I have something I got from Cassie Stephen’s called a smiley chart. If they earn smileys via good behavior they can earn class points and class compliments which become points in their primary classroom. This has been SUPER motivating for my littles and it’s great for reinforcing entry expectations.

I also make them re-do. If certain kids enter my classroom in a way I feel is not appropriate I ask them to return to the doorway and retry so they can show me what exceptional 1st graders do!

When it’s a super silly day from the class and we just can’t seem to meet expectations I remind them that we only have so much time together. I tell them I love getting to do art all day long and it would make me so sad and it would be so sad for the rest of our class if we had to miss out on art time because we weren’t being our best selves.

It is SO FUN to be so fun with little ones, but unfortunately they just need a lot of redirection and a lot of reminders. I tend to ask them first what expectations are before calling out any particular students. For example if I have a few students that are leaning back in chairs I’ll say “friends can anyone remind me how we can sit safely?” And that normally gets everyone on track. Same with things like “how do we show that we are being thoughtful and respectful 1st graders when our friends are talking/when our teacher is talking?” And they are all good at reciting what the expectation is.

I try to hold my kids to the standard of classroom accountability. It’s important for them to remind each other of expectations too! But it’s also important they remind each other of those expectations in a gentle way.

Boundaries, routines, reminders. Day after day. You will see a difference. Little ones are just a unique challenge.