Classroom behavior charts, whole class and individual

The whole-class chart

The first printable is a whole-class behavior chart. It has one line per student and one box per day. You mark it once at the end of the day, not during the day. This chart is for a class goal, like everyone cleaning up or lining up quietly.

When the class meets the goal, you fill in the box. When the row is full, the class earns a room reward, like extra recess or a dance party. This chart is not for shaming. A public chart that shows bad days makes kids feel small. Keep it positive or keep it private.

There is a longer guide on this: Classroom reward ideas that cost nothing.

The individual behavior chart

The second printable is an individual behavior chart. It has a circle for each lesson of the day. The child colors the circle when they meet their goal. This chart lives in the child's own folder, not on the wall.

A bad day stays between the teacher, the child, and home. On Friday, the child takes the chart home with a short note. For a student who needs more support, use the daily point sheet from the tracking sheets page. That sheet tracks each hour and gives the child a fresh start every period.

Writing goals a class can meet

Goals work when they are specific and doable. Write them as actions, not feelings. Keep the list short so the class can remember it. Here are five wanted behaviors for a room:

• Ready in 30 seconds
• Hands up to speak
• Quiet transitions
• Everyone joined in
• Kind words

Pick one goal for the week. Practice it in the morning and remind kids before each transition. When the class meets the goal, mark the chart. You can swap goals each week or keep the same one until it is easy.

Preschool behavior charts

Preschoolers need pictures, not words. A chart with a sun, a star, or a smiley face works better than a list of rules. Give a sticker for each session, not each day. A morning session and an afternoon session are two chances to earn a sticker.

Let the child stick the sticker on the chart. That small act builds ownership. For a printable with pictures and a simple layout, see the kindergarten chart. It has big boxes and a blank name line, so it works for ages 3 to 5.

Clip charts and color charts

Clip charts and color charts are common in classrooms. The case for them is that they are easy and give quick feedback. The case against them is that they make bad days public. A child who moves down feels seen by everyone, and that can cause shame.

If you use one, follow two rules. First, every child starts fresh each day. Second, only move clips up, never down. For a color coded chart that works this way, see the color coded page. It lets you mark good choices without calling out mistakes.

Marking it in ten seconds

The end of the day is the best time to mark the whole-class chart. It takes ten seconds. You look at the goal, decide if the class met it, and fill the box. Do this with the class watching, so they see the result of there day.

Use dry-erase pockets to make the chart reusable. Slide the printable in, mark with a dry-erase pen, and wipe clean the next day. For a class reward, keep a jar on your desk. Add a marble or a pom-pom for each filled box. When the jar is full, the class earns the reward. See reward systems for more ideas.