A classroom behavior chart can mean the difference between good and atrocious student behavior. Some students really need to have those visual representations to keep themselves in check.
Most teachers have multiple interventions in place for those students that need extra help in the social skills department. Not all students will respond the same to every different type of intervention strategy.
Perhaps some of the following might be a welcomed addition to your teacher toolbox of tricks.
Does this sound familiar?
Johnny (or Janelle) is sitting in a desk and is currently shouting out answers during whole group lessons.
You have tried everything.
You have moved his seat near your desk. You have made sure you are close in proxomity as much as possible, while also still having to work wih the other students too.
You have called home. Exorbitant amounts of times.
You have tried to take away recess. You have tried positive reinforcement strategies.
Peer pressure doesn’t seem to work.
There has to be something out there to help him – and you. You are so drained from the constant onslaught of behaviors from this child, you go home nightly and fall asleep on the sofa shortly after making dinner. It’s exhausting and there are still sooooo many days of school left in the school year.
You need help.
Why Use a Behavior Chart
Behavior charts are simply one type of classroom management strategy. They can be used in various ways and can be for an entire class, teams of students, or even individual.
The behavior modifications can be displayed on the wall, such as a pocket chart flip card system, clip charts, or more private with a simple sticker chart taped to a student desk.
Having something tangible that the child can see and/or touch is necessary. Why? Self control over their own behavior actions is lacking (hence the behavior modification plan in place), so this allows for a reminder to keep certain actions in check.
You can even have an option for the student to color in boxes on a blank grad when you give the signal that he or she has met the behavior expectations for a determined period of time. This should happen multiple times daily.
In order to see and reward the desired behavior, you’ll need to narrow down the following:
- the specific behavior you wish to see. Instead of saying “don’t tap your pencil on the desk” you would say “I’m looking for you to be sitting quietly working at your seat using your pencil or reading with your pencil laying in the pencil tray on your desk.”
- the time frame in which you will be evaluating. Starting out, you want to give the student a very short term time frame. Even 30 seconds to 2 minutes is a long time for students who are struggling with self control. As those time frames are mastered, you can slowly extend the time. Eventually you won’t need to monitor this particular behavior.
- a visual template for which to track the behaviors. It is up to your personal behavior management preferences whether you give stickers, checkmarks, flip charts, etc. for only positive results, only negative results, or a combination of both. It might be a good idea to have this discussion with the student and even his caregivers if appropriate.
Behavior charts work if all parties understand the process, the consequences, and the rewards for the displayed behavior. If any of those pieces are missing, you will continue to struggle through the school year with unwanted behaviors.
Free Printable Behavior Management Tools
Need some free handouts to use for various behavior issues in the classroom? Classroom Freebies has you covered below!
Click on any of the photos remaining to access each individual form.
I adore the self-reflection pieces in this simple to use behavior chart for intermediate students. It allows the child a chance to think about what the unacceptable behavior was – and tell his/her side of the story.
Sometimes I have found out later after reading these forms that maybe I jumped the gun on assuming the child was out of line for no reason. Maybe he or she had a good reason for the action, but I didn’t see that piece.
This handy form also has a spot where the student can fill in what he or she can do differently in the future. This helps to change the behavior from reoccurring if a plan has already been developed for something different to happen in the same situation.
The MVP form below is also a great choice for smaller children. Students determine if they earned a star, check, or X in each category. The teacher has already discussed appropriate “brain breaks” for the outcome.
Can we all agree that unless you have a method in place for lining up, it becomes a free-for-all event with the likelihood that someone is headed to the nurse’s office for a poked eye? These visuals help when practicing the line up procedure and expectations.
Obviously if screaming at your class worked, it would be a “best practice” in all the teacher’s pedagogy manuals. But that never seems to show up as an option.
Instead, readers at Organized Classroom pooled their very best classroom management strategies together to create this free eBook. Perhaps someone else out there has expertise for quelling the very same behavior problems you are experiencing in your classroom right now.
I love this handout for attaching feelings to the behaviors. Little ones don’t always know how to monitor those feelings, and this personal empowerment piece can assist in recognizing and acknowledging them first. Then, deal with the actions second.
Integrating math and behavior all in one = genius!
Click HERE to see all the details.
Sometimes a basic sticky note is all that is needed on the corner of a student’s desk. Set the behavior, set the time frame, and set the reward. Easy peasy!
Kindergarten students can use crayons to track their positive behaviors throughout the day and strengthen their math skills at the same time. Love!
Check out this fun bee themed packet which includes details for completing a class challenge to earn a specific reward. It then allows gently peer pressure to take over and help with earning the treat they have decided on together.
How adorable are these superheroes? Using this form with the student, a teacher can easily have a paper trail record of behavior interventions and hopefully notice patterns when students may be having more trouble at certain times/activities throughout the day.
Just having something in black and white is very important for the RtI documentation process.
When I taught third grade in Florida, our school used these types of tags to showcase their unique talents and hard work. They loved them and so did I! Recognizing the positive things students go really go a long way in increasing student motivation and overall morale throughout the school year.
Can you hear me now? We all know those particular years where the class noise level becomes out of control. If that is your class this year, perhaps some of these resources in this packet will help.
While this particular activity has more examples for healthy living for preschoolers and littles at home and at school, I think it’s a great place to begin a conversation about making the right decisions with our friends at school too.
What are some of your best tips or freebie handouts for behavior in the classroom? We would love to see them in a comment below!
~Charity
Classroom Freebies Curator
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