Identify Who Needs Help

The Traffic Light Procedure allows you to identify which students need your help when your class is working on an assignment at their desks.

  • Give students three stacks of sticky notes (red, green, and yellow) at the beginning of the year.
  • Explain that the sticky notes will help you know who needs help with an assignment.
  • Walk around the class. A student with a green sticky note on their desk means that the student does not need your help. You can move past this student. A yellow sticky note means that the student is struggling a little, but will probably figure it out on his or her own. You can check briefly with this student. A red sticky note means that the student is stuck and needs help. You will have to spend a few minutes with this student.