Ms.

Ferrell’s Classroom Procedures/Rules      

GOOD MORNING GREETINGS  

1.Greet the teacher by looking at Ms. Ferrell and any other adult that may be in the
classroom and say, “Good morning Ms. Ferrell”. You must say, “Good Morning _____” every
morning.
 
1.Enter the room QUICKLY and QUIETLY.
1. Start your classroom jobs as soon as you walk in.
2. Go to the bathroom before 8:25 if needed.
3. Be in your seat and start the journal/grammar prompt at exactly 8:30 (or before).
4. If you finish early, you may:
* Take out your Writers Notebook and write about anything you wish. Examples could
be: something you are wondering about, a question you have, what you did last night,
something you are scared of, something that has made you very happy, a story, a poem,
a rap, a To Do list, what the book you are reading is about, any connections you have to
a book your reading, etc. Write what you wish, but if you finish prompts early I should
see your Writer’s Notebooks out and that you are writing.  

PENCIL PROCEDURES  

1. Grab 2 sharp pencils and take them to your desk at the beginning of the day. The “Sharp
Pencil Monitors” will have enough pencils sharpened for you.

2. If your pencil breaks during the day, exchange it for a sharpened pencil. No one is allowed
to sharpen pencils except the “Sharp Pencil Monitors.”

3. At the end of each day put your dull pencils in the “Dull Pencil” Can.

4. If you choose to bring mechanical pencils or win a mechanical pencil, please do not play
with the lead or take all of the lead out. If I notice you are having too many problems with
your mechanical pencil, or playing with it too often, I will take it away until I feel you can be
more responsible.   

 ACTIVE LISTENING

1. When Ms. Ferrell raises her hand, rings the chimes, or music goes off, that means
everyone needs to be silent. If you see that your neighbor is still talking let them know it is
time to be quiet. I do NOT yell, nor do I want to ever have to yell. If I have to raise my voice
for any reason to get class’s attention, there will be a consequence.
2. Please listen with your eyes, ears, and your heart. Remember school is a place to learn and
grow. This is your life and your education. Make the most of it.

3. Please ask questions if you do not understand. You also may write your questions in your
writers notebook and ask me later, if appropriate. Please ask questions! The more questions
you ask the more you will know and the smarter you will be! 

4. Raise your hand to speak unless told otherwise. Please do not ask questions such as “May I
go to the bathroom?” or “What is for lunch today” or anything that does not pertain to the
lesson, while Ms. Ferrell is teaching.

5. Do not talk to your neighbor while Ms. Ferrell or anyone else is talking. You need to be
listening to whoever is speaking.     

6. While listening, if you do not agree with someone, do not put them down, make fun of them,
or call them names. This will result in after school detention (ASD) and an apology letter to
that person.

COMMUNITY CIRCLE and WHOLE CLASS READING CIRCLE PROCEDURES 

1. Be sure that everyone is seated and has enough room. 

2. Follow the Community Agreements:

            *Attentive Listening

            *Appreciations

            *No Put Downs (Put downs or bullying result in ASD)

            *Participation

            *Mutual Respect 

3. Only talk about the things that have to do with the current topic.

4. Give an appreciation and compliments if you would like to. 

5. Do not bring anything with you to the circle unless instructed to do so.

6. During circle reading, feel free to share connections you have to the reading.
7. Do not whisper to others while Ms. Ferrell or any one else is reading.

8. Keep your hands and feet to yourself.

LUNCH PROCEDURES 

1. Be sure you have everything you need for lunchtime. 

2. When it is your group’s turn, push in your chair, and line up quietly for lunch. 

3. We will not leave the classroom until it is quiet, even if it makes us late for lunch. 

4. Walk in a line to the cafeteria. You may whisper while walking to the cafeteria or specials.
Do not jump up and hit the bars or bounce basketball in line. If you do this it will result in
ASD (after school detention). This is your only warning.

5. Keep up with the class. If the class does not walk together, or if we are too loud, we will go
back and try it again. 

6. Wash your hands and enter the cafeteria calmly and quietly. Whispering only until you are
seated with your food. Then you may talk quietly as you wish, unless instructed otherwise by
the cafeteria aides.  

7. When you take your food or your food is given to you, look at the cafeteria ladies and say,
“Thank You.” If you walk past any of the aides on the way to your seat, tell them “Good
Afternoon __(name)___”.

8. For every compliment you receive in the cafeteria (and Specials) you will receive pebbles
for the Party Pebble jar.

9. While on lunch recess, be on your best behavior. If there is any fighting, bullying, or name
calling you will receive ASD and a phone call home. If severe (which includes physical contact
of any sort), you may spend the afternoon with Dr. Covarrubias.

10. If I hear a compliment on the class behavior, from anyone, you will receive 3 pebbles for
the Pebble Party Jar.

11. When the bell rings line up in a straight line along the wall and in the shade. When you see
me please start walking towards when I raise my hand.

