Three Types of Logical Consequences
“You break it, you fix it”
Used in situations when something has been broken or a mess has been made—whether accidentally or intentionally. The consequence is that those responsible for the problem take responsibility for fixing it.
Loss of Privilege
Used when children’s behavior does not meet pre-established expectations. The consequence is that the child loses the privilege of participating in an activity or using materials for a brief time, usually a class period or a day. What’s taken away must be directly related to the unwanted behavior, and the teacher must make sure that the child truly understands and can live up to expectations.
Positive Time-Out
Used when a teacher believes that a child needs a way to calm down and recover self-control. The consequence is that the child moves to a pre-established place in the classroom, takes time to regroup, and then rejoins the class once they have calmed down.
Closing Circle
At the end of the day, it's tempting to get through dismissal quickly. Rather than omitting Closing Circle, try keeping it brief. Even something simple can make a difference in helping to end the day peacefully and with a sense of community.
- Sing a song
- Do a chant
- Share one thing you did today
- Revisit a Morning Meeting group activity
