Behavior clip chart (free printable, six levels)
Six color levels from the top of the chart to the bottom, with the words you choose on each. Print it, post it, and clip a name tag to the level for the day.
To save a PDF, choose Print, then “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheet prints.
About this sheet
A clip chart makes a day’s choices visible and gives a student a way to move up as well as down. The design that works is the one where every student begins the day in the middle, a reminder moves a clip down one step, and good choices move it back up before the day ends. Consider keeping the chart private if your school recommends it, or use a version where the whole class, not each child, has a clip. The words on each level are yours: this version is written in terms of effort and choices rather than good and bad children.
Grades: K to 5. Best in: August, September.
How to use it
- Type six levels from best to worst, one per line, with a short note after a bar if you like: Outstanding | Role model today.
- Print the chart on letter or A4, or take the PNG to a copy shop and enlarge it as a poster.
- Mount it on a board, add a numbered clothespin for each student, and agree the rules for moving a clip with the class.
Five ideas for class
- Begin the day in the middle and tell students they can move up as well as down. If students can only go down, the chart stops motivating.
- Use one class clip instead of one for each student for a whole-class version that celebrates the group.
- Review the chart with a student privately at the end of the day to talk about a choice, not a label.
- Change the wording of the levels each month to keep the chart from fading into the wall, or ask students to suggest the words.
- Try a mid-year check: if most clips rarely move, the chart has done its work and you can retire it.
Related
Questions
Do clip charts work?
Research on public behavior displays is mixed, and many schools now advise against ranking individual students in public. If you use one, keep the movement up as likely as the movement down, and avoid using it as a punishment.
What are good words for the levels?
Use words that describe what a student is doing, such as Outstanding, Great day, Ready to learn, Think about it, Make a better choice, Talk with teacher. You can change all six.
Can I print the chart as a poster?
Save the PNG and print it at a copy shop. It is drawn as vector shapes and exports at twice the sheet size, so it stays sharp when enlarged.
How do I save it as a PDF?
Choose Print, then pick “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheet prints: the page around it is hidden. You can also save a sheet as a PNG image under the preview.
Can I print it in black and white?
Yes. Switch to Black and white beside the sheet: fills turn white and lines turn black, so it saves ink and photocopies cleanly.
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