fbq('track', 'ViewContent');
Showing posts with label clip chart. Show all posts
Showing posts with label clip chart. Show all posts

Clip Charts, Yay or Nay?

Many teachers use a clip chart for behavior management in their classrooms. I know of many parents and teachers who have strong feelings about these clip charts.
 
Clip Charts: Yay or Nay? Here are some reasons for and against using clip charts. The conclusion? It's all in the execution!
 
 
Clip Charts: Yay or Nay? Here are some reasons for and against using clip charts. The conclusion? It's all in the execution!

Here are some of the arguments against the clip charts:

 
1. It's too public.
2. It upsets children when their clip is moved down.
3. They don't change behavior.
4. It's negative.

Clip Charts: Yay or Nay? Here are some reasons for and against using clip charts. The conclusion? It's all in the execution!

Well, despite all these beliefs, I use a clip chart in my classroom, and I love it!  Here's why:

1. It holds the students accountable for their actions.
2. It gives the children a chance to change things around.
3. It motivates the children to want to do well.
4. It's positive and honest.


Does it sound like some of my reasons for using it are conflicting with some of the reasons some have for not using it?


Well, I think the difference lies in the execution. 

I find the clip chart to be a positive experience because I make sure it is a positive experience. 


Most of the time, most of my students end the day well above green, and very rarely does a student end the day below green. 

If they do end below green, then they must have needed that communication. 

Do you know who else needs that communication? 


The other students in the class. 

They see the inappropriate behaviors in the classroom. It makes them feel insecure and sometimes scared if the child isn't held accountable for their actions. When they see that the teacher does something about inappropriate behavior, it makes them feel more secure. 

Clip Charts: Yay or Nay? Here are some reasons for and against using clip charts. The conclusion? It's all in the execution!


When I have to move a clip down, I make it clear that the child made a bad decision and is NOT a bad child. Then I repeat one of my famous phrases: "You have the power to change this!"

Clip Charts: Yay or Nay? Here are some reasons for and against using clip charts. The conclusion? It's all in the execution!

Then I make a point to find them doing something well, and make sure that clip gets moved in the right direction.  

It's all about positive execution! 

The teacher has the power to make it a positive experience or a negative experience. I choose to make it positive.

I have a music theme in my classroom, so I designed this Clip Chart System:
 
Clip Charts: Yay or Nay? Here are some reasons for and against using clip charts. The conclusion? It's all in the execution!


It has music pictures and music themed words like "Rhythmic Day", and the most desired level: "Symphonic Day". It's tough to get to that top level, but I make sure it happens, and I make sure even the most challenging kids find their way to the top level. 

Clip Charts: Yay or Nay? Here are some reasons for and against using clip charts. The conclusion? It's all in the execution!

For children who struggle, there is a more private option.

Clip Charts: Yay or Nay? Here are some reasons for and against using clip charts. The conclusion? It's all in the execution!

Each day, the children record where they end the day. Each week, they do a self evaluation and choose a goal for the week.   Sometimes they do need a little help coming up with appropriate goals, but sometimes I am amazed at how insightful these goals can be!

There is also another incentive built into my clip chart system:



Clip Charts: Yay or Nay? Here are some reasons for and against using clip charts. The conclusion? It's all in the execution!

Beanie Babies!


Clip Charts: Yay or Nay? Here are some reasons for and against using clip charts. The conclusion? It's all in the execution!

Depending on where they end up at the end of the day on the clip chart, they'll get to start the next day with a certain amount of beanies on their desk! It may seem like a little thing, but this is HUGE with my second graders! Those beanie babies are like trophies to those little guys!

Clip Charts: Yay or Nay? Here are some reasons for and against using clip charts. The conclusion? It's all in the execution!

I've been using beanie babies as rewards for years now, and I've never had a class that didn't love them. Yes, they play with them at first, but they don't want to lose the privilege of the beanie, so they learn real fast to leave it alone.

