Classroom Management Plan 6th Grade Samantha Guyre December 2013

Preamble
My main goal as an educator will be to open up a door of possibilities to all of my students. I believe that education has the potential to take students anywhere they want to go if instruction is engaging, authentic, and meaningful. As an educator, I will give my students the tools they need to be lifelong learners and understand the value in education. We will use deep thinking and creative reasoning to understand core concepts on a different level than we ever have before. In my classroom, students will grow not only as academic learners but also as responsible citizens who are ready for the world around us. Through a strong, respectful, and safe classroom community students will have a learning experience where they truly feel that they can grow and develop a sense of self-improvement over the course of a year. Students will have the opportunity to take risks, think critically on important topics and engage in debates and discussions to formulate opinions. We will learn and grow together and from one another to become strong and educated citizens of our community.

Class Rules
The rules in my classroom will be guidelines to help students succeed in all aspects of the classroom. The classroom rules will be decided before school begins by the teacher. As a teacher, I will need to feel comfortable with the rules my students are expected to follow and that I will be enforcing. By creating these rules beforehand, I ensure that I will be able to stick to them. Some students at some ages are not yet ready to take on the task of creating a list of rules for themselves (Morrish). However, I would like my students to have some say in how our classroom is run. On the first day that we go over class rules, I will give students some ideas of things that I think are appropriate consequences for rules. As a class, we will discuss which of these consequences best fit our classroom if a student breaks a class rule.

Be Respectful of yourself and others.

o This means that students must respect what is going on in the classroom. When a student makes a mistake, they need to respect themselves and realize that we all are going to make mistakes. Students need to respect the learning of their peers in the class. They need to keep their hands and feet to themselves and not distract others in the learning process. Students need to speak respectfully to each other at all time.

Be Responsible
o Being responsible means that students are coming to school, turning in their work, and participating in class. When a student doesnt bring their homework to school on the day it is due, they are breaking the rule of being responsible. Students can show that they are responsible by asking

questions when they dont know the answer to something or doing something the teacher asks.

Keep it Positive
o In the classroom, students need to leave any negativity at the door. This includes negative comments about themselves, others, or what is happening in the classroom. Consistent negative comments are not conducive to learning. Everyone has their bad days or moments when things do go the way they hoped, which is fine. The teacher will always be available to help in such situations. However negative comments will not be tolerated in the classroom. (Patton, 2012)

Procedures
Beginning of the day
o Students with Class Jobs will complete tasks before the tardy bell rings to earn Great Job coupons for the week. These students may need to arrive early to complete tasks for the week. (See Class Jobs in preventative section). o Teacher will stand at the door to welcome students to the classroom. o Students will leave it at the door this includes coats, backpacks, cellphones, and negative attitudes (see class rules). The only things brought into the classroom should be necessary materials for the day. o Homework is to be turned in before we finish our Self Start problem for full credit. o Morning Messages will be posted each day on the smarboard (whiteboard). These messages will remind students of any big homework coming up and any important events for the day. Morning Messages will sometimes include a positive quote to start off our day right! o Self Starts will usually be a math-based problem posted each day in the front of the classroom put into a journal. After self-starts are finished students may read silently to themselves.

During the Day

o Bathroom Breaks are to be taken ONLY during times when teacher is not instructing. To use the bathroom, students must write their name on the small whiteboard by the door and erase it when they return. Only one student is allowed in the bathroom at a time. o Students can sharpen pencils any time that instruction is not being given. If students do not have a pencil or a correcting pen, they may get one from the extras bin. o When students need a drink they may get up and get one in the classroom at any time that the teacher is not instructing. Water bottles are allowed in the classroom at all times as long as they only contain water. o Students with questions about what to do on an assignment or what assignments are due in the classroom need to ask three, then me. When the teacher is called upon to help, there should have been an attempt to try and resolve questions.

o When students are walking down the hallways students should behave in a way that is respectful to what is going on in classrooms around them. There should be no talking or touching. If 6th grade students are unable to behave in a respectful manner when walking down halls, students will need to start walking in lines when moving around the school. o When there is an absent student, that student can check in the classroom work binder for any assignments that they missed. Binder is organized by week. o Recess is a time for students to take a break, however if a student is behind and would like to stay inside and utilize some individual time with the teacher, they may with permission. o When a student leaves classroom work at home they are unable to participate in working on, grading, or editing things that are done in class. If it is an ongoing assignment, the student will need to begin again at school.

