Honor Levels and Positive Recognition

©Copyright 2008, Budd Churchward

The Honor Levels are heart of The Honor Level System. They are one of the tools we use to help students understand that we value their good behavior. Through the Honor Levels you define the privileges and restrictions that students have based on their current behavor. We use a range of demerits to determine a student's Honor Level. Use the site editor to make your own settings. Generally schools define the levels like this:

Here is an overview of how schools typically define their own Honor Levels.

• Honor Level One
  • Honor Level One students are youngsters who rarely get into trouble. To qualify for Honor Level One, a student must not be assigned to detention or sent to Time-out at all in the last 14 calendar days. Problems on school buses and other situations involving discipline also disqualify a student from Honor Level One.

    The school plans special privileges and activities for students on Honor Level One. These may include well publicized events, such as recreational periods, extended lunch time breaks, etc. It is also recommended that a school include some “spontaneous” or “surprise” activities. These might include free ice-cream certificates, coupons from local merchants for free beverages when they attend a movie or buy a hamburger, etc.

    The Honor Level System makes a distinction between Awards and Rewards that is important. They are not the same.

    Usually 70% to 80% of the students will qualify for Honor Level One.

     

• Honor Level Two
  • Honor Level Two students are youngsters who may have only had one or two problems in the last 14 calendar days. Some of the extra privileges awarded Honor Level One students may also be awarded Honor Level Two Students.

    Typically 20% to 30% of your students qualify for Honor Level Two.

     

• Honor Level Three
  • Honor Level Three students are youngsters who seem to have more difficulty staying out of trouble. They will have had three or more problems within the last 14 calendar days. Honor Level Three students will not receive the extra privileges that the Honor Level One’s and Two’s enjoy. Often they are excluded from activities as are the Honor Level Fours, but these students might negotiate the right to participate.

    Generally only about 5% or fewer of your students will be on Honor Level Three.

     

• Honor Level Four
  • Honor Level Four students are youngsters who consistently get into trouble at school. Fortunately, this is a very small group. Schools using The Honor Level System have reported that this group rarely exceeds 5% of the students.

    Youngsters on Honor Level Four usually do not participate in any of the extra activities that the other students enjoy. For example, one school asks them to sit in a study hall during school assemblies and makes them ineligible to attend dances or athletic events. They do not negotiate as do the threes.