BAM's: Classroom Management System

     In my 17 years of teaching, I have tried ALL KINDS of behavior management systems ranging from pulling cards, economy systems, tickets, table points, marbles in jars, Class Dojo, etc... I’ve tried them all looking for that PERFECT  system... and you know what I’ve come up with?

THE PERFECT SYSTEM DOES NOT EXIST!

     I think we each need to find out what works for us and for our current students. I've also learned the hard way that what might have worked beautifully in the past, may prove to be a total flop another year.

     Today I'd like to share with you a system that I am currently using and in LOVE with! I have had much success with it, have seen it motivate my students, and continue to hear positive feedback from parents and former students.

     So if you’re frustrated with your current system or just looking to spice things up a bit, I hope sharing how I use BAMs in MY classroom might give you a few new ideas.

What is a BAM?

A BAM is a fuzzy, colored pom pom that students are able to earn and trade in for tokens. The word BAM stands for students caught Being AMazing! BAM!!!

In my classroom we have LITTLE BAMS...

and BIG BAMS which are worth 3 of the little ones! BIG BAMS are hard to come by so whenever a student receives one it’s a B-I-G D-E-A-L!

Students store their BAMs on their desk inside of these containers which I found at the Dollar Tree. They come  in a 2 pack and are actually used to hold paint and students brushes.

I attach them to students desks by placing a small velcro dot on the bottom and placing a label on each container that says BAM. That's it, every student now has a compact BAM container that sits on the corner of their desk and can easily be removed when needed.

How can students earn BAMs?

Students earn BAM’s in many ways, but here’s a list of some of the common ways MY students earn them:

•class participation

•random acts of kindness such as helping a fellow classmate without being asked to do so

•returning weekly Home Communicators on time (student work folders that parents review, sign, and return)

•recalling information that was previously learned

•AMAZING classroom behavior when a guest enters the room

•sitting quietly when the classroom phone rings

•excellent cafeteria/ hallway behavior

•taking a risk and trying to answer a question when nobody else has a clue

•well thought out response to a challenging question

•trying really hard even though they might have the incorrect answer

•making a study guide for a test, even though the teacher never assigned it

•going above and beyond what is expected

•excellent teamwork 

•If a student finds a BAM on the floor and turns it in to me, I usually let them keep it for their honesty

These are just some of the reasons my students earn BAM’s, because you can pretty much give them whenever you want. 

At least that’s what I do. If I notice that my students hallway behavior is slipping, I simply grab a few BAMS in the palm of my hand and let them know that I’m on the lookout for some Amazing Behavior. 

I wish you could see their reaction... BAMS's are like GOLD nuggets in my room!

What do students do with the BAMs once they’ve earned them?

The second a student is awarded a BAM, they place them inside of their personal BAM container. In the beginning of the year, we go over a few rules to make sure that everyone knows the dos and don’ts. 

1. Students caught playing with BAMS will have them taken away. 
2. Students caught stealing BAMs will forfeit their BAMS. 
3. Students caught playing with the BAM container on their desk, will have their BAMs removed from their desk 

Every other Friday, the kids are then given an opportunity to trade in their BAMs for different tokens or to save them for next time. Here’s a picture of some of our tokens...

Some of the kids favorites are Lunch Bunch, Pick a Chair, and Eat a Treat! 

Next semester I’ll probably ask them for a few more token ideas, and then I’ll create them and add them to the mix.

How do you know if BAMS are going to work in your classroom?

You don’t! There’s really no way of knowing ahead of time if your students are going to respond to BAM’s. However, I can say that in my experience, if you establish a clear set of rules from the beginning, stay consistent in awarding BAMS for desired behaviors, show students ALL the ways they can earn them, and make it a BIG DEAL... chances are they’re going to be as excited as my students are!

True story: Last year, I did NOT use BAMs with my class because I wanted to try something new. On a few occasions former students visited my classroom and one of the first things they each mentioned was what had happened to the BAMS. Apparently, something as simple as awarding kids fuzzy pompoms was important enough for them to remember.

So if you’re tired of the same behavior system, looking for a change, or just need a new plan because what you’re doing is not working, think about trying BAMs. And if you do, I’d love to hear how it goes!

****BAM container Update****
This year I was unable to find the containers pictured above to store my students' BAM's so I improvised and used the adorable and colorful snack containers you see below. These are also from the Dollar Tree and come in a pack of 2.