The VIP Desk - The Best Positive Classroom Management Tool EVER!

I love having a VIP desk in my classroom. It's a really simple tool to bring to your class that encourages positive behaviour traits (like leadership, or kindness), while rewarding students for being fabulous AND keeping their families in the loop! Talk about a win win win! Let's chat about it.

What is it?

The VIP desk is quite simply, a desk. But not just any desk. It's a fancy desk.

I typically try to find an old teachers desk (this one was the best - it is a whiteboard desk which was so helpful to have), and a comfy chair. If you have any extra 'teachers' desks and chairs kicking around in your school, GRAB THEM. I've also used standing desks, and regular old student desks with a 'fancy' chair. Use what works for you, and what you have available.

Who gets to sit in it?

Good question. Anyone and everyone! I typically reserve mine for kindness or above and beyond behaviour. If kids are caught being kind, they get to be the VIP for the day.

I also allow students to nominate one another with nomination forms if they catch someone being kind. Does this mean they nominate their friends? Yes. But regardless, it's a demonstration of kindness and its being rewarded and that's the important thing.

A question I'm asked regularly about the desk is whether I let every student sit in the desk. NOPE. I don't just let that every single student sit there because its their turn. It has to be a reward, and some kids will sit in it 10 times before one kid gets a shot - that's just how it goes! Now, I will say that I do try to be extra on top of paying attention to those kids who I know haven't sat in it yet (or don't get to often!) so I can try to get them in, but its definitely not a guarantee.

So - it's just a desk?

Yes, it is just a desk.

What makes it special are the supplies. The whole idea of the desk is to be a privilege that select few students get to use for the day - so I stock it FULL of the good supplies. Smelly markers, gel pens, whiteboard markers, you name it and its there. I usually spend about $40 at the dollar store each fall and most of the supplies last throughout the year. The key to this is getting the cool supplies. All kids have pencils. But do all kids have bendy pencils?

The kids LOVE being the VIP. I usually let them choose a friend to sit with them and they are constantly nominating each other and asking to be VIP. Even in middle school, where it's lame to be kind to each other.

Do they get any other prizes?

Yes they do!

I also have my VIP choose a prize from my wicked cool prize bin (filled with tabletop games, fidget toys, stickers, and more! All from the Dollar Store). This is a BIG hit, and one of the best reasons to be the VIP. I throw in some full sized chocolate bars once in a while and I'm the bees knees.

I also send home VIP mail to their parents. It's a quick letter, notifying their parents of their awesome work, and why they were nominated to be our VIP. It's a quick "you're awesome!" reminder that keeps families engaged, and gives kids something to be proud to bring home.

How do I start?

This is the easy part! Just find a desk. That's really it. The cool supplies and prizes are an added bonus, but even just a desk where they can sit with a friend that has some sticky notes and a whiteboard is exciting! I've also designed lanyards that students can wear around the school - I just made the template, printed it out and stuck it into an ID badge holder on the end of a lanyard!

If you need an idea to help you get started, you can check out my VIP Desk Starter kit, linked here. It's full of nomination forms, parent mail templates, and decor for your very own VIP desk! Let's encourage these kids to be kind and love one another.

You're killin' it, teach.