End of the Day

o Home notes will be sitting by the door before the bell rings. Students are responsible to pick up these notes and put them in their home folder. o Students with Class Jobs that take place before the end of the day will need to complete their jobs. (See Class Jobs in preventative section). o The last 5 minutes of the day will be a wrap up for every student not participating in a class job. Teacher will call on one student to remind everyone what is due/is needed for the next day, students can copy down class assignment sheet. o Teacher will stand at door and each student will need to say one thing they learned that day as their ticket out when the bell rings.

Preventive Techniques
Classroom Meetings
o Classroom Meetings will be held every Friday afternoon. This is a way to
wrap up the week and discuss anything that can help the next week. Students will discuss any issues that took place during the week and how they could be corrected for next week. Students may give positive feedback to any of their classmates who did something great during the week. If there were any issues with one student in particular, students will address this issue without singling out that student. Classroom Leader will be in charge of conducting Classroom Meetings (see Class Jobs). At the end of the Classroom Meeting, students will play either a drama game or community building game/activity to wrap up the meeting and the week. The teacher will decide upon activity.

Classroom Jobs (Changed by the teacher on a weekly-basis)

o The Pledger- Responsible for saying The Pledge every morning at some o
point in time during the self-start. If the pledge does not get said, The Pledger misses out on a Great Job coupon. The Classroom Leader- This will be the person who conducts Classroom Meetings on Friday and is responsible to help out the class at any time the teacher has to step out. They need to change the calendar at the beginning of every morning for the week. This person must act very responsible during the week to keep their position. They will also be responsible for taking attendance each morning. Lunch Helpers- This position will be held by two students who will go to lunch early and assist the lunch ladies in preparation and clean up. The Runner- This is the person who will be responsible for taking notes to the office, grabbing something for another teacher, or grabbing copies and supplies as needed. The Cleaners- This position will be held by two students who are responsible for assisting with cleanup at the end of the day. One student will need to wipe down white boards during last 5 minutes of the day, and the other student will pass out wipes for each student to clean off their desks. (Hunter, 2013)

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Classroom Building

o A classroom building exercise will take place every Wednesday after first
recess. o Classroom building exercises will play a big part during the first week of school.

Late Work o As a general rule, work is expected to be turned in at the time assigned by
the teacher. This will be the expectation given to students. 6th Grade is preparing students for middle school, and their work needs to be in on time. o Parents may ask that students be given an extension on assignments when needed. Teacher understands that things come up so if there is a night when students simply cannot get through all their work, a day extension will be given. o Teacher can accept late work for other reasons at their own discretion. There will be a percentage drop on work turned in after a certain time.

Great Job Coupons o Great Job coupons are earned by doing something great in the classroom.
Teacher may hand out coupons at any time. Students will automatically receive one coupon by completing their weekly jobs or returning their signed assignment sheet (with no missing work) on Mondays. Great Job coupons include things like: Free Late Assignments, Cushy Chair Day, Free Snack Day, Free Drink Day, Smartboard with a Friend Day, and Wildcard.

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Great Job Coupons are taken on a first come, first serve basis and are shredded after use. If student hands in a Free Late Assignment Coupon, they have a one-day extension on their assignment.

Classroom Arrangement -Tables o Classroom will be organized into tables with 4-5 students sitting at each
table. Students will use tables instead of desks with packs on the backs of their chairs. Students will be working as a team at all times in the classroom. Students can be more focused and spend more time working together when they are not worrying about messy desks and clutter. Each table will work together on assignments during the day. Teacher may do many activities that involve tables working together to get a correct answer first.

Assignment Sheets o In 6th Grade, the assignment sheet is preparing students for how to use a o o o
planner to organize everything they have going on. Assignment sheets are given every week and are organized by day. Each day, teacher will put up the assignment sheet on display for students to copy down from. The assignment sheet will also be posted on the classroom website for parents/guardians to see. Things highlighted in yellow are due the next day of class. This is to help students be on top of their work. On the back of each assignment sheet is a place for teacher to write out any missing assignments for the week and also write notes to parents. Students must take assignment sheets home at the end of the week and return them on Monday with a parent signature to receive a Great Job coupon.