12. Come in quietly and sit in community circle for class reading.
 During a Test I am expected to . . . 

Please do not talk at any time during the test or after, as I will have my test taken
away and will not receive credit.
 
1.Raise my hand or walk quietly to Ms. Ferrell if I have a question, do not ask a neighbor.
 
1.If you finish early you may write in your Writer’s Notebook or read the book in your desk.
Do not talk until everyone is done.
 
Bathroom Procedures 
1.I may only use the bathroom when Ms. Ferrell is not teaching, unless it is an emergency or
you feel sick.
  
1.Only one person may go to the bathroom at a time. Please show me your bathroom pass and
if I nod in approval, you may then put it in the file by the door. Reminder, you may not go to
the bathroom while Ms. Ferrell is teaching, unless it is an emergency.
 

PHONE PROCEDURES  

1. Wait until class is quiet then answer the phone. In a clear voice and say, “Good Morning (Or
Good Afternoon) This is Ms. Ferrell’s class, may I help you?” 

2. If the phone call is for Ms. Ferrell say, “May I ask who is calling?” 

3. Cover mouth piece with your hand and tell Ms. Ferrell who it is (do not shout). 

4. When the phone rings or the intercom goes on everyone needs to be quiet immediately.
When someone calls on the intercom the only one allowed to answer the person’s question is
Ms. Ferrell. Do not answer questions over the intercom. If they ask, “Ms. Ferrell is Jose
there today?” The whole class should not respond, “Yes” or “No”, only Ms. Ferrell should
answer. All of you need to remain quiet so we may get on with what we were doing.   

 Last 10 minutes of the day

1. When it is time to go home, put anything that needs to go home in your backpack or
folder. Do not forget your homework! 

2. Clear off your desk and clean the floor around it.  

3. Start your classroom job. 

4. Stack your chair. There are to be four stacks by the cupboards.

5. Line up quietly.  If you have ASD, please line up in a separate line. You will walk out with us
and return to the classroom to serve your ASD.

6. Go home, please be safe, try to be home before dusk (for safety reasons), do your
homework, read, and go to bed early so you may have a wonderful day tomorrow.

WHEREVER WE GO.... 

1. Remember that you represent yourself when you are in public. If we are going to the
library, to watch a show, listen to someone, or anything else, you choose how you will behave.  
Have good manners everywhere we go. If you get in the habit of this you will be greatly
respected and even admired as an adult. 

2. My expectations for you are that you will always do your very best. When you get
discouraged or upset communicate these feelings to Ms. Ferrell so we can solve them and
move forward.

3. You are the leaders on campus. Remember the younger kids look up to you. Present
yourself in such a manner for them to have a good role model.  Be an example to them. Take
care of the younger ones. Help the little ones when they need help. Protect the little ones by
telling a teacher, if you see other classes bullying younger students.

4. Once again, for every person that compliments what a great class you are and what good
manners you have, I will give you 3 pebbles for the Pebble Party Jar. When the jar fills up we
will have a class party at the end of a chosen day.

    FIRE DRILL PROCEDURES

1. Stop what you are doing and walk quietly, calmly and quickly to the door. DO NOT RUN or
get ahead of the group!! 

2. Walk in a single file line and do not talk. Go to the designated area on the playground.
Whisper only.  If you are messing around in line on the way to the area on the playground that
we are supposed to go, you will receive ASD.

3. Wait patiently and quietly until the drill is over. 

4. Walk back to the classroom and continue what you were doing in the classroom. 

            
 Job Listing  

Sharp Pencil Monitor: makes sure the class always has a supply of sharpened pencils
Paper Monitor: passes papers to students
Door Monitor: opens and closes the door as class comes and goes
Librarian: in charge of keeping class library organized and watches to make sure people fill
out library card when taking a book.
Energy Monitor: makes sure to turn off the light when class leaves the room
Gardener: waters plants and feeds Azulito and Blanquito the Fish
Recycling Manager: Makes sure that no paper is put into the trash can. All paper to be thrown
away must go into the recycling box.
Attendance Monitor: Takes attendance in the morning and tells Ms. Ferrell who is absent.
Courier: Takes attendance, lunch count and anything else needed, to the office.
Supply Manager: Passes out and collects supplies, such as: Markers, Scissors, etc.
Floor Inspector: Makes sure the floor is clean around everyone’s area. Lets them know if it is
not clean.
Desk Inspector: Checks that the top of all desks are clear at the end of the day. Cleans and
sanitizes the tops of the desks.
Filing Clerk: Files all turned in work.
Homework Stamp Monitor: In the morning, walks around and stamps the homework. If the
person does not have homework completed, writes their name on a sticky and gives it to Ms.
Ferrell.
Writers Notebook Stamp Monitor (Same as above)
Vocabulary Stamp Monitor (Same as above)
Trash Monitor: Puts all the trash cans by the door at the end of the day.
Center Monitor: Makes sure centers are clean and organized.
Sink Monitor: Makes sure area around sink and counter is clean. Notifies Ms. Ferrell when the
soap is low.
Noise Thermometer Monitor: When the class is too loud, Ms. Ferrell will notify the person to
increase the degrees by 10 degrees. If by the end of the day the temperature reaches the
top, no pebble will be given for the Pebble Party Jar.

