Preschool is an excitng time full of learning, both academically and socially. The goal of the behavior management system used in our classroom is to teach each student how to act appropriately, and to help students be accountable for their actions. We classify behaviors into three groups: above the line, below the line, and bottom line.
As a visual reminder, there is a line on the wall of our classroom. Each student decorated an outline of a person and placed it above the line. If a students makes a below the line or bottom line choice, they are asked to move their person below the line. This is followed by a discussion with a teacher about their choice, and working together to handle the situation in an "above the line" way next time.
Below are examples of each type of behavior.
Above the Line
Sharing
Raising your hand
Sitting criss cross
Listening
Using walking feet
Helping others
Cleaning up
Below the Line
Interrupting
Blurting out
Breaking toys/tools
Not keeing hands to self
Not sitting criss cross
Running
Yelling
It is important to remember that even if a students moves below the line, they always have the opportunity to move back above the line.
Bottom Line
Hitting
Kicking
Pushing
Spitting
When a student moves to bottom line, a teacher helps them write a note home explaining what happened in their own words. The purpose of this is to help the student be accountable for their actions, as well as to use it as a discussion at home. Just as with below the line, when a student moves to bottom line they can always move back above the line.
As a visual reminder, there is a line on the wall of our classroom. Each student decorated an outline of a person and placed it above the line. If a students makes a below the line or bottom line choice, they are asked to move their person below the line. This is followed by a discussion with a teacher about their choice, and working together to handle the situation in an "above the line" way next time.
Below are examples of each type of behavior.
Above the Line
Sharing
Raising your hand
Sitting criss cross
Listening
Using walking feet
Helping others
Cleaning up
Below the Line
Interrupting
Blurting out
Breaking toys/tools
Not keeing hands to self
Not sitting criss cross
Running
Yelling
It is important to remember that even if a students moves below the line, they always have the opportunity to move back above the line.
Bottom Line
Hitting
Kicking
Pushing
Spitting
When a student moves to bottom line, a teacher helps them write a note home explaining what happened in their own words. The purpose of this is to help the student be accountable for their actions, as well as to use it as a discussion at home. Just as with below the line, when a student moves to bottom line they can always move back above the line.