Behavior Plan

Stop and Think Discipline Plan


There are times we all forget the rules and need to be reminded. In my class I use the “Stoplight System” to remind the students to “Stop and Think” about the rules in the class and how he or she can make a positive choice in his or her behavior. Children understand the stoplight colors from a very young age. Therefore, it is an easy transition for the students to relate the colors to the rules in our class.

Green means Go: Your child has followed the rules all day or only needed one verbal reminder or warning.

Yellow means Caution: Your child needs time away from the other children to “Stop and Think” about the rules of the class. Your child will move his or her turtle to the yellow area and be removed from the activity or recess for 5 minutes.

Red means Stop: Your child needs to “Stop and Think” about how to make a positive choice. Your child will move his or her turtle to the red area and be removed from the activity for the remaining time and/or lose 10 minutes of his or her recess.

Black means Lights Out: Your child will need to move his or her turtle to the black area and lose 15 minutes of recess. I will also write up a discipline report and have your child conference with the Principal and/or contact the parent/guardian by phone.

The students can “earn back” their color for minor behaviors. For example, if your child had to move his or her turtle to yellow for receiving reminders in the hallway for talking, but was able to walk quietly in the hallway the rest of the day, he or she would be able to move their turtle back to green for making better choices.


At the end of each day, I will give your child a card that corresponds with the color he or she had during the day in our classroom. The teachers in art, music, PE and library have their own behavior systems. Therefore, it is possible for your child to receive a green card from me and have a color change in his or her folder from another teacher due to your child's behavior in their classroom. All students who show safe, respectful and responsible school behavior (having a green card) will be rewarded with a treat from the treasure box. To earn a treat from the treasure box, your child needs to collect 5 green cards throughout the first semester and 10 green cards throughout the second semester. When your child has enough green cards, he or she may return them to me by 9:00 and choose any item from the treasure box. It is your child’s responsibility to keep his or her green cards. I do not replace lost cards or keep track of the number of cards your child has. Please keep them in a safe place. A paperclip on your child’s folder or a Ziploc bag works well.


If your child has a yellow or red card at the end of the day, you need to SIGN and RETURN the card the following day. If your child fails to return his or her yellow or red card signed, it will result in some loss of recess. The card will have the rule broken written on it. If your child has a black card at the end of the day, the office or I will notify you with a discipline report (in place of the black card) and/or contact you by phone. The discipline report must be signed and returned.


Please be assured if there are serious or repeated behavioral problems you will be notified. However, remember that we all have a rough day from time to time. Do not be alarmed if your child tells you he or she ended the day with a yellow or red card sometime throughout the year.


Rules, Rewards and Consequences

We will be Safe, Respectful and Responsible!!

1. We will keep our hands, feet, body and objects to ourselves.

2. We will work and play quietly.

3. We will be respectful to others.

4. We will listen to all teachers and follow directions.

5. We will do our best!

Rewards for being Safe, Respectful and Responsible:


  • When your child receives 5 green cards throughout the first semester and 10 green cards throughout the second semester, he or she may turn the green cards in by 9:00 and choose a treat from the treasure box.

  • When your child earns 10 or more classroom tickets, he or she may turn the tickets in by 9:00 and choose a reward from the corresponding box of the treasure box.

  • The students will work together to earn Class Hawk Pride Tickets. When the class earns 15 tickets, the class will earn a reward.

  • The students at each table will work together to earn tally marks for positive behavior. When their table earns 10 tally marks, they will earn 10 minutes of Chromebook time.

  • The students can earn Hawk Pride Tickets (this is separate from our classroom ticket system) from any staff member for demonstrating positive behavior. They will keep their tickets in their hawk bag. They will be able to turn in these tickets for prizes.

Consequences for Breaking the Rules:

  1. A verbal reminder of the rule will be given. (Green card sent home.)

  2. Your child will be told to move his or her turtle to the yellow area and will be removed from the activity or lose recess for 5 minutes. (A yellow card will be sent home with parent signature required.)

  3. Your child will be told to move his or her turtle to the red area and will be removed from the activity or lose recess for 10 minutes. (A red card will be sent home with parent signature required.)

  4. Your child will be told to move his or her turtle to the black area and will lose 15 minutes of recess. I will also write up a discipline report and have your child conference with the Principal and/or contact the parent/guardian by phone. (A discipline report is sent home in place of the black card. Parent signature is required on the discipline report.)

In severe instances, a child may receive a black card/discipline report without going through all the colors.