Behavior Clip Chart

About seven years ago, I came up with this clip chart for my first grade classroom.  I had used many other systems in the past...pulling color cards, a stop light with clips on the sides, etc...but none of them allowed for students to be rewarded for the positive behaviors.  I wanted a chart that they could move up, not just begin their day at the top and move down.  I wanted to be able to reward all those sweet, well behaved students who, up until then, just stayed on "green" all day.  That's when I decided to make my first clip chart out of construction paper. 

 I knew I wanted them to begin each day in the center of the chart...a fresh start on each new day.  I tried to make the positive consequences relate to the negative consequences.  For example, the first step up the chart is a verbal "cheer" of "way to go!  (See the cheers we pull from our Cheer detergent box here.)  Likewise, the first step down is a verbal reminder to "get back on track".  My original laminated construction paper chart served me well over the years.  But this past year I discovered Vistaprint!  And I decided to make a new chart out of their small banner.

Each student's clip goes on the sides of the chart.  I usually put the boys' clips on the left side and the girls' on the right.  It makes it a little easier to find their clip when I need to move it.  I've always moved them myself.  I don't let the kids move their own clips.  Recently, I've seen a lot of blogs and talk of a simlar clip chart from a website called New Management.  I was excited and surprised to see how similar it is to my system.  One thing I've seen some teachers add to their clips are jeweled stickers.  Each time a student reaches the top of the chart, they get to put a jewel sticker on their clip.  This is something I'm going to try this year.  The kids are going to love the jewels!  I'm heading to Hobby Lobby or Michaels tomorrow.  :o)