Over the years I tried different types of behavior management systems in my classroom. The card system has been the most successful for me, but I never really liked how it only focussed on the negative. This past year I did implement a positive part to the chart - if a child really turned their behavior around after changing their card, I would let them moved it back a color. Thanks to Pinterest, I've seen so many Clip Charts. I started reading about how they worked, I was really concerned about the time it would take and that it would have kids out of their seats all day moving clips. After reading a little more about it, I decided to give it a try. I mentioned it to a coworker who has need had any system but wanted to reward the kids for good behavior, she too is going to try it. Here is what I came up with.
If you would like a copy, just visit and Like my Facebook Page for the link- I will say that when you try to download it, it won't show a preview due to the file being so large. I'm hoping this works. Just thought I'd try something new
I also put it on my Teacher's Notebook Store for Free. I'd love a comment, like of feedback.
12 comments
I implemented this half way through the year and I loved it..my kiddos loved it too! No more negative and clipping it down all the time. You will love how easy it is. I came up with hand signals too. If I didn't have time to tell a child to clip it up or down the would see my signal and know what to do. I did 3 motions - 1. 2 fingers cut like scissors for "clip" 2. thumb out to the side for "it" 3. thumb up or down for which way you wanted them to go. Easy peasy!
Laura
Kinder Kraziness
Laura, thanks for the hand signal idea
I have been using a clip chart similar to this the past 2 years in my 4th grade classroom and have been debating on whether or not to use it when I return to kindergarten next year. I LOVE that it focuses on the positive as well as the negatives. My students who were at the top of the chart on Friday would receive a little jewel sticker on their clip and when they had earned 10 jewels they got to go in the treasure box. I usually did mine weekly in 4th grade, meaning they didn't start back at green/Ready to Learn until Monday but I am thinking that will be too long for kindlers so I am thinking I need to do it on a daily basis. I am still trying to work out the "logistics" of using mine in kinder so would love to hear how you plan to use it?
I have been using the clip chart for 3 years and LOVE it. I love that it allows up and down fluid movement. It allows children to improve and make better choices. I have my students move their own clips so they have more personal ownership. Anyone on top of the chart who moves "off the chart" gets to put their clip on my shirt. My Kinders love this. Sometimes they wear the clips on their shirt. This is a great way for students to be recognized throughout the day. An anyone who is on top or off the chart earns a pencil. For communication with parents, I have a calendar and the students color their day each day.
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Kindergartensmorgasboard.blogspot.com
I implemented this mid year. And it worked wonders in my classroom. I love being able to focus on positive! Plus it allowed me to discpline some of my students who were not doing bad, but I would rarely negatively punish. This way you can move even your best students down and they immediately straighten up and want to move back up. I love it!
Heather
Mrs. Shelton’s Kindergarten
I can't wait to use this next year
I also used this chart in my kinders class this past year. I loved the fluidity about it - just because they moved down doesn't mean they can change their behavior to move it back up. The problem I had was that some kids would do stuff just to move their clip up. "I picked up the trash around the room. Can I move my clip up?" Even though we had a rule that if they asked to move it couldn't happen, they still did it. Any ideas on how to stop that?
I like the idea of wearing the clip (or the teacher wearing it) when it moves off the chart! What a great incentive. Renee
This is the system i used this year. LOVE IT! It really does work. I loved that they could move their own clip so they could have ownership of good and not so good behavior.
I wanted to add that I had them put gems ( $ store ) on their clip every time they got to Outstanding. After five gems they got to decorate a new clip.
I used the clip chart with my sixth grade kiddos-- I'm moving to Kinder this year and I threw the one I used last year out!!! I'm wishing I hadn't, but I thought that I should modify it for the younger kids. I'm thinking less spots to move would be better for them and make it a bigger deal to move up/down (my sixth graders would just brush it off when they clipped down once-- but by the time they got to Miss C's choice, they'd really sweat their behavior!!!). I am also thinking of using pictures instead of words to show the "value" of each spot on the chart -- a SUPER happy face for AWESOME, for example. We used the "top of the chart" which was a big deal and also "off of the chart" (which only happened twice, but I gave the kids a foil star on their clip... everyone asked, "Why does ______ have a star?!"). LOVE the clip chart-- just not so sure about how to work it in Kindergarten!
I used a clip chart very similar to yours for 2 years in my classroom. I LOVED it. It worked better than I could have imagined. I have been home with my daughter who suffered a stroke at birth for the past 2 years and am looking at going back this year. I like your clip chart and am definitely thinking about adding it to my new classroom (if I get one!). Thanks for sharing and good luck! Hope it works out for you!
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