I went on some jaunts yesterday to another Target, just to see what they have, of course. But that never happens...the just seeing part. I ended up purchasing pencils for birthdays to use with birthday flags I found here in bloggyland. Once made I will post and share, of course. And some small plastic square buckets for scissors and gluesticks. They are the exact ones that Jenn from Finally in First bought...she's using them for pencils and has FREEBIE labels to go with them!
Also went to Michael's and purchased colored cardstock for my clip chart I'm making (to mount the labels on). Which reminds me, I figured out that is where I purchased the apple timer shown in a photo in this post. Only $3! They also had football, soccer ball and baseball timers! They were in the $1 and Up (that title cracks me up!) section if you want to check them out.
I'm really excited to start the clip chart management system. I've always emphasized to my kiddos their behavior is a choice. But with this, there are positives to make good choices. I'd been using the stoplight system before but while I liked it, if a student didn't make any poor choices, they just sat there on green or didn't get rewarded for changing their actions and making better choices later on in the day. It was a smack in the head...it didn't seem fair. The only consequences were negative...I like positive ones that reinforce correcting yourself. So anyhoooo...we are finally at my question(s)...when a child moves up from green on the clip chart, what is your system? I have plans for when they get to the top but what about in-between? And even, what is your plan for top of the chart?
Also, how do you communicate the students' behavior to parents? I was thinking about using a monthly calendar the students color in each day and keep them in the homework folders so the parents will see them...and sign each day? Or only on certain colors? Obviously, bottom of the chart, in my case it's red, gets automatic parent contact but I was thinking about the others...
I would love to hear what you do to guide me :) I know it seems basic but this is new and I want to keep it as manageable as possible.
I'm thinking of switching to the clip chart system as well. I'm happy to see the way you explained it--students who were good were just "stuck" all day. Students definitely need to see the benefits of being good. Thanks for your post!
ReplyDeleteMrsMc from Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
Just like in life, positives come from going that extra mile at your job :) I'm glad my post was beneficial :)
DeleteI do the clip chart and then the calendar. I have the kiddos color each day. One of my jobs is behavior control or something (is that bad I don't know the name!?) LOL. Their job is to check the chart at the end of the day and make sure any students that moved their magnets colored their calendar in the right way. It also works great because 1. when the kids travel to other rooms the teachers can just mark the calendar and 2. you can collect them at the end of the month and you have documentation of their behavior.
ReplyDeleteOne more thing, I also have a chart on a clipboard by the clip chart that has a checklist to mark what the kids moved to and I made a key to explain why. So I know they moved to yellow for a week everytime for talking, or everyday for not bringing their supplies :)
Thank you for your input! :) That's a neat idea to have a helper in charge of that.
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