What is the traffic-light method?

Different behavioral rules apply to students at different times in the classroom, for example, whether they may confer or must work quietly. Some teachers use a traffic light with the colors red, orange, and green to indicate which behavioral rules apply at a particular time. An arrow may, for example, point to:

  • Red: you work in silence and save questions for later
  • Orange: you work in silence and raise your hand if you have a question
  • Green: while working, you may quietly confer with students in your table group

In another application, red is specifically intended for transitions from one activity to another. The teacher then explains what is going to happen, for example what the students are going to work on, and then sets the traffic light to orange or green again.

Traffic-light method leads to more on-task and less disruptive behavior

In classrooms where the traffic-light method is used to clarify behavioral rules, students show more on-task and less disruptive behavior. For example, they get up from their chairs without permission less often and talk less often at times when they are expected to be quiet. When the traffic-light method is used to indicate transition moments, teachers need less time to get the group’s attention. They need to repeat instructions less often, which means that transitions take less time.

Effects across all ages and in different lessons

These effects were found among students of different ages (ranging from 4 to 14 years), both in mainstream and special education. The traffic-light method is also effective in different types of lessons. Most studies took place in a regular classroom, but the traffic-light method also proved effective, for example, in reducing disruptive behavior during physical education lessons.

Carefully introducing the traffic-light method may contribute to its effectiveness

Studies on the traffic-light method indicate that it is often introduced and used according to a fixed procedure. This may contribute to its effectiveness.
For example, when introducing the method, the teacher explicitly discusses with the students which rules correspond to which colors. When the traffic light is about to change color, the teacher announces this two minutes and then 30 seconds in advance. This gives students the opportunity to finish and tidy up their work. The teacher can reinforce the rules with behavior-focused compliments directed at individual students and the group as a whole.

The first two weeks in which a teacher uses the traffic-light method are regarded as a learning period, during which both teachers and students practice using the traffic-light method consistently.

Read the full answer from the Kennisrotonde here.

Photo caption: Educadora’s traffic-light sound meter makes the noise level in the group or classroom visually visible in green, orange, and red.