Class Feudal System o In January, class will participate in a class-wide Feudal System that goes o o o
along with the Core on learning about the Middle Ages. Students will become King, Queen, Knights, Surfs, Clergymen, and Nobles based on their performance and attitude in the classroom. Students with a higher class standing will gain more privileges in the classroom, while students with a lower rank will have more rules to follow. Each week during the Feudal System, students will learn about a different aspect of the Middle Ages to help broaden their understanding of The Feudal System. (Armstrong)

Responsive Techniques

 Stop & Try Again o When a student breaks a classroom rule, or is doing an unacceptable
behavior, student will be asked to stop and try again. For example, if student is running in the halls, that student will be asked to stop running, come back to where they came from, and try the behavior again in a more acceptable way. (Morrish)

Page of Apology o A page of apology is a one-page letter that a student writes to someone
who they have offended in some way. A teacher is the only one who assigns a page of apology. It could be assigned for a student to write to their own teacher, another teacher, an administrator, a class guest, or another student in the school. Students will write a draft, which will then be edited by the teacher and then revised by the student. When the page is neat and ready to go, teacher will either keep it in classroom file or have student deliver it to its intended recipient. In the page, students are to reflect on what happened, who was involved, why it happened, and what could be done to correct it in the future.

When students are distracted during a lesson o Teacher will first stop what they are doing and look at students who are o o
not participating in the lesson. Teacher will wait until students notice or other students let them know. If students do not take the hint, teacher will not say a word but will move over towards student and put a hand on the students shoulder. Letting them know that their behavior is distracting the class and needs to stop. If students are simply not paying attention and working on something else, teacher may call on student to help with what we are working on or repeat back instructions for the class

When students are working independently o Teacher will be walking around the room both to check that students dont
need help and also to ensure that students are on task and respond to those that arent.

Intervention Techniques
After 3 pages of apology for the same behavior o Students will meet with teacher during lunch to come up with a plan for
what they are going to change to stop the behavior (ex: sitting in a different seat). Teacher will explain to student why this behavior is unacceptable and how it is negatively affecting the whole class. Parents emailed about behavior and told about lunchtime meeting.

 For physical or verbal conflicts that arise between students o All students involved will be pulled into the hallway to discuss what
happened, if it were very serious, principal would be notified. Teacher will find out what happened and explain to students why it was not acceptable. Students will each be asked to come up with a way that they could have better handled the situation and be asked to implement it on the next time.

Emergency Class Meetings o The teacher will call emergency Class Meetings when the unacceptable
behavior in the classroom is happening too often or by too many students (examples: excessive gossip or bullying). Teacher will discuss the behavior with students and talk about conflict resolution. If behavior is very serious, teacher may teach an entire lesson on how to resolve behavior using a book or calling in a guest speaker.

Calls home to parents/guardians o If a behavior is very serious, parents/guardians will be called. o Together, parents and teachers will work to come up with a solution that
best fits student.

o By alerting parents, they will be able to work with the students at home
and also transfer behavior to school.

Communication with Parents & Guardians

Communication with parents and guardians is essential for the success of students. I believe that parents should feel safe to contact me at any time for any questions or concerns that they may have. My classroom will be a place where parents feel welcome to stop by (during non-instruction hours) just to chat or address concerns. I also believe that if students feel the need to contact home (due to illness or some other extreme) they should have the opportunity to. If these calls become excessive, teacher and parents/guardians will need to discuss future action.

Communication Newsletter o At the beginning of the year, teacher will send home a note to parents to
be signed and returned that addresses parent/teacher communication. o This newsletter will discuss ways to get in touch with teacher for any reason, ways to see class work and homework (classroom website), and how teacher will be contacting parents for any issues that arise (behavior issues, missed assignments, etc.).

Phone Calls & Email o Parents/guardians will be given school phone number if they need to reach
their students at any time during the school day. This line will connect to the office who will get in touch with the teacher. Cell phones will not be

permitted in the classroom, so calling the school will be the best way to keep in contact during the school day. o Email will be the main source of communication when school hours are not in. Parents may email teacher at any time. Teacher will check email regularly to keep that line of communication open.

Class Website o Classroom website will be a place for students to find links for home and
for parents to see what is going on in the classroom. Classroom website will display class assignment sheet with all of the students upcoming assignments.

Parent Teacher Conferences o Parent teacher conferences will take place twice a year. This will be a time
for the teacher to give parents/guardians an update on a students progress and for parents/guardians to express comments or concerns.

Conferences Between Parent Teacher o If parents feel that a conference needs to take place before they next parent
teacher conference, they need to contact teacher and will be fit into the schedule as soon as possible.

References
Patton, C. (Teacher) (2012). Canyon Rim Academy. Hunter, R. (Teacher) (2013). Wasatch Elementary. Morrish, R. (n.d.). Ron morrish on organizing and presenting a basic discipline plan. In C. Charles (Ed.), Building Classroom Discipline (11th ed., pp. 72-75). Pearson Education. Armstrong, T. The best schools. (pp. 103-104).