Quiet Critters {A Classroom Management Strategy}

Hello friends!! I am SO sorry I have been gone for FAR too long. I am just more exhausted than usual! I never remember to take photos either! BUT...I did finally get around to some photo taking, and I hope to have a few fun posts in the next few weeks! 

I wanted to share a little management strategy that has really been working with these little guys. I love it because it's an immediate reward, it cost me nothing (after the first purchase), and I don't have to take time out of our days for rewards. I do that too, haha, but this is my favorite way to motivate them right now! 

So here's how it works! 

I pass out a few (usually 3-4) when we sit down for a quiet activity...or just a CALM activity haha. I let the first few kiddos choose the critters that are getting passed around. See the little timer??! That's the most important part! It takes the pressure off of me to remember! 

I stinking LOVE the sand timers I grabbed on Amazon. We use them for SOO many things!! When the timer is done, they just pass them to a quiet friend! 

The important thing is to train them to choose only REALLY quiet friends. 

Of course...if someone has a quiet critter and they're being loud or not working you just calmly call them over and ask them to put it back! 

So here's my favorite places to get them from! Most of mine come from Amazon, but Zulilly has them sometimes too! Especially the book ones! 

And here are some of the ones we have in our class that they love :) So there is an initial investment, but it's just at first! Your class could totally just have 1 and it would work just as well! :) 

I hope you loved this little idea! Let me know if you try it and if it works! I can't wait to hear! :)