My expectations for students who enter my classroom are simple:
-I will treat you with respect so you will know how to treat me.
-Feel free to do anything that doesn’t cause a problem for anyone else.
-If you cause a problem, I will ask you to solve it.
-If you can’t solve the problem, or choose not to, I will do something.
-What I do will depend on the special person and the special situation.
-If you feel something is unfair, whisper to me, “I’m not sure that’s fair,” and we will talk.
Students in my class can feel free to do anything that does not cause a problem for anyone else. I teach when there are no distractions or other problems. I listen to students who raise their hand. If there is a distraction in class, I ask the student to solve it. If they cannot solve the problem, they will be asked to leave our class discussion and sit in “recovery” (the back table of the classroom) until they are ready to rejoin the class. If they are a distraction while in recovery, they will be asked to leave the classroom and sit in the front office until they are ready to come back to class and be respectful. In both situations, the student will decide when they are ready to join class.
Consequences in my classroom are not told ahead of time. Consequences will depend on that particular student and situation. I will always speak in a calm voice to my students. I will not argue, shout, or respond with anger. I will treat my students with respect. If a student disagrees with me, all they have to do is whisper to me, “I’m not sure that’s fair.” We will talk privately and solve the problem together.
REWARDS:
I have a “Punch Card” reward system in my classroom. When I spot good behavior, I punch the card. When a student has 10 punches, they get to choose from a list of rewards. When the punch card is full, they get another one, and there is no limit to how quickly they earn punches! Here are some examples of the rewards:
-5 extra credit points
-cushy chair for the day
-bring a show and tell
-positive note home
-bring a toy for your desk
-10 minutes of free time during class
-choose your job for the week