The Music Box

I learned this management tool in my first placement which was a fifth grade class. The teacher had an old music box that you twist the little knob on the back, open the lid, and the music plays. When you shut the lid the music stops playing. She would twist the knob as far as she could on Monday morning and the music had to last until the end of the day on Friday. She would open the box whenever the kids were being noisy. She didn't have to say a word. The kids would get each other to be quiet whenever they heard the music. If they ran out of music before Friday then they lost recess. I loved the idea. I went and bought my own music box for my next placement, 2nd graders, and introduced the idea to them. It literally took one minute to explain and I had them practice being noisy and then opening the box. They caught on very quickly and loved it! I made it more of a reward system instead of only a punishment. They were able to choose what they would earn, free computer time, an extra recess, time to play heads up seven up, etc. We started out with the music having to last 2 days and then moved it up to 3 days. If the music lasted the whole time then they earned their reward, if not then I rewound the music the next morning and it started over. The students loved it and were more sad about losing the music box than about losing me. The teacher was going to buy one over Spring Break. I bought the music box at Walmart in the jewelry department.