All in all, I love the clip chart system, but it is indeed a lot of work to make it work in a positive manner. 

If you're interested in the Clip Chart System I use, See the image above or see THIS LINK.

I also have a version of the clip chart with a sports theme!

 
Clip Charts: Yay or Nay? Here are some reasons for and against using clip charts. The conclusion? It's all in the execution!
 

Click the image or click HERE to see this resource!

I also use other methods of classroom management such as the scoreboard from Whole Brain Teaching but I believe in the Clip Chart because I make it work!
 
Clip Charts: Yay or Nay? Here are some reasons for and against using clip charts. The conclusion? It's all in the execution!
 

Organization and Management, A Little of Each

As I've been teaching for about 100 years, I've explored many different ways to manage behaviors.

Organization and Management, a little of each. This post gives 2 ideas for classroom management and 3 tips for classroom organization

This is the thing I've settled on lately:

The Scoreboard has been my savior for the last few years!  It is my main tool for management in the classroom. The best part? It's simple to use! It's part of the Whole Brain Teaching strategies, and I absolutely love it! Basically, when the kids do something well, put a tally on the happy side. When something doesn't go well, put a tally on the sad side. If Happy beats Sad at the end of the day, the kids earn 5 minutes toward a privilege, such as extra recess, arts and crafts, or a dance party. Different teachers do different things with the scoreboard, but that's how I use it. It goes all day, every day!

Organization and Management, a little of each. This post gives 2 ideas for classroom management and 3 tips for classroom organization

See more about Whole Brain Teaching HERE (Be sure to watch the videos. That's what hooked me in!)

Now here are a few organizational ideas:

Organizational Tip #1: Organization for base ten blocks! Aren't these caddies great? It's so easy for the kids to get the pieces they need. I used to keep them in one big tub, but all the little cubes would fall to the bottom, and it was tough for the kids to get the ones they needed! These are much easier! (Plus, these base ten blocks are made of foam... much quieter!)
Organization and Management, a little of each. This post gives 2 ideas for classroom management and 3 tips for classroom organization

If you're interested in these caddies, just explore this image!
Organization and Management, a little of each. This post gives 2 ideas for classroom management and 3 tips for classroom organization
Amazon calls them "Art Caddies", but classroom teachers know they're useful for many things other than just Art supplies!

Organization and Management, a little of each. This post gives 2 ideas for classroom management and 3 tips for classroom organization

Organizational Tip #2: Writing Folder Organization! Use 4 different colors, and have even amounts of folders for each color. There's never a question of where a folder would go, or where to put it away. After school, go through the red ones on Monday, yellow on Tuesday, green on Wednesday, and blue on Thursday. Then you get Friday off!  

Organization and Management, a little of each. This post gives 2 ideas for classroom management and 3 tips for classroom organization
I use the drawers of the cart for different kinds of paper.

  Organization and Management, a little of each. This post gives 2 ideas for classroom management and 3 tips for classroom organization

 I put pre-stapled booklets, staplers, tape, and staple removers on an extra desk.

Organizational Tip #3: Letter guide/ number grid! I give every child one of these two-sided cards that we use ALL THE TIME! They are good tools for math as well as handwriting. (That's the Handwriting Without Tears alphabet on the back.) They are great for covering work during a test.  They make great bookmarks. They can help kids keep their place while reading. Seriously, these letter guide/ number guides are out several times a day. Plus, if you laminate them, the kids can write on them with dry-erase markers! The letter guide is copyrighted, so you'll have to get that through HWT, but you can download the color-coded number grid HERE!
Organization and Management, a little of each. This post gives 2 ideas for classroom management and 3 tips for classroom organization


Organization and Management, a little of each. This post gives 2 ideas for classroom management and 3 tips for classroom organization

Hope you appreciate these management and organizational tips!

Organization and Management, a little of each. This post gives an idea for classroom management and 3 tips for classroom organization!


Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...