Classroom Procedures
o Rules
- Expectations will be established on the first day of school. The students will take part in modifying and adding a set of rules throughout the first week. A social contract will also be created and implemented within the first week. Rules should be posted in more than one place in the classroom. I will have them posted on the classroom management board next to the attendance and class behavior plan. I will also have them posted near group work areas.
o Student’s signal for teacher’s attention/obtaining help
- The students can place one of two cards on their desk – a red card if they need help or a green card if they are doing fine. This can also be adapted according to theme. Put pictures on the cards to make them more child-friendly.
- Hands are raised for questions or comments unless otherwise specified by the teacher. When hands are raised they are not to be waved around or accompanied by “teacher, teacher!” The teacher will acknowledge the raised hand in a timely manner and may have to get back to that student if she is engaged with another student at the time being.
- During independent or group work the students may get up to ask the teacher directly for help if she is not working with another student.
o When individual work has been completed
- Students can pull a stick from the “I’m done” jar, or silent read if they desire.
- Student work will be turned in to the slotted baskets that are labeled according to subject. When the students turn in their work, they will place a check by their name on a list, and highlight their name on their paper.
o Small group instruction
- To remind students that they are not to interrupt during small group instruction, a stop sign will be placed on the table we are working at.
- The students may only interrupt the lesson if they are exhibiting one of the “Three B’s,” otherwise they may ask their peers for help. Depending on age group, students will be asked to self-manage restroom trips according to the outlined classroom procedures.
- Students who are not participating in the small group at the time will work on their assignments or visit designated centers. If the assignment asks for collaborative work, the volume is to be kept at a minimal level. I should not be able to hear any specific conversations other than within the group I am teaching.
o Beginning the school day
- I will try my best to greet all students as they come in with a smile.
- When students enter my classroom, those who have morning jobs will do them, and those who do not will routine will be the same every day, and will be determined by our classroom schedule.
- When the students have finished their morning routine, they may work on any unfinished work they have.
o Lunch Count
- Lunch count will be taken in a pocket chart. There will be columns labeled for the choices, and an additional column labeled for those who brought their own lunch. As students come in they will place their name cards in the appropriate column.
- If the school does not have an established method for communicating lunch count to the office, then a simple laminated chart and expo marker will be used. A student will be assigned to lunch count duty and will be responsible for taking the tally and running it to the cafeteria. This student will also be responsible for clearing the lunch count chart at the end of every day.
o Ending the school day
- At the end of the day, students who have designated jobs will complete them, and the other students will pack up and clean off their desks. When everyone is packed and ready to go, they will line up according to method of transportation, and then follow school procedures.
- For good-byes, the class will participate in one of the activities that we use for brain breaks, and end with a “good-bye” in a different language.
o Leaving the room as a group
- Students will line up differently every day according to what I determine (Alphabetically, birthdays, etc). Students should line up quietly and orderly. Hands are kept to themselves, and voices should be off. All students should be facing foreword and ready to hear directions.
- I like the door hangers that show where the class is when they are not inside the room.
o Entering/returning to the room as a group
- When students enter the classroom, they should be silent and quickly return to their seats and await instruction. If they have come from somewhere that they have brought something back to the classroom, they should immediately put it away and then sit down.
o Other Transitions/Desks to carpet
- The teacher should state her expectations prior to releasing the students to move. The students should not get up to move before the teacher gives the appropriate signal.
o Walking in line
- When walking in the hallway, voices should be off, hands are kept to their sides, and everyone faces forward. Students who cannot follow these rules will be sent to the back of the line, and if they continue to break these rules, the student may spend some time during recess demonstrating proper line etiquette.
o Restroom
- For restrooms inside the classroom, students may manage themselves (depending on the grade level). For restrooms outside the classroom, students may self-manage but use the restroom passes. Only one boy and one girl will be allotted at a time. The students will know when appropriate times are for using the restroom (during independent or group work) and when inappropriate times are (during instruction).
o Water
- Water will be handled similarly to the restroom. A restroom pass will be required to get water outside the classroom, and only one boy or one girl will be allowed at once.
o Distributing materials
- There will be a caddie on each group’s table with basic supplies such as pencils, scissors, glue, colored pencils, markers, crayons, etc. One member from each table will be designated the materials manager, and retrieve additional materials the group needs at certain times.
o Returning Student Work
- Student work will be returned in a hanging file folder basket. Each student will have their own folder, and will be responsible for checking it daily. There will be a student in charge of checking the folders at the end of the week to make sure that all of the papers have been retrieved.
o Students Turning in Work
- Completed work student work will be turned in to the slotted baskets that are labeled according to subject. When the students turn in their work, they will place a check by their name on a list, and highlight their name on their paper.
- Incomplete work will be placed in the students’ respective folders for the subject the work is in. Larger pieces of incomplete work will be placed on the back counters to be finished later.
o Classroom Helpers
- Pencil Sharpener - makes sure the class always has a supply of sharpened pencils
- Paper Monitor - passes papers back to students
- Chair Stacker - in charge of stacking the chairs at the end of the day
- Door Monitor - holds the door as class comes and goes
- Chalkboard/Overhead Eraser - erases at end of the day
- Librarian - in charge of maintaining the class library
- Energy Monitor - makes sure to turn off the light when class leaves the room
- Line Monitor - leads the line and keeps it quiet in the halls
- Table Captain - may be more than one student
- Plant Technician- waters plants
- Desk Inspector - catches dirty desks
- Animal Trainer - takes care of any classroom pets
- Teacher Assistant - helps the teacher at any time
- Attendance Person - takes the attendance folder to the office
- Homework Monitor - tells students who were absent what homework they missed
o Workboard
- This will be a pocket chart that shows stations and which student are at those centers.