Behavior system for Pre-K??

Question

What is the best behavior system to use for Pre-K? I have used the stop light, but that did not work too well with my class last year. I am going to continue to do a daily report to send to parents. But I need some ideas of what to use in the classroom. High/scope has suggested conflict resolution and that's it. I feel that 4 year olds need a visual, but maybe thats just me. Suggestions, opinions, and help will be much appreciated!!

Answer 1

I'm not a fan of "awards" because appropiate behavior is expected without getting a prize for it...in real life.  But sometimes it works.  :-)  

Conflict Resolution.  It needs to be taught and it can be very visual. Depends on how far you take it.  It starts with the teachers.  I had one teacher who was "old school" and this was very hard for her to teach and do.  So I printed out the steps, each on a piece of paper and posted them above the chalkboard... not in child's view.  It's for the teacher not the child.  LOL Once the teacher got into the "habit" of using the steps...soon the class was running smoothly.  It's about consistency...in every class that I've been in...when the steps are taught... by mid-year...the majority of the students could be observed following through the steps without adult assistance.  But at first they need an adult there to walk them through it.

1.  hmmm...looks like a problem.

2.  "Jordan" tell us what happened.

3.  Adult rephrases what Jordan said.

4. "Amy" tell us what happened.

5. Adult rephrases what Amy said.

6.  What should we do?  Who has suggestions.

7.  Will this work for you, Jordan?  Will this work for you, Amy?

8.  Great job. You solved the problem!

It continues back and forth until a solution is found that all are agreeable to.  If they can't think of solutions, often at the beginning of the year...then it's okay to ask, Would you like to hear some suggestions that other children have done in this situation?  Provide 3 suggestions.

This works with something as simple as someone speaking out at circle time.  And you have the whole group to help you out.  

1.  Hmm...this is a problem.  (Looking at the child, Sally, who is continually speaking out).  Does anyone know what the problem is?  

2.  Sally, it's a problem that you are interrupting.  What do you think?

3.  Sally thinks....Anyone have a comment?

4.  After each child...rephrase what they said.

5.  Sally do you have a solution?  Anyone else have a solution?

6.  At this point it's okay to have the children come up with an appropiate consequence if the behavior continues.  It's the peers that will change the child...not the adult.

It's good to do small groups conflict resolution activities... I had pictures that we discussed.  You can purchase or make them yourselves.  Good luck!

Answer 2

I have used the stop light where I work and it did really well. I had some parents the did not care and other that were really involved. At the end of the day I would still send home a little note if the child was misbehaving and if the the child did really well all week and and stayed on the green light (for good behavior) they could get a prize out of the prize box and I would also send a positive note home telling the parent what the child done. That way it would make all the kids want to try and behave better. When the kids gets a prize and see there parents in the afternoon the kids can't wait to share the good news :)

Answer 3

sticker cards/tickets work well w/ this age group. You get so many stickers you go the prize box. At carson DELLOSA you can even buy sticker cards w/ grids.

Mailbox magazine they had parts of a flowers like a puzzle and when the class was good they got a piece of the flower and when the flower was whole the class got a prize

This summer I  used the old fashion method for my campers. I put their name on the board if they misbehaved.  They got one check marks if they misbehaved if they had 2 check marks after their name no prize @ the end of the week. It REALLY worked.

You can have a word  for example FANTASTIC and every time the class behaves you put one letter off the word. When they get all the letters they get a party or extra recess time.

Answer 4

This summer I taught Pre-k summer camp and used a "coin" system. For every good deed they do, they can put a coin in a jar. When the jar is filled up, they get a prize or an icecream party, movie day, etc. However, if they act up, they have to take one out. This worked for 2 months. It's starting to fail now because it's the end of the summer and they just don't care anymore.

Last year when I taught pre-k, we used a variation of what I stated above except I used a sticker chart. Instead of taking away stickers when they were bad, I only rewarded the people who had 5 or more stickers that week. Beware of tears with this one. The people who were not so good tended to get upset that they didn't get prizes.