There are many strategies to encourage a safe, healthy, and happy learning environment.  I use an abundance of verbal praise and recognition for students who are making good choices.  I use the clip up/down chart to manage behavior.  I love this system because it is positive.  Throughout the day students can clip up for good behavior and clip down if they need to remember our rules.  At the end of the day students earn punches depending on where they are on the chart.  After a student receives 20 punches on their card, they may pick something from the reward chart.  Students start each day on the Green Giraffe (ready to learn) and can clip up because of making good choices or clip down if they do not make good choices.  The different markers include: Outstanding (lion, purple), Excellent Choices (flamingo, turquoise), Great Effort (blue, crocodile), Ready to Learn (giraffe, green), Think About It (elephant, yellow), Make Better Choices (zebra, orange), and Parent Contact (cheetah, red).  With clipping down, students receive a verbal warning, a short time out, and if necessary a longer time out.  Anything beyond this will most likely include a call or email to parents.  I believe that clear, consistent expectations and boundaries along with positive reinforcement are the keys to a successful learning environment.  Your child will bring home their weekly behavior slip home in the Thursday Folder.  Please discuss with your child, sign and return in the Thursday Folder.