006: Behavior Charts

Managing behavior in the classroom can be a challenge: how do you reward and recognize the good behavior of your students? How do you record and address negative behavior? How do you motivate students to maintain the behavior you want to see, and change the behavior that prevents them, and others, from learning?

Many teachers turn to, or are required to use, behavior charts. From smiley faces to traffic lights with named clothes pegs or magnets, Pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers are awash with examples of behavior chart designs you can copy or buy.

But do they work? And if so, how, when and why do they work? Do behavior charts really help our students learn to behave, and behave to learn?