Behavior Management

Hey friends! More on the Back 2 School front - I told you you couldn't hide from it! I'm linking up with Mrs. D's Corner and Ms. V's Busy Bees for some topics that will help you get ready for the school year.

I hesitated a little to link up for this one because I read a few posts lately about people who ditched their clip charts and how terrible they are, but let me just say those posts haven't converted me and if you are a clip chart hater, this one isn't going to convert you.  I believe in the clip chart, so I am going to explain how I use it and how it has successfully worked in my classroom for the past 2 years.

Here's the clip chart: (Or part of it anyway, it is Summer after all and I'm searching through pictures and this is as good as it gets for now!)

Basically, you take this: (Freebie!)

And attach it with ribbon.  Then, each child gets a clip. (A cheap wooden clothespin.) You can write their name on them with a marker...I am crazy so I print them on labels, cut them,  and Mod Podge them on.  Do your thing - whatever you like! 

So how does it work?  You have rules...you explain the rules...when a student is breaking a rule, I give them a verbal warning.  If they break it again, they move their clip down.  This is supposed to make them think - "Hey I need to get myself back together!" and most of the time it does! The student needs to move the clip.  This gives them accountability.  Can they move their clip back up? YES!!! That is the MOST IMPORTANT part of this system.  If they make a mistake at 8:00am they are not still being punished for that mistake at the end of the day! This system is very fluid, kids move up and down ALL.DAY.LONG. 

It's super important they know the rules and what is expected of them. Spend lots of time going over the rules and making sure they know what all of them mean, whatever your rules are.  These are the ones I use.

So how do they move up? You catch them being good.  When they do something you ask them the very first time, help a friend, do something without asking, are the quietest student in line, you are making an example because their behavior is so good, they are improving a behavior you have previously had to get on them before...you know how to make it positive...it's so easy to help them move that clip up!

Now - how do the parents know about their behavior? With a calendar of course!  Every day at the end of the day, we pass out our homework folders.  The students take out their behavior charts and we color them in. In the beginning of the year, this is time consuming, but by the end of the year its like a well oiled machine.  My assistant or I call out the colors and the other circulates to make sure they are coloring in their charts or help anyone who needs it.

This is what the chart looks like.  At the beginning of the month, you get the students to color in their chart on the right hand side.  You have them color in the square each day and their parent signs each night.  This is an important communication between home and school! 

We keep them in a plastic three prong folder in a page protector.  I usually reduce them and copy them 2 to a page on 8 1/2 x 14 paper...but remember it's Summer and I'm working with what I've got here :)  The smaller size makes it easier to get them in and out of the page protector.

So what do I do with these? At the end of the week, if you've been on green or better ALL week - you go to the treasure box! The treasure box has Dollar Tree type items in it donated from parents.  I also keep them as a record just in case I need them for parent meetings.

I also use these notes as a positive form of reinforcement.  I don't send them all the time, but I copy them on colored copy paper and write on them with fancy Sharpie markers.  The kids love it :) 

Other things I use for positive reinforcement?

I put them in a jar and call them Smart Skittles! My students will work hard for a Smart Skittle! 

I also use stickers, extra recess, iPad time, LOTS and LOTS of positive praise.  Did you know you are supposed to say 5 positive things for every negative thing? Yep - it's true! 

I hope this post has helped explain how I use the clip chart just a little!  Would love to hear your comments as to what you use for Behavior Management! 

If you want to read other Behavior Management posts, just click below to get to them :)