5 Reasons I Am Taking Down My Behavior Chart in Kindergarten

This may be the craziest thing I have done yet. But it's true. I am taking down and getting rid of my behavior chart. Now, let me tell you why.

Take a good look at it, because this bad boy is being retired. I first saw the idea from Jennifer @ Simply Kinder. Check out her blog post about behavior charts [here].

Now the more I though about it, I grew to loathe my behavior chart. Here are some reasons I came up with for why I should get rid of my behavior chart.

1. Too much weight is put on a color. 

Almost all of my kids will leave school to go home and tell their parents what color they were on. In addition, some parents greet their children with "what color are you on?" Seriously, it is a color. It does not define a child as good or bad. 

2. We all have bad days.

Think about yourself for a second. Would you be on green everyday? Nope. I know I wouldn't. I am pretty positive that there are some days when I was not the best for my students. But hey - that's called life. 

3. Not fair.

I hate having to tell a child to move their clip down. But why do they have to do it? Because I decided it was time. Because I finally had enough of trying to change the behavior. Because of me, Let's be honest with ourselves, again.I know that I probably put up with a behavior longer for some students than for others. This chart is based on my opinion. Yes, I understand that it should be because it is my room. But it is not the same for every child. Half the time I am more focused on remembering to move clips down, than up!

4. Peer influence.

There it is. Hung up, with everyone child's name on it. I will say, that when I move a child's clip down that I typically try and do it in private. But the entire class knows who is on the "bad" colors. Wait. I thought I was supposed to be building self esteem. Not putting their behavior on display for all to see.

5. Who does it benefit?

We know our disruptive students. The class knows the disruptive students. So having them move their clips isn't really going to benefit anyone. Sure, the behavior may change for a little while. But there are other ways to achieve that goal. I mean honestly, why do I need to bribe a child to behave. The expectations are that they should behave. It's the same reason I did not do the Elf on the Shelf in my classroom. 

So now what?

Jennifer had some great ways to manage behavior. Some of them that I will be implementing:

 - color coded cards to give to the child at the end of the day. This will serve as communication with parents. (I am undecided if I will continue to use my behavior calendar that I mark each day).

- cashing them in. LOVE THIS! This year I was not giving out rewards in my treasure chest for behavior so I will be using that as a reward. The cards will be worth so many points and it will take x number of points to cash them in.

We will see how it goes. I know that I will be needing to send home a letter to parents to explain. And it will be interesting for the kids. I feel that it will work. This is a great year for me to experiment with this idea. I will keep you posted as I continue to reflect on my teaching. 

(Do it) :-).

Here are some other teachers who are doing the same. Click to read their ideas. 

             

http://www.cotesclass.com/2015/03/i-took-down-my-clip-chart-what-happened.html 

http://teachinginprogress.blogspot.com/2012/10/why-i-will-never-use-behavior-chart.html