Barometer Behaviors

Here’s how we are proactive and reactive, and how we provide tools of support to ensure the success of every student.

Teacher builds positive relationships with students.
Students are taught social/emotional skill competencies.
Students are taught to be self-aware, and to self-manage.
Teacher explains behavioral expectations; students practice.
(CAFE) Teacher individually confers with student(s) who are showing off-task behavior, identifying and teaching self-management skills (Step 8 of the 10 Steps)

8.2 Tools to advance behavior progress

Engage students in the choice of a good-fit tool. Options include graphs, timers, stopwatch, modeling clay, I-Spy book, alternative seating, fidgets, stress ball, and others.

8.3 Teacher engagement (reactive)

Use of rewards and punishments is replaced with the following:

Loop instruction—Teacher confers with child about behavior goals, allows child to practice independently, and loops back to the child to revisit goals.
Walk-about brain break—Teacher sends student to specified location to deliver or retrieve item and promptly return (for example, to library with book, to office with note). Explain purpose to student.
Extra practice time—Teacher finds a few extra minutes to revisit behaviors with student and allows student to practice outside of class stamina-building time.
Teacher records interactions with student in conferring notebook.
Teacher offers just-right challenges (materials, assignments, and expectations that are a good fit for the student).

Three Steps to Take When Behaviors Are Far from Perfect

Article

English

Use this three-step process to problem solve and get students back on track.

Keeping Track of Young Students Early in the Year

Article

English

Ever worry about misplacing a child in the first days of school? This clever idea will help alleviate those fears.

Teaching and Succeeding with Challenging Children

Article

English

It is a privilege to teach children with behavior challenges, but we need strategies to help ensure our success, and theirs.

Staying Out of the Way - Refining Step 8

Article

English

Adult

We've made a subtle change when launching Daily 5 and Math Daily 3 that has been highly successful in supporting barometer students as well as helping teachers get in the important habit of conferring with students.