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Rules/Habits & Consequences

Classroom Mantras (Rules/Habits)
1) We will welcome and support all who enter.
What does this look like? We will make everyone feel welcome - current students, new students, administrators, visitors, etc. - when they enter our classroom and everywhere we go. We will be supportive of each other by being kind and thoughtful, working together, apologizing when necessary, actively listening to others, and never making fun of or bullying others.
2) We will arrive to school and class prepared to learn. 
What does this look like? We will arrive to school on time. We will behave appropriately in the halls so that we are not late when transitioning to and from the classroom. We will remember to bring our homework, textbooks, and other supplies with us each day. We will try our very best to complete and turn in assignments on time.
3) We will take our education seriously.
What does this look like? We will pay attention to lessons and work hard on our classwork. We will be respectful of school employees by treating them kindly. We will be respectful of school property by using it carefully and not intentionally destroying it. We will pick up trash and leave the school looking better than we found it.
4) Student-Made Rule
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5) Student-Made Rule
Students will collaborate at the beginning of the year to come up with one or two rules that they think the class should follow throughout the school year.
Possible Consequences
Assuming that there is not a mandatory school-wide behavior management plan in place, these would be the consequences for breaking the rules. In order:

1) A verbal or nonverbal warning or warnings, depending on the disruptive issue, will be the first consequence. Note that students will be encouraged to hold themselves, each other, and me accountable for following the rules. I am part of the classroom community, so I am not immune to following the rules.

2) A natural or logical consequence with an explanation as to why the consequence occurred will be used as whenever possible. Students who forget to do their homework will have to do last night and tonight's homework tonight. Students who write on a desk will have to clean the desk. See "Natural and Logical Consequences" (n.d.) for more information.

3) Based on what the disruptive issue was and what has been tried previously, the disruptive student will be directed to sit in a quiet area and reflect silently on their behavior, apologize to the person(s) their behavior negatively affected, or write a reflection about their behavior and what better choice they can make the next time.

4) If the student continues to engage in the same disruptive behavior after the above interventions have been tried, the student's parents or guardians will be contacted.
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5) In the case of severe misbehavior, such as fighting, students will be removed from the classroom and/or an administrator will be contacted. This consequence will be the first or second resort (depending) if the disruptive behavior is in some way dangerous, and will only be used for the most serious of offenses.

Procedures
​Morning Routine
  1. Put away belongings
  2. Make lunch choice
  3. Eat breakfast (if applicable)
  4. Turn in homework assignments
  5. Complete morning work assignment
  6. Complete one of the task options listed below
  7. Sit on the carpet two minutes before the start of Morning Meeting
​Morning Options
  • Pick up previous day's assignments if they were absent (traditional instruction)
  • Start the day's work (personalized instruction)
  • Take a reading test on one of the computers or iPads
  • Read a book on level (from home, from library, or from classroom library)
  • Continue work on multi-day classwork or projects
  • Use a computer or iPad to use a school program such as COMPASS or Fast Math or go on an approved website such as code.org.
​Hand Signals
The following hand signals will be used during direct instruction and testing:
  • Whole Hand Up - Has a Question
  • Index Finger Pointed Up Or Towards Item - Permission to Get Up to Get Something (pencil, textbook, etc.) (permission is always granted for things such as tissues)
  • Thumb Tucked Between Index and Middle Fingers (ASL "T")  and Fist Shaken - Permission to Leave for the Toilet
  • Index, Middle, and Ring Fingers Pointed Up in a W Shape (ASL "W") At Chin - Permission to Get Up and Get Water (note that students will be encouraged to bring reusable water bottles to keep at their desks to avoid having to constantly go to the sink/water fountain)
  • Thumb Up - I Understand/Yes/I Agree
  • Thumb Sideways - I'm Getting Confused/Maybe/I'm Not Sure
  • Thumb Down - I'm Confused/No/I Disagree
By L'Aquatique [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Movement Around the Room
When students are working independently, they may move about the room as they please, working wherever they'd like and getting supplies, water, or whatever else they need whenever they need it, so long as it is not a disruption. If they need to leave the classroom, such as to use the restroom, there must be a pass available and they must tell me that they are going (and that I hear them). If there are no passes left, students must wait until one becomes available. If there's a situation where many students are waiting to go somewhere (such as the library), students must learn to take their own initiative to create a 'line' by writing their names on the board in the order that they will go when other students get back.
Volume Levels
I think my students should be able to talk during the school day, which is one of the reasons why my classroom is set up so that most of the school day is spent in individual/group work. However, I struggle to notice when my class has gotten too loud (and don't want to disturb other classes!), so I would like to invest in something such as the Yacker Tracker or the Too Noisy app so that my students (and me!) can monitor their noise levels so that we stay at an appropriate volume for learning.
​Hallway Readiness
Students will know that they should be in a straight line in the hallway so that other classes and people can get by. Students will know that they should be silent in the hallway so that they do not disturb other classes. Students will be held to those standards under Mantras One and Three.
End of Day
  1. Update planner
  2. Put homework, folder, and any necessary notebooks or textbooks in backpack
  3. Help to clean up the classroom (look for messes, stack chairs, etc.)
  4. Gather belongings
  5. Read a book (that can go home) or talk quietly until dismissal
Natural and Logical Consequences. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2, 2015, from http://www.specialconnections.ku.edu/?q=behavior_plans/classroom_and_group_support/teacher_tools/natural_and_logical_consequences
Last updated: 01/2016