Submitted by Donna Wilkinson, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Idea posted October 2, 2002
I developed a system last summer and used it very successfully this past school year. I called the music room "Music City" and decorated with street signs, stoplights, etc. Every student stopped at a toll booth as they entered the room and picked up a green ticket. I am the mayor and, therefore, always in charge!! But for every class, I chose a police chief to be the helper for the day. Every class had a box with all their names in it and I chose one each day, so everyone eventually gets a turn. I often made it fun by playing hangman, etc. so the kids could guess who the helper was. They love that!
As the class continues, either the helper or I change the cards according to behavior; Purple (A) = outstanding, Green (B) = good, Yellow (C) = warning, Red (D) = danger. A student's cards can change several times during the class, but only in order. In other words, there is always a warning before getting a red card, which also means the student must leave the room. (For the older kids, that means a detention. The younger kids have to deal with their classroom teacher and often parents, too.)
The students turn their cards in at the end of class, and I have a quick system of recording their grade for that class. Most students get purple all the time, of course!
This sounds pretty complicated, but it's not. It's really very quick and easy, the kids love it, and it works well for me. I like giving something positive to those students who consistently do a good job, rather than focusing on the troublemakers.
I've had several parents call me with questions about this system, and they've ended up using it at home, too!!!