Clip Chart - A simple discipline strategy for promoting positive behavior.

This year I will display a chart in my classroom that looks like this:

 Students will start off with their clips on the "Ready to Learn" section each morning.  When students are making good behavior choices, they have an opportunity to move up the chart and earn rewards for their good behavior.  If they are caught being good - helping without being asked, following directions, working quietly, cleaning up without being asked, or receiving a compliment from another teacher - they will be given a "thumbs up" hand signal by me.  They may then go to the chart and move thier clip up one step.  If they move their clip all the way up to "Super Student" in one day, they will receive a note to take home to proudly show their parents.  They will also be rewarded by having their name included in a drawing at the end of the week.

On the other hand, if a students is not making good choices - not on task, not completing work, not prepared for class, talking when not appropriate, not respecting rights of others, not practicing self-discipline, or not following instructions - they will be given a "thumbs down" hand signal which means they must move their clip down the chart one level.  The "Make Better Choices" section is simply a warning from the teacher.  If a student moves their clip to the "Teacher's Choice" section, I will choose the course of action I think is best such as loss of privileges, restriction from a favorite activity, or a note home are just a few options.  The final section is "Parent Contact".  If a students moves their clip to this section, I will make a phone call to the student's parent to discuss the matter.  If a student has to move their clip down more than four times during a grading period, their conduct grade will go down a letter grade.

To learn more about this simple and effective strategy go to http://www.newmanagement.com/ebooks/clip_chart.html and let me know what you think!

Discipline is teaching,

not punishment.

—T. Berry Brazelton

Stop Light Self Assessment

This year, as I think of new and useful classroom procedures to implement, I will be using a "Stop Light" to assess my student's understanding.

After a new topic is introduced, students will be asked to complete a problem, or answer a question, on a sticky note.  They will then decide where to place their sticky notes on the stoplight.  Green indicates "I Got It!"  Yellow says, "I'm Almost There", and Red indicates "I Still Need Help!"

As students stop and reflect about whether they understand the material or not, they are taking ownership of their own learning.  Students are usually very honest about this when they know that they will receive the help they need to master a topic.

After the students have indicated their level of understanding, I will review the sticky notes and determine who has mastered the topic and who needs reteaching in small guided math groups.  Students will be excited to see their understanding improve from red or yellow to green, and those who already show mastery will be able to move on to a more challenging assignment or activity.

Stop Light formative assessment: Go to Timeouts and Tootsie Rolls blog spot for full explanation.

I recently attended a training on Interactive Student Notebooks.  I am very excited to a be introducing these notebooks into my science curriculum this year.  The student notebooks are an awesome way for students to engage in their learning, stay organized, and record their progress.  I a few blogs that I will be referring to for ideas throughout the year.  They are:
http://www.chem4kids.com/index.html
http://www.shellyssciencespot.com/Curriculum.htm
http://mysciencelessons.blogspot.com/2009/07/spongebob-lab-safety-activity.html   http://adventuresinscience.edublogs.org/2003/08/25/assignments/
http://sciencespot.net/Pages/ISNinfo.html
http://www.middleschoolscience.com/notebook-2010-2011.htm
I will be posting copies of worksheets and activities we do in class, so stay tuned!