What is the Clip Chart System?
To track and reinforce student behaviors we use a clip chart system. Each student has a clip with their name and number on it. At the beginning of each day, the clips are placed on the green square which means “Ready to Learn”. This is a great place to be! However, throughout the day, students may move up or down the clip system based on their behaviors.
For positive behaviors, students can move up the clip system (one step at a time) from "Ready to Learn", to "Great Job", to "Exemplary"! A student may also move down the clip system one step at a time. Students might move from green to yellow (Think About It), which is a warning. Then, students may move to yellow to orange (Teacher’s Choice), which allows students to have a 60-second reteach from the teacher. When students clip down to orange, they will complete a quick reflection in a secluded area of the classroom. Furthermore, if a student's behavior does not improve, he/she will be asked to clip down to red, which is when parents will be notified. Students who clip down to red will complete a reflection called a "Stop and Go" in a designated neighboring classroom for a 30-minute period. Lastly, if a student's behavior does not improve after a "Stop and Go", a student may be asked to clip down to gray and complete a "gray slip", which results in an automatic office referral to the principal. Students might also receive an automatic office referral, or "gray slip" by clipping down to red (a "Stop and Go") twice in one day.
It is very important to note that students can move up and down the clip chart throughout the day!!! If a student is asked to clip down, but turns around their behavior, they can clip up. In addition, students' clip chart status is not recorded until the END OF THE DAY, which becomes important to remember when it comes to "Green Days". All school personnel is able to ask students to clip up or down, so students are rewarded or monitored during special classes and recess.
For positive behaviors, students can move up the clip system (one step at a time) from "Ready to Learn", to "Great Job", to "Exemplary"! A student may also move down the clip system one step at a time. Students might move from green to yellow (Think About It), which is a warning. Then, students may move to yellow to orange (Teacher’s Choice), which allows students to have a 60-second reteach from the teacher. When students clip down to orange, they will complete a quick reflection in a secluded area of the classroom. Furthermore, if a student's behavior does not improve, he/she will be asked to clip down to red, which is when parents will be notified. Students who clip down to red will complete a reflection called a "Stop and Go" in a designated neighboring classroom for a 30-minute period. Lastly, if a student's behavior does not improve after a "Stop and Go", a student may be asked to clip down to gray and complete a "gray slip", which results in an automatic office referral to the principal. Students might also receive an automatic office referral, or "gray slip" by clipping down to red (a "Stop and Go") twice in one day.
It is very important to note that students can move up and down the clip chart throughout the day!!! If a student is asked to clip down, but turns around their behavior, they can clip up. In addition, students' clip chart status is not recorded until the END OF THE DAY, which becomes important to remember when it comes to "Green Days". All school personnel is able to ask students to clip up or down, so students are rewarded or monitored during special classes and recess.
Behaviors Associated with Each Color
Below you can find a list of behaviors that is associated with each level on the clip chart.
Purple, Blue, and Green:
Yellow:
Purple, Blue, and Green:
- Listening
- Following directions
- On task
- Kind words
- Quiet voice
- Helping others
- Raising hand
Yellow:
- Minor KYHFOOTY (Keep Your Hands, Feet, and Other Objects To Yourself)--poking, touching others, violating personal space
- Not following directions
- Off task
- Talking out
- Throwing paper/small objects
- Disrespecting peers
- Playing with toys in school
- Chewing gum
- Eating candy or drinks (other than water) in class
- Wearing hats/hoodies indoors
- Intentionally breaking dress code after previous warnings
- Intentionally coming in late from recess
- Playing inappropriately/unsafe on the playground equipment (climbing slides, sliding backwards, twisting swings, pushing others, etc.)
- All behaviors listed above (on Yellow)
- AUTOMATIC ORANGE:
- Throwing ice/snow
- Sliding on ice
- Minor swearing/cursing
- Physical offenses: pushing, tackling, tripping, kicking
- Playing inappropriately/unsafely on playground equipment
- Play fighting: NO physical contact
- Chronic minor misbehavior
- Gossiping/name calling
- Cheating/lying
- Stealing ($5 or less)
- Spitting
- Urgent Infractions:
- Bringing/making/replicating dangerous objects
- Serious physical aggression or verbal aggression
- Sexual or racial harassment
- Serious Infractions:
- More than 2 "Stop and Go" slips in one day
- Severe disrespect or defiance to an adult
- Graphic language
- Destruction of property/vandalism
- Theft (Over $5)
- Chronic disruptive misbehavior
What is a "Green Day"?
Green Days are celebrations of students' behavior! On Green Days, students who qualify are able to participate in games, activities, and other fun events during lunch recess. Green Days take place twice a month.
How to qualify for "Green Days": Students who have two or less clip down changes (in one two week period) are able to participate in Green Day activities. For example, if a student ends the day on yellow twice in the two-week period, he/she is able to participate in the Green Day activities. However, a student who ends one day on orange (2 clip-down values) and then ends another day on yellow (1 clip down value) does NOT qualify for Green Day activities. Nevertheless, there are opportunities called "Reteach" for students to earn back clip changes. Reteach sessions are held by the school's social workers during select lunch and recess times. If the student who had three clip changes attended a Reteach session, then the student would be able to participate in Green Day.
How to qualify for "Green Days": Students who have two or less clip down changes (in one two week period) are able to participate in Green Day activities. For example, if a student ends the day on yellow twice in the two-week period, he/she is able to participate in the Green Day activities. However, a student who ends one day on orange (2 clip-down values) and then ends another day on yellow (1 clip down value) does NOT qualify for Green Day activities. Nevertheless, there are opportunities called "Reteach" for students to earn back clip changes. Reteach sessions are held by the school's social workers during select lunch and recess times. If the student who had three clip changes attended a Reteach session, then the student would be able to participate in Green Day.
