Hello everyone!
I teach elementary school, and I’ve noticed more students bringing their phones to school.... Some of my students try to sneak them out during class, and others stay glued to their screens at recess instead of playing or talking to each other...
How do you handle this in your classroom and school? Do you have rules, or incentives?
Dealing with phones in the classroom is something that needs to be addressed head-on. My rule is simple - phones stay in backpacks or lockers, no exceptions. If I catch a student sneaking their phone out, there’s a consequence. Depending on the student (and how many strikes they have) it may end with a warning, detention, or losing phone privileges for the rest of the week.
During recess, phones are not allowed to be used. It’s a time to be social, play, and actually interact with others, not be glued to a screen. I make it clear that if you want to be part of the group, you need to engage with your classmates, not your phone.
I also use a point system where students earn rewards for following rules, including phone-free time, but if they slip up, they lose points.