Joy Journals

We had indoor recess because it was raining outside. I forgot my homework at home. I lost my earring. I stepped in mud during recess. There was a dead mouse in our classroom. I will repeat the last one….there was a *dead* mouse in our classroom. These are all things that I could possibly hear my students say when their parents ask them, “How was school today?”

To avoid dwelling on negative thoughts at the end of the day, which could quite possibly be the first thing that the children share with their parents, I implemented a new end of the school day routine. As soon as my students are finished filling out their assignment notebook and behavior economy book, have their backpack packed, and are all ready to go….they take out their joy journals and write a daily entry. On the cover of the joy journal, it says, “What made you happy and joyful today? Take a couple of minutes to write down all your little or big happy thoughts!”

Here were some HAPPY things my students wrote about today:

*We had a lock down drill, but it was only a drill and not real.

*My friend told me that my hair looked pretty.

*My friend helped me figure out what to do when I came back from reading group.

*We had extra outdoor recess.

*My teacher gave me a sticky note.

*I liked the Bad Case of Stripes story.

This little booklet is really helping my students end the day on a calm and happy note!

You can do the same by having your students write their happy thoughts on notebook paper or sticky notes, and then share with a friend if time remains.

This idea is from my file, Classroom Management Strategies for (anxious, angry, joyful, hyperactive) Kiddos!

File Description:

ADD, anxiety, anger, distractibility, hyperactivity…oh my!
After teaching for 14 years, I have had my share of students who have ADD, anxiety, hyperactivity, sensory and/or social needs. I strongly believe that teaching the whole child (meeting each child’s emotional, social, academic, physical needs) makes a truly exceptional educator. However, this is not an easy job to do when you have 28 students, each with a different need, in your class!

More days than not, I wear many hats: nurse, mommy, daddy, physiologist, social worker, gym teacher, music teacher, Like it or not, we are no longer just a “classroom teacher.”

Can you relate!?!?!

I created this file as a way to compile all my ideas for how I help all the students in my classroom- above and beyond the routine and daily classroom management that is established.

This file was created to give ideas for how to help the students who:

-Are happy, joyous, and are loving life! These students will love the joy journal writing about what they are grateful for.

-Are anxious, shy, and overwhelmed. Students who are afraid to speak up in class, get scared during a thunderstorm or fire drill or MAP testing, need a brain freeze pass or a bathroom break.

-Are angry, mad, physically violent towards others or themselves. Some students hide their anger well and some students need help controlling their anger. The shades of anger resources will help these students identify the emotion and appropriate ways to deal with the anger.

-Are embarrassed or sad because they acted on their anger and created hurt somebody else’s feelings. These students need to learn how to how to make a sincere apology.

-Are hyperactive and need help with controlling their excess energy. The five minute fidget pass is a great tool for these students.

-Are working to identify the different emotions that they feel on a daily basis. These feelings are not to be labeled as “bad.” Students need to understand that throughout the day, their emotions change.

However, with specific tools in place, they are better able to manage those emotions.

You will find that your entire class will benefit from some of the ideas presented in this file, such as the joy journal, the feelings journal, the classroom economy behavior system, or “listening with your whole self.” However, you may want to introduce some of the ideas presented in this file with only the students who you feel will benefit the most from them. For example, I only use my brain freeze passes for students who have ADD and I only use the fidgets for those students who have ADHD. However, you know your students best!

This file also includes:
* Resources and ideas for how to implement an individualized behavior plan
*Resources and ideas for how to implement a classroom economy behavior management plan- Students earn credits for good choices and debits for poor choices, getting paid on pay day and either saving their money or shopping for a fun reward

Click HERE to purchase this file on Teachers Pay Teachers. 

Save 10% by purchasing this file directly on my website.

What are some of your favorite end of the day routines?