I just started using a stop light behavior plan - moving clothes pins from green to yellow to red. But, I'm not clear on when I should change the cards. I have such a chatty class, if I change the cards the first time they break a rule, it seems like no one would ever be on green, and I'd get to red so fast I'd have no where to go from there. I think I'm doing something wrong. Please tell me how you do it.
I had to do the color plan this year although I dislike this type of behavior system. Instead of the stop light I have 5 colors: blue (excellent), green (very good), yellow (good), orange (warning), and red (consequence). The warning serves exactly as that, and I rarely have a child go to red. I first give a verbal warning. If they still continue the behavior, they go to orange. They can move up and down all day. I've had it in place for 3 weeks now, and I notice I don't need to use the system as much anymore, and hope to wean them off it altogether soon.
Could you split the colors in half? So as a warning, a student would move their clothespin to the top half of the green. If they break a rule again they'd move to the bottom half of the yellow.
Just a thought. I don't like those systems myself.
My class starts above green. When they need a warning, they move down to green, but there is no consequence there. After green if they continue with the behavior I usually remind them that if the move again they will be in yellow and that gets them back on track. The next time there isn't a warning and they move colors.
Thank you for the great suggestions but exactly which behavior's do you change the cards for and which ones so merit that? Whispering, not paying attention, calling out an answer, not following directions quickly enough? I know this should be obvious to me, but it's not.
Our classroom and school have a set of rules that the children must follow
Respect and obey instructions
Keep hands to yourself
Stay in your assigned area
Listen to the teacher
In my class (as in most of the classes) we have green yellow and red cards. We also have something as a precursor to 'flipping' their green card to yellow. It could be pulling a stick, flipping a different colored card, etc.
But, it is all involved in the rules mentioned above. If a student does not follow the rules, and they are given a warning, look, etc. For example, today I said we had to have silent snack because they had been talkative during morning math. Some decided to talk during silent snack, so they flipped their card. Also, their card, no matter how hard they try, cannot be turned back. Lastly, they have to write a note to their parent/guardian explaining why they had to flip their card. If they have to flip their card to red, I write a note to the parent.
I tend to give a verbal or nonverbal warning or prompt to a child before they flip card. Esp in the case of a minor behavior issue like whispering to a neighbor.. I agree that my whole class would be on red by lunchtime if I didnt do it that way. Hitting or something very bad would result in a flipped card right away, however.It IS kind of subjective though.
I have 5 colors. They start out on green, yellow - first warning, red - second warning, orange - note home, blue - note and lunch detention.
It depends on the day for what they change it for. My class is constantly fighting and I have one girl who yells out "leave me alone!!" if someone tries talking to her, so BOTH of them have to change their cards because of the outbursts and talking.
They also never raise their hands and are out of their seats, so last week I lost it and I said "It's November, no more warnings." Anytime they call out now they have to change their card. So far (but it's really only been 2 days since we had teacher's convention last week lol) it's worked for that for most of the kids...at least after they change their card yellow. I also make them turn it if they're playing in the hallway, walking around the room (unless they're throwing something out) during snack, talking when they shouldn't, any kind of yelling, etc., though I do usually give a verbal warning first. Depending on the severity, hitting or temper tantrums (yes they throw them) results in immediate lunch detention. Of course for some kids that doesn't phase them so they get another kind of discipline.
One more thing I had to do last year and the year before was changing their card if they weren't unpacked on time. I had one girl last year that would take 15 minutes just to unpack her backpack and hand in her homework, so basically she never was able to do her morning work or anything else. I started having them change their card if they weren't unpacked and working by 9:10 (we start at 9).
Sometimes if I'm feeling really strict, like 5 kids will still have green at the end of the day. And anyone that is still on green gets a star on their chart towards a prize.
11-04-2009, 06:39 AM
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