Choosing the teaching career path is not something that anyone jumps into lightly. We become teachers because we want to help children learn, to show them new ways of doing things and to help them discover their own potential. We want to create interesting and exciting lessons, we want our classrooms to look warm and welcoming and we want our time in the classroom to be productive and worthwhile.
But what they don’t teach you (enough of) at uni is that it doesn’t matter how hard you work to make all of those glorious things happen above – if you don’t have effective classroom management skills, your teaching days are going to be frustrating and you will quickly end up resenting your students. Take it from me – I spent my whole first year of teaching learning this the hard way!
Classroom management, in a nutshell, means that YOU as the educator have created a learning environment that is conducive to teaching and learning. And it starts way before we check Pinterest for Classroom Décor Ideas. Effective classroom management means that you can:
- Help your classroom to run smoothly and calmly
- Focus on inclusive learning
- Reduce big behaviours
- Help your students to make meaningful peer interactions
Why Focus on Classroom Management?
Well, without a focus on classroom management, no effective teaching can occur! So let’s start at the beginning – teaching our students how to have safe hands and safe feet.
What Does it Mean by Safe Hands and Feet?
The concept of ‘safe hands and safe feet’ is a great place to start when teaching students about respecting others around them and drawing their awareness to the idea that how they behave has an impact on their peers. Rather than using the term ‘safe’ on its own, which is quite a general term (particularly for those students with language difficulties), adding the body parts ‘hands and feet’ can help to focus your Prek or Kindergarten students’ attention on these specific areas.
Teaching safe hands and feet is one of the first classroom management topics that I focus on with my students at the beginning of the teaching year. Why? Because so much of running a smooth and calm classroom comes back to having safe hands and feet. Things like:
*lining up before class
*finding a spot for Morning Circle
*moving back to desks for table top learning
*borrowing and sharing pencils, glue and scissors
*handing out books and worksheets
*structured play
*asking for help
The list goes on!
Through developing an awareness of safe hands and feet, this will help your students to:
- Respect their peers’ personal space boundaries
- Develop self-regulation skills
- Expand their communication skills
- Develop additional essential social skills such as waiting, sharing and asking for help.
How Do You Teach Safe Hands and Feet in the Classroom?
Like any new social skills, teaching your students to have safe hands and safe feet in your classroom is not a one-stop shop. You need to have a whole toolkit of ideas, activities and resources to help keep your students engaged with this topic, appeal to different personalities and help promote inclusive learning.
Let’s take a look at my top three activities for teaching safe hands and safe feet in your classroom:
3 Activities to Teach Safe Hands and Feet in the Classroom:
When teaching safe hands and safe feet, it is important to focus on the POSITIVE behaviour – what safe hands and safe feet looks like in your classroom.
Where possible, we should always use positive, affirmative behaviour with our students, as this in turn promotes positive behaviour.
So instead of saying ‘DON’T hit’, ‘DON’T kick’, ‘DON’T push’ (which gets very tiring for you and very easy for your students to block out very quickly!), you can simply come back to your ONE expectation: ‘Safe hands and safe feet’.
ACTIVITY 1: Safe Hands Safe Feet Handprint Activity:
Make an anchor chart of safe ways that we can use our hands and feet. Some examples include drawing, writing, wave, give high-5’s, pat our dog, pack away, etc.
Students can then draw these on a handprint to add to a classroom ‘Safe Hands’ wall. You can then refer to this classroom creation whenever you need to.
ACTIVITY 2: Safe Hands and Safe Feet Charades:
I grab this game out when my students need a movement break! Have students sit in a circle and then choose a student to start. The student has to act out a safe way to use their hands or feet and the other students have to guess! This is a great follow up activity from the handprint activity above, as your students can review the handprint wall for inspiration when it’s their turn.
ACTIVITY 3: Use a ‘Safe Hands Safe Feet’ Social Story as Your Class Shared Story:
What is a social story in education? In a nutshell, a social story is a simple story that explains new situations, concepts or behaviours for students – this could be anything from what to expect at the Athletics Carnival, to How to Ask for Help or Going to the Doctors. Social Stories are a wonderful teaching tool. They show your students what they can expect from a given situation but also show your students what is expected of THEM in the situation.
When social stories first came out, they were used exclusively for students with Autism but over time, Educators have identified how helpful social stories can be for ALL students’ learning – which means your whole class is going to benefit!
THIS POST also provides great information on what to look for in a high quality social story.
How to Use a Safe Hands Safe Feet Social Story with Your Class:
1.Use the social story as your class ‘big book’ or focus book for the week.
2.Keep a copy of the social story in your book centre/classroom library
3.Review the big book before free or structured play for further reinforcement
4.Send the social story home for students who may required additional repetition
The ‘Safe Hands and Safe Feet’ Social Story Toolkit:
If you’re wondering where to start with teaching ‘safe hands and safe feet’ in your classroom, this resource is a great place to start. This ‘Safe Hands and Feet’ Social Story Toolkit will save you time and headspace when teaching:
- why we need to be safe at school.
- why kids will want to play with us when we have safe hands and safe feet.
- what safe hands, safe feet and a safe body looks like.
- examples of appropriate ways to use our hands and feet at preschool and school.
- how to use safe hands and feet when we feel frustrated.
This Safe Hands & Feet Social Story toolkit includes:
1.Safe Hands and Safe Feet Social Story
- Safe Hands and Safe Feet Anchor Chart to display in your classroom for instant reference:
- Safe Hands and Safe Feet visual supports to use in all school environments.
Teaching your students how to have safe hands and safe feet in the classroom is a great first step for establishing and maintaining effective classroom management. With the right resources in your toolbelt, you can start 2024 smoothly and calmly and do what you do best – teach!
Keep making a difference!
Melissa
