HOW I ACT class rules for 3, 4, & 5 year olds

This school year, in Sandy and Mandy’s class, we will be using the HOW I ACT chart.  Each letter stands for a behavior we would like the students to steer clear from.  The behaviors are as follows:  H-Hulabaloo, O-Out of Order, W-Whining, I-Intential disobedience, A-Attitude, C-Clowing around, and T-touching and throwing.  This week and next, we will be using our classroom characters, Trey the terrific turtle, and Oscar the Ornery Octopus,  to act out appropriate classroom behavior, as well as the behaviors on the HOW I ACT chart.  Today, the students viewed how Trey the terrific turtle walked with slow steps, a controlled body, and no sound to the rainbow rug and sat down like a pretzel. (criss-cross applesauce)  The students also viewed Oscar the Ornery Octopus run, yell, scream, bump into people, jump in a bean bag, knock over books, and cause a big ruckus and commotion when dismissed from the snack table to the rainbow rug.  We then compared and contrasted the behavior, and discussed which behavior was appropriate school behavior.

Next, we talked about choices and that the choices we make have a consequence.  It could be a positive consequence, like a stamp at the end of the day, or a negative consequence, like time in the thinking chair.  We also looked at our How I Act chart that has every student’s name in it with 4 color cards:  Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red.  This is how the color card system works:  If a child is talking when they are not supposed to be, Mandy or I will remind them not to talk.  If they keep doing it, their choice has a consequence, and they have to go “pull a card”.  Yellow is a reminder card.  Orange is no stamp, but still a hug.  Red is no stamp, and time in the thinking chair to think more about their behavior choices.  Everyday is a fresh start on green.

We also read the book by David Shannon, called “No, David”.  We talked about the choices David made and the consequences of them.  We also discussed how even though David made some bad decisions, his mom still loved him, but not his behavior.  We applied this to our classroom and explained to the students that we would still love them even though they may make a bad behavior choice.  Throughout the school day, we will be reminding students to act like turtles and not like octopuses.  We’re hoping for a lot of turtle like behavior this school year. 🙂