This has been debated a bunch lately and it has had me reflect on my own teaching style and use of my clip chart in my classroom. My clip chart consisted of a superstar, a happy face, a kind of straight-line face, and a sad face. I am doing away with it for this year and implementing positive behavior charts for my students. Let me start by saying that my stance is not positive or negative for either choice. I see the benefits of the clip chart as long as the student can redeem themselves and clip up when making a good choice. I also see the negative side where certain students are consistently on a sad face. The other students know who has difficulty so should it really be displayed daily? You will love adapting your classroom by utilizing positive behavioral supports by shifting focus from the negative onto the positive..
Positive Behavioral Supports for Preschool
My students consist entirely of preschoolers with special needs. They respond well to visual cues throughout the day so I thought I would extend that into my disciplinary approach .
So How Do These Work?
I wanted their positive behavioral support charts to be interactive so that they can add the apple or the pumpkin independently and then count up to 5 to receive a sticker. The sticker charts are counting down from 10-1 where a prize, activity, or any other reward can be implemented. They enjoy seeing the different pictures monthly and it benefits them visually to see their progress and to encourage them to take control of their behaviors. This strategy is beneficial for observations as well with administrators enabling even the young students to be independent with behavior management.
Changing the Dynamic in your Classroom
I am a veteran teacher of 22 years and I am constantly looking for help in the area of discipline. I have established a solid approach but often need to tweak the effectiveness of it. My approach has evolved from a full teacher implementation approach into more of a student led and executed model.
I would love feedback if you have purchased these already to let me know how you are using them such as: What features do you like? What else would you like to see in the area of positive behavioral supports??? What doesn’t seem to work for you and your students?
You might also like this blog post about incorporating visual schedules into your classroom. It helps students monitor their behaviors as well because it makes them more independent in the classroom..
