Discipline + Incentives

I will collaborate with the students to establish norms for behavior in the classroom. I will be the one to maintain those standards through the use of positive and negative consequences.

1. Raise your hand and wait to be called on if you wish to speak during class discussions. No exceptions.

2. Stay on task so as to make maximum use of class time.

3. Use kind words.

4. Keep your hands and feet to yourself.

In addition, our classroom will function using several dozen procedures. These procedures will be explained, modeled, practiced, and reinforced gradually as the year progresses. For example, students must complete all redo's before proceeding with the current day's assignments. If you have any questions about rules or procedures, please don't hesitate to contact me.

 

When a student breaks a rule or other standard for behavior, I will respectfully ask that student to change her/his colored washer. We have a board in the room to keep track of behavior warnings. Students place a colored washer on the board each time I catch them breaking a rule/procedure.

 

Consequences are earned on a daily basis (consequences are cumulative.)

First offense: Student pays 1 ticket (see below.)

Second offense: Student forfeits 5 minutes of freedom during the upcoming recess.

Third offense: Student forfeits entire recess.

Fourth offense: Student must write standards. If your child ever gets 4 behavior warnings in one day, I will send a note home for your signature explaining this consequence.

Fifth offense: Student is sent to the principal's office, suspended from class for the remainder of the day, and may face more severe consequences. In addition, the student behaviors will be documented in his/her permanent school record. (Only students with severe behavior problems ever get to stage 5.)

In addition, students may be charged tickets for minor infractions. Keep in mind that I gave the students the tickets in the first place.

Students who do not meet a minimum standard for behavior and responsibility (see below) each week will be required to attend study hall. Study hall will be a quiet room where students are asked to do regular school work.

I will dwell on the positive with your child. I believe in affirming her/him and encouraging with positive words.

1. Tickets: Students will earn tickets for completing homework, avoiding behavior warnings, returning parent signed forms, caught being good, etc. Students will be able to spend tickets on school supplies, toys, extra privileges, homework passes, and more.

2. Fun Friday: Students who meet a minimum standard for responsibility and behavior each week will be rewarded with a Fun Friday activity. Students will be allowed to attend as long as they miss no more than one stamp on the planner and have not earned more than 4 behavior warnings for the week. In other words, their second missing stamp or their 5th card pull sends them to study hall.

3. Super Citizen: Students who represent excellence in behavior, attitude, and responsibilty will be honored at one Super Citizen assembly this year. One disadvantage of being in a GATE class is the competition for this award. I'm only allowed to give 18 Super Citizen awards for the entire year. I'm sure many more than 18 will deserve it.

4. Honor Roll: Students earning all A's and B's on each report card will receive honor roll. Students earning all A's will receive a special honor roll certificate indicating his/her accomplishment. Honor roll assemblies will normally be held at 1 PM on one Friday each month.

5. Levels: Students will have the opportunity to earn extra privileges and freedom in the class by working their way up the level chart. Students do this by getting many stamps and few behavior warnings.

6. Class leader: Students who achieve level 4 (a perfect planner) each week become eligible to be our class leader the following week. Class leaders perform all the regular leadership tasks of the teacher except instruction and discipline. They lead class discussions, dismiss students, make announcements, give directions, and more! Responsible, well-behaved students will have many opportunities to be chosen as class leader by their peers.

7. Assembly Speaker: One fortunate 5th grader each trimester will be chosen to stand in front of the large assembly audience and announce our class's honor roll. This takes a lot of nerve but offers a tremendous opportunity for growth. Only students who demonstrate excellent progress during the trimester will be eligible for this honor.

8. Peace Patrol/Student Council: Responsible and hard-working students will have the opportunity to participate in these leadership roles.

9. Passes: Students who do a lot of reading outside of school will have the opportunity to earn passes to Magic Mountain and a Storm baseball game.

10. Classroom Helpers: Those students who are on levels 4 and 3 will qualify to go to a lower grade classroom and help out for about 40 minutes each week. Students will not miss essential instruction. This will be during fun Friday and Peaceful Playground