Getting Rid of the Clip Chart

{Be warned, this a long post but please bare with me and read to the end. I would appreciate some feedback and food for thought.}

When I first started teaching, my room had the typical red light, green light system. I was not excited about using it at all. However, I got my job right before school started, it was in my room already and lets just be honest I didn't have time to think of something else. So there it was. It stayed there all year. I never liked it. The only reason a child would go to it would be to clip down...to a negative area with a consequence.  I never felt like it solved any problems. I did not like it.

So like any crazy teacher would, I got on Pinterest! :) And low and behold, everywhere I looked I saw the clip chart. A student could move up or down! I loved the idea of having rewards for those kiddos that are always doing right. I had a super cute one. Bright colors, fun clip art and all! You are all probably familiar with a clip chart similar to this that you have seen all over Pinterest...

Image from Pinterest

So, I started that year...and it only took a few months for me to decide something wasn't working. Parents were constantly asking what color their lovely was on. The emphasis was way too much on the color and not what did you learn today. Kids were broken down when they were constantly on a negative color. {no matter how hard I would try to keep them off of it...but to be consistent for the other kids...}

So, the next year (last year) I got rid of sending home daily reports. I loved it. Behavior was handled in the classroom. Kids could make mistakes and we wo
uld move on. (Major problems or repetitive problems, parents were made aware) But, that darn clip chart was still there. The same kids moved up and the same kids moved down. No matter how much I tried to change it.  And let me tell ya...the kids knew where each child was on that chart. Anyone that walked in the room knew. Everyone knew. Talk about a Public Walk of Shame.

 

Just imagine sitting in that faculty meeting with the super cute clip chart with every one's name hanging from the cutest ribbon  in the front and center of the room. People are being called to pull their clip up for participating and collaborating. Way to Go! But then, your name is called. You hear your principal saying "this is not the time to be Pinteresting, pull your clip down." All eyes on you as you walk to the front to clip down. You walk away defeated, ashamed and just want to go home...

 A changing moment for me was when a sweet little girl said she could no longer play with a certain friend because this friend was always on a bad color. So what was the topic of conversation at home? Obviously not learning. Where was the emphasis put? Something had to change.

Then I read an article that screamed AH-HA to me. I am not crazy. Others feel this way. And I promise you, even if you don't agree with me, this article is great food for thought.

Click HERE to Read It!

So my brain has been turning and I have been doing some research (pinterest and google count right?!). Then I started thinking when I was in school what was the behavior system?  There was no daily behavior report, rewards or bribing. However, I don't remember us acting like zoo animals every day. Something must have kept order. Of course, it was the teacher!

 If we got a treat it was because my teacher wanted to give us a treat...everyone got a treat and just because. They were many days, I talked way too much (hard to believe right?!), didn't listen or follow directions but did I have to do a public walk of shame? NO! And if I did, I honestly think my experience in school would have been different. I never left feeling like my teacher just doesn't think I do anything right, why am I even trying? How do you think those kids feel every day when they are always on a warning or something negative. What about those kids that can't seem to make it past 8 in the morning without messing up? So why am I doing that now? Is it really working?

I know you are probably thinking...When I was growing up my parents expected me to do what the teacher said. The teacher is always right. Parents don't respect teachers in front of their kids anymore. Parents don't care if their kids act up so they do act up. I need something.

 How do you think parents feel if every day they see their child's behavior report and it's yellow or not above green. They just may start thinking, well that teacher just doesn't like my kid. News Flash! Parents know their kid is not perfect. They might talk out of turn, get out of their seat when they are not supposed to, forget to raise their hand but is it necessary to constantly make it seem like a major issue?  So, when you call home about something major, they brush you off. I don't think anyone intentionally does this but I can see how it would elevate to this level. {side note: Yes, I believe parents should be involved in major behavior challenges, repetitive challenges and sometimes you may need to do an individual private behavior goal with a student)

I am going to be the first to admit, I do not have the answers. I just know I do not want the PUBLIC Walk of Shame in my classroom. I am willing to try something new. So, back to Pinterest and searching...

I started looking at youtube and checking out some videos of Whole Brain Teaching. WOW. I was floored. (I actually found it on a board I pinned ages ago...)

Now, we all know our kiddos love to talk and move. This gives them lots of opportunity and have some fun! The scoreboard is a neat idea. It is either a 1 second party or a Mighty Groan. If you have some students off track call the rule number..the whole class repeats the rule...the behavior instantly stops to repeat with class and not one single student is singled out.

I am still looking into WBT and have ordered the book to read some more information on it. I know that I am not a complete fan of the exact rules {Keep your teacher happy just rubs me wrong but  many people like it...to each their own. :)) so I switched mine up a bit.

Rule 1: Listen when someone is talking. I purposefully did not make it say teacher. I want my students to know they are expected to listen no matter who is talking, even their partner. Working on good conversation skills. {motion- cup hand over ear}

Rule 2: Follow directions quickly. {motion-make your hand like it is a fish swimming fast}

Rule 3: Raise your hand to speak. {motion-raise hand to high and making the talking motion}

Rule 4: Make smart choices {motion-point to brain}

Rule 5: Respect others, respect yourself and respect our school. {hands out, point to self, point to the floor}

You can grab a version of my rules {here!}

I plan to use these similarly to WBT. I am not exactly sure how my classroom management will look at this point. I do know that it will not involve a public behavior system.

To make it clear, I am against the public display of behavior. I do believe parents need to be involved. I will not think less of you for using a clip cart. Every classroom is different and each teacher has the power to choose how to run their classroom.

So do you use something other than the clip chart? Do you miss the clip chart? What do you do in your classroom? Please share below. If you still use the clip chart, share below your feelings. But, lets please remember we are all adults and professionals their is no need for negativeness. Nobody's got time for that!:)

 UPDATE!!!!

This post has become one of my most read posts. WOW! If you don't mind, please take a second a pin a picture to pinterest to bring more awareness to the challenges that surround the clip chart!

ALSO! I have begun my book study of Whole Brain Teaching! WOW what a read! I am LOVIN' it! You will want to be sure you are following my blog and this series. It is full of WBT freebies! You can check out that series {here!}