Stop signs blog- Part 2

By K. Parr, Lead Teacher of Geography

Last term saw the use of red stop signs to help with classroom disruption, without making a big verbal scene. Since this method was used, we have evaluated how it has been used and have developed more ideas.

The main points brought out of the use of the stop signs were:

• They were effective IF the students were given a couple of minutes to read the sign and reflect.
• The students needed to be aware that the signs were linked to the school consequence system so most of them could adapt their behaviour to avoid a sanction.
• Students once used to it then tried to avoid it completely and were annoyed at themselves if they got them.
• They worked across 4 departments and had continuity.

Areas for development:

• What happens if the students' behaviour improved?
• What happens if the students' behaviour isn't as bad or at the same scale as another students?
• How could we make the wording more positive?

With this evaluation, we got our heads together and came up with a traffic light system. If students behaviour improved they could then move to an orange or a green stop sign- each with positive writing on: how can you improve? How can you achieve a pause plus point?

 

This also helped with different levels of classroom disruption- the higher level the disruption the more likely a red sign was used and the lower the level the more likely a green or orange sign would be used (the better the sign the smaller it is). Students are now given the opportunity to improve throughout the lesson, go from a red back up to the green and this will hopefully motivate students.

This improvement is being trialled through this next half term, ready to be evaluated before Christmas.