Hi Gina, thank you for your comments! In my classroom, I don't let students "earn back" their color cards during the day, but every student starts each day on green every morning, regardless of their behavior the prior day. That said, I totally understand your point of view. By letting a student earn back a card, you are certainly driving home an important message about learning from their mistakes and reforming their behavior accordingly.
For my third graders, I personally want them to learn to live with their consequences for an entire day. I certainly expect them to correct their behavior after changing their color - in fact, if they don't, I will ask them to change their color again. (Yes, there is double jeopardy in my color system.) I've always been concerned that if I let my students earn back their color cards, this will result in an unhealthy spiral of rule-breaking followed by concessionary behavior. I want my students to realize that their negative actions hurt others, and this hurt doesn't go away easily.
Gina, I am so glad you've shared your spin on the color system. It's such a great example of how we teachers adapt our management systems to fit our students and our values. Management is certainly not a one-size-fits-all topic! (Come to think of it, is anything related to education one-size-fits-all? Probably not.)
Hi Gina, thank you for your comments! In my classroom, I don't let students "earn back" their color cards during the day, but every student starts each day on green every morning, regardless of their behavior the prior day. That said, I totally understand your point of view. By letting a student earn back a card, you are certainly driving home an important message about learning from their mistakes and reforming their behavior accordingly.
For my third graders, I personally want them to learn to live with their consequences for an entire day. I certainly expect them to correct their behavior after changing their color - in fact, if they don't, I will ask them to change their color again. (Yes, there is double jeopardy in my color system.) I've always been concerned that if I let my students earn back their color cards, this will result in an unhealthy spiral of rule-breaking followed by concessionary behavior. I want my students to realize that their negative actions hurt others, and this hurt doesn't go away easily.
Gina, I am so glad you've shared your spin on the color system. It's such a great example of how we teachers adapt our management systems to fit our students and our values. Management is certainly not a one-size-fits-all topic! (Come to think of it, is anything related to education one-size-fits-all? Probably not.)
Warm regards - Alycia