Photography by Heather Burris

Learning to recognize your students can be difficult, but it is a critical aspect of being an effective teacher. Often, students will behave in disruptive or disrespectful ways, and it can be easy to ignore the students who are behaving well unintentionally. 

However, taking the time to recognize your students’ positive behaviors can be an important way to encourage them to continue behaving in ways that are beneficial to the classroom. Here are some unique ways to identify your students.

Behavior Charts

Creating a behavior chart can be done by simply creating a table with all your students’ names. Each day, you can award each student a certain number of points based on their behavior. At the end of the week, the student with the most points gets a special prize or privilege. This is a great way to encourage all students to behave well, as they will all be vying for the top spot.

Using these charts can also be a great way to identify which students may be struggling with certain behaviors. For example, if you notice that a particular student is consistently at the bottom of the chart, you can talk to them about what they could do differently.

Personalized Awards

Another way to let your students know that you appreciate them is by giving them personalized awards. These can be as simple as a pencil with their name or a keychain with their favorite color. You can also give them awards for good behavior, such as a certificate or sticker.

Giving your students personalized gifts is a great way to make them feel special. Gifts like trophies from the awards store will let your students know that you pay attention to them and appreciate their good behavior. These awards can be used as rewards for good behavior or to show your appreciation.

Classroom Economy

Another way to encourage positive behavior in your students is to create a classroom economy. This can be as simple as assigning each student a certain amount of money that they can earn or lose based on their actions. For example, students may earn money for completing assignments or participating in class, and they can lose money for disruptive behaviors.

You can also use this system to allow students to buy special privileges, like being able to choose their seats for the day. This is a great way to get students invested in their behavior, as they will be motivated to earn money to buy the things they want.

Praise in Public, Discipline in Private

Whenever possible, you should try to praise your students in public. This can be done by announcing their good behavior to the class or sending a note home to their parents. On the other hand, if you need to discipline a student, it is vital to do so privately. This will help the student feel respected and avoid embarrassing themselves in front of their peers.

However, there will be times when you need to discipline a student in front of the class. Therefore, it is important to be respectful and avoid singling the student out in these cases. Instead, you should state the disruptive behavior and the consequences.

Classroom Jobs

Another unique way to identify your students is by assigning them different jobs around the classroom. These jobs can be rotated weekly or monthly, and they can be used to teach students responsibility. Some examples of jobs that can be assigned include desk monitor, line leader, or class pet caretaker.

As you sign these jobs, be sure to include a brief description of the expectations. This will help to ensure that students understand what is expected of them. Jobs are a great way to give students a sense of ownership over their classroom, and they can be a fun way to teach them about responsibility. Be sure to choose jobs that are appropriate for the age and abilities of your students.

There are various unique ways that you can use to recognize your students. What is most important is that you are consistent with your recognition, as this will help to encourage positive behavior in your students. Be sure to use various methods to identify your students, as this will help ensure that all students feel appreciated.