The Stoplight System treats all members of the class equally, but its use of explicit guidelines, rewards, and consequences is particularly helpful for students with ADHD.
The system uses a graphic of a stoplight and labeled clothespins to indicate which students are behaving well and which are having difficulty. Parents can adopt the Stoplight System, as well, to define and reinforce their household rules.
Class Rules and Expectations
- The teacher and students write the class rules and expectations on the first day of school. Post it prominently. Kids earn or lose bottle caps (or some other token), depending on their behavior.
Agree on Rewards
Each student receives two bottle caps at the beginning of the week. More can be earned by positive behavior, such as lining up quietly or helping others. At the end of the week, the caps are traded in for rewards - stickers, school supplies, books, small toys, or a special lunch with the teacher and a friend.
How It Works
If a student breaks a class rule, the clothespin bearing his name is moved from the green to the yellow light. He also loses three bottle caps and five minutes of recess. A second infraction takes his clothespin to the red light, and costs five bottle caps and 10 minutes of recess. If there's a third infraction, he owes 10 bottle caps, forfeits recess for the day - and the teacher calls his parents.
To build leeway into the system, give students a warning before moving their clothespins. If a student's behavior improves, allow him to move back to green from yellow. Each day, students get to make a fresh start from the green light.
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