Things You'll Need:
- behavior chart
- marble jar (optional)
- clothespins (optional)
- clear expectations
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Step 1
Decide whether you want (or need) to use a classroom-wide behavior chart or an individualized plan for a single student. Many teachers use classroom charts as a proactive measure as well as a way to use peer modeling. Students who consistently follow the rules and routines are able to show less-compliant peers what types of behavior are acceptable in the classroom.
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Step 2
Marble jarDevise a method for keeping track of classroom behavior. Some common methods are marble jars and "traffic light" charts. With a marble jar, students place marbles into it for meeting target behaviors and when the jar is full the whole class gets a reward. A "traffic light" chart is slightly more individualized in that each student has a labeled clothespin which they place on green, yellow and red as asked by the teacher. Green stands for acceptable behavior, yellow is a warning signal and red represents a consequence or loss of privileges.
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Step 3
Limit the target behaviors for individual students, but let them have a wide base that takes into encompasses many possibilities. For example, if you have a student who is interruptive and distracted, you may want to have "listens to instructions" as a target behavior. That would cover both behaviors.
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Step 4
Block out the behavior chart into increments of time that are both manageable for you and your student. Not only does the student need to have a period of time in which he can be successful, but you also need to have the time to check in with him. It may not be reasonable to expect a student can stay on target for 2 hours at a time, but it's also not reasonable to expect you to check in with him every 10 minutes.
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Step 5
Create, with your students, a menu of rewards to use. The items don't need to be tangible or complicated. They can be as simple as having 5 minutes of free time, the ability to choose a friend with whom to sit at lunchtime or a free homework pass.
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Step 6
Stick with the plan for a few weeks before modifying it. It's likely that you will see an initial spurt of compliance and then a period in which students test the behavior plan. You can't judge the success of a behavior chart if you haven't given it a fair run.













Comments
FabHelper said
on 3/7/2008 I'm a huge fan of step 6. It can't be stated enough :)