Behaviour / Clip Chart
Blank tiered behaviour chart.
This blank behaviour clip chart is a tiered visual display that helps teachers communicate expectations and track individual behaviour choices throughout the school day. The chart features a vertical or rainbow-arc layout with multiple labelled tiers — from outstanding behaviour at the top through a neutral middle zone down to consequence levels at the bottom. Each student's clothespeg or name card starts in the middle and moves up or down as behaviour warrants. Best suited to primary and lower-middle school classrooms, the blank format lets teachers customise tier names, colours, and consequence language to match their own school policy or classroom culture. Print on card stock, laminate, and mount on the wall for a durable full-year display.
Learning objectives
- Provide a clear, visual behaviour-expectation framework for the whole class
- Give students immediate, non-verbal feedback on their behaviour choices
- Encourage self-regulation by making behaviour status public and movable
- Align classroom consequences with school-wide behaviour policies
- Reduce verbal warnings by pointing to the chart as a neutral reminder
- Celebrate positive behaviour alongside managing negative incidents
How to use this template
- Download and print the blank clip chart on card stock, then laminate for durability.
- Write your chosen tier labels in each band (e.g. Outstanding, Great Effort, Ready to Learn, Think About It, Teacher's Choice, Parent Contact).
- Attach a clothespeg labelled with each student's name, or use sticky name cards.
- Mount the chart at student eye level on a classroom wall or door.
- Move pegs up for positive behaviour and down for concerns; reset all pegs to the middle tier each morning.
Classroom & home ideas
- Introduce the chart at the start of the year with a class discussion on what behaviours belong in each tier, giving students ownership of the language.
- Use a 'secret student' system — pick one unnamed student each day and award a class reward if they end the day on the top two tiers.
- Let students who reach the top tier two days in a row choose a privilege from a laminated menu (extra reading time, helper role, etc.).
- Send a positive note home whenever a student reaches the top tier, reinforcing the chart's upward movement as genuinely rewarding.
- Photograph the chart at day end for a weekly behaviour log without needing a separate recording sheet.
Skills & curriculum links
Frequently asked questions
How many tiers should I include?
Most effective clip charts use five to seven tiers. Five is easier for younger students to understand; seven allows more granularity. The blank template has space for up to seven bands.
What if a student gets upset about being moved down?
Keep movements calm and private where possible. Emphasise that every student resets to the middle tier the next morning — the chart tracks daily choices, not character.
Can I use this with only part of my class?
Yes. Some teachers use the chart only for students who need extra visual feedback and manage the rest of the class with verbal praise. Leave unused peg slots blank.
What material should I print on for a long-lasting chart?
Print on 200 gsm card stock and laminate with at least 80 micron pouches. This survives a full school year of daily peg movements and occasional bumps.
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