacher week linky party.  Today, we're talking about classroom management, and every teacher knows you cannot teach without mastering this skill.  I'd be crazy to say I have all the answers, but here's how I'll be managing my classroom this year:

I have seen behavior charts all over TpT and found this Jungle Themed Clip Chart with Chevron from Teaching Joys.  I used to use a pocket chart with cards, but like the idea of a clip chart better since my students can move up.  However, teaching preschool, I don't want to overwhelm my students with moving up and down the clip chart all day so I didn't use all of the pieces.  

Recently, I went to a Love and Logic seminar and walked out of there feeling like "I can do this!"  Love and logic is a behavior management technique for parents and teachers based on positive discipline and fostering relationships with children and families.  It teaches how to reduce stress for YOU in the classroom by teaching students how to be responsible for their choices, teaching you how to handle disruptive students, and focuses on encouragement rather than praise.

My favorite thing about the seminar is that you can walk into your classroom and try whatever works for you.  You can start with any strategy that you choose and add pieces of the program as you get comfortable with each strategy.  I am going to start with managing student arguing, which Jim Fay and Charles Fay suggest beginning by choosing 2-3 one-liners, or things you say to students when they say something to start an argument.  The idea is to go "brain dead," not to react to what was said, then you give them a one-liner (without sarcasm or anger).  Here are the one-liners I chose:

1. I'm sorry you feel that way.

2. I know.

3. How sad.

A conversation with a student may go something like this:

Student:  This is stupid!

Teacher:  I'm sorry you feel that way.

Student:  Why do I have to do this anyway?

Teacher:  I'm sorry you feel that way.

Student:  I'm not doing it.

Teacher (walking away):  I'm sorry you feel that way.

The idea is every time a child says something to "push your buttons" you reply with a one-liner, quietly and directly to them.  Eventually they will realize you are not engaging in their argument and they will stop arguing.

Love and logic also has one rule:  

I am going to try this as my classroom rule this year and see how it goes.  A lot of teachers object to just having one rule.  However, most of our rules are actually expectations (raise your hand, listen when the teacher is talking, keep your hands and feet to yourself, etc.).  I plan to practice, practice, practice how I expect my students to behave in the classroom, using a lot of role playing, and revisiting the expectations throughout the year, and we'll see how it goes!

For anyone that has tried this Love and Logic as a management technique, I would love to hear about what you think or how you use it in your classroom!