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