Motivating kids to be on their best behavior in the art room can be challenging. So I jumped on a popular trend of rewarding positive behaviors with brag bracelets for elementary art. I didn’t arrive at this solution quickly, though. Instead, I tried every last thing in the book, friends, until I found what worked!
If you’re wondering what on Earth brag bracelets are and how they can help classroom management for art teachers, stick with me.
As an elementary art teacher myself, I’ve played the field. I’ve done the treasure box, the reward ticket jar, and the A-W-E-S-O-M-E paint palette.
That treasure box? Broke my bank account.And it didn’t reinforce anything positive; kids couldn’t connect the reward to what made them earn it in the first place.
The ticket jar was too stressful. Ice cream parties for art class is just unrealistic due to time constraints. Multiply that by 8 classes a day. Broke again! Plus, an ice cream party for a 1st period class? Eh.
And the paint palette took way too long for students to earn the reward. Which did nothing to help reinforce good choices.
As a result, I shoveled more into credit card debt that took several years to pay off. I needed something that:
✂️ Connected the income (the behavior they exhibited) with the outcome (what they earned as a result)
✏️ Wouldn’t put me in debt
✂️ Was manageable and doable with time constraints
✏️ Took minimal effort
But, What are These Magical Brag Bracelets You Speak Of?
Brag bracelets are like little pieces of wearable art that double as rewards for your students. They say things like “I’m an awesome brush washer” and “I’m a media master”
These creative wristbands serve as positive reinforcement. Use them to celebrate your students’ achievements and good behavior in art class.
Think of them as a charming blend of classroom management and wearable art—a win-win situation! So I set out to make a set of my own brag bracelets.
Why Should I Use Brag Bracelets in Art Class?
As an elementary art teacher, you know the power of positive reinforcement. Moreover, how it can nurture a supportive and encouraging classroom atmosphere.
Brag bracelets offer a tangible and visually appealing way to acknowledge your students’ hard work, creativity, and cooperation. Plus, they create a sense of excitement and pride in your little artists. And, they inspire kids to be on their best behavior.
How Can I Add Brag Bracelets to My Classroom Management System?
I like starting the year off by introducing one bracelet type per class. On the board, list qualities that are aligned to that character trait you’re highlighting that week. You can make that list with your classes, if you wish, to put the ownership on them to live up to those qualities. And then at the end of class, hand out 2 – 3 per class.
And here’s the thing, you may have a class or a grade level that needs a lot of work on one of these traits. That’s where you use these to your advantage.
Staying calm and focused on work (working but not distracting others) can be challenging for kids. So you may consider having that trait be something you work on for several weeks at a time.
11 Ways to Use Brag Bracelets for Elementary Art
- Artistic Achievements: Award brag bracelets to students who demonstrate artistic skills or improvement. For instance, you can have bracelets for “Amazing Color Mixing,” “Incredible Sketching,” “Master of Patterns,” or “Awesome 3D Art.”
- Creativity and Innovation: Recognize students who show innovative thinking in their art projects. Bracelets like “Imaginative Innovator” or “Out-of-the-Box Thinker” can celebrate these qualities.
3. Effort: Encourage hard work and perseverance by giving out reward bracelets for “Hard Worker,” “Never Gives Up,” or “Persistent Artist” to students who put in extra effort.
4. Positive Behavior: Use brag tags as positive reinforcement for good behavior in the art room. Tags like “Responsible Artist,” “Helpful Art Helper,” or “Art Room Superstar” can promote a positive and collaborative environment.
5. Teamwork and Collaboration: Acknowledge students who work well with others and contribute positively to group art projects. Consider tags like “Team Player” or “Collaborative Creator.”
6. Clean-Up Champions: Encourage responsible art room behavior by awarding bracelets to students who consistently clean up their art supplies and workspace without reminders.
7. Art Show Stars: Create special brag bracelets for students whose artwork gets selected for school art shows, community exhibitions, or contests.
8. Art History Knowledge: Recognize students who can identify famous artists or art movements with tags like “Art History Buff” or “Master Art Detective.”
9. Artistic Vocabulary: Reward students who demonstrate knowledge of art terms with bracelets like “Art Expert” or “Art Vocabulary Virtuoso.”
10. Random Acts of Creativity: Surprise your students with unexpected brag tags for acts of spontaneous creativity, like drawing on the back of their sketchbook or using art in an unexpected way.
11. Skill Mastery: Create brag tags for different art skills and techniques, such as “Master of Watercolors,” “Weaving Jedi,” or “Sensational Sculptor.”
How Can I Organize Brag Bracelets in the Art Room?
To keep your brag bracelets easily accessible and organized in the art room, consider these nifty storage ideas:
- Brag Bracelet Bulletin Board: Designate a bulletin board to display the brag bracelets, creating a colorful and eye-catching art installation in your classroom.
- Artful Hanging Display: Hang the bracelets on strings with colorful clothespins or clips, adding an artistic touch to your classroom decor.
- Brag Bracelet Baskets: Keep the bracelets in baskets or small containers, allowing for easy grab and go access.
Using brag bracelets in your elementary art classroom can be a fun and motivating way to celebrate your students’ accomplishments and encourage positive behavior.
They also make for great keepsakes that students can proudly display or collect over time. My students like the ones printed on white paper just as much as neon paper because they can color them in!
Keep in mind that students of all ages enjoy receiving recognition. So don’t hesitate to adapt these ideas to suit your students’ age group and preferences. I turned mine into bookmarks for middle schoolers.
Happy teaching and rewarding those budding artists!
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