WHEN YOU ARE ABSENT 

1. If you are absent, your parents must fill out the absence form by the next day.

2. If you know you are going to be out, please ask Ms. Ferrell what you will miss ahead of
time, so you don’t fall behind. 

3. If you are absent and didn’t ask ahead of time for work, it is your responsibility to ask
someone what you missed. You will have the same number of days to make up work that you
were absent. After that, the work is considered late, and will receive partial credit. 

4. If you miss a test, you will need to stay after school and make the test up. Only under
approved circumstances will I give make up test during lunch. You will also have only the
number of days you missed to make up the test for whole credit. After that, test is
considered late and will receive partial credit. 

5. PLEASE REMEMBER IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE UP YOUR WORK. BEING

ABSENT IS NOT AN EXCUSE. Plus, Ms. Ferrell will miss you when you are gone, so try not to
be absent! 

PROCEDURES FOR WORKING WITH A PARTNER OR IN SMALL GROUPS 

1. Follow the Community Agreements:

      *Attentive Listening

      *Appreciations

      *No Put Downs (Negative comments towards others will result in After School Detention: ASD)

      *Participation

      *Mutual Respect 

2. Remember to use quiet voices when working with a partner or in small groups.

3. Share ideas and materials that are related to the assigned task. Group/Partner work is
also graded. You also get points for how you work as a group. 

4. Work TOGETHER on the activity. Make sure that everyone is included. If you are caught
letting other people do work for you or are not participating equally you will not receive credit
for the assignment. You are only hurting yourself by letting others do work for you. Work
hard and do your best.

5. Clean up the work area together. 

Class Library

1. When you look at books please return them to the place they belong when you are done.
If you see other books that are not in their correct place, please take the time to put
 them in the correct place.
2. You may check out any book in the classroom library.
3. When you check out a book write the name of the book on your library card. When you
return it you may cross out that book on your card.
4. If you do not return a book or bring it back ruined you will be responsible for paying
for it. If you cannot pay for it, you may work off the price of the book by helping Ms.
Ferrell after school, until I feel the book has been paid off. Please treat the books
nicely.
5. Please keep the classroom library organized and looking nice.
6. Treat all books with care. These are Ms. Ferrell’s personal books and it is a privilege to
be able to check them out. Please be responsible and kind to all of the books.

Garfield Library Procedures

1. Walk in the library quietly and sit down.
2. Greet Ms. Nichols with “Good Morning (or Good Afternoon) Ms. Nichols.”
3. Wait for Ms. Nichols to give you instructions on what to do. During this time you
should not be talking to your neighbor. The quieter you are and the sooner Ms.
Nichols can begin, and the sooner you will be able to be free to roam the library and
find the books of your choice.
4. Use your quiet library voice at all times. Never shout across the library or raise your
voice to get someone else’s attention. Walk over to the person and tell them what
you need to say.
5. Treat all books with care, put them back where they belong, and be responsible.

If you choose not to follow procedures/rules:

1. You will receive a warning
2. You will have a talk with Ms. Ferrell
3. You will need to fill out a think sheet.
4. You may have to write a letter of apology to the person your behavior was
directed towards. This includes disrupting the entire class. You will then need to
write an apology letter to the class and read it to us by the next day.
5. Your guardians will receive a phone call home. You will call them and tell them
what you did, why you did it and the consequence you have been given. If given
ASD you will inform your parents that you need to stay after school.
6. If behaviors are continually happening we will have a meeting with Dr.
Covarrubias and possibly your parents to resolve the problem.

Rewards for Good Behavior

1. If the class goes smoothly the entire day the class will receive 1 pebble in the Pebble
Party Jar.
2. For all compliments given the class will receive 3 pebbles in the pebble party jar.
3. Choose a gift from the Treasure Box.
4. Receive a homework pass.
5. Phone Call or Note home to notify your parents what a great job you are doing.

Extra:
Please do not pass notes in class. If I catch you passing a note I will take the note and put it in
a binder to keep forever. You will also be given a consequence for passing notes in class and
not only distracting others but losing out on your learning time.

It is very important to me that our classroom is a safe, kind and peaceful environment at all
times. I do not put up with put downs or negative comments towards others, including myself.
No bullying, being mean to anyone, or making anyone feel inferior. I take this very seriously.
Please help us in having a great year. If you are having a problem with someone else you may
come talk to me privately about it. We want to resolve problems right away so we can move
forward and have a happy and great class. Remember, we are a team and I am so happy to have
each and every one of you in my class this year. Now, lets have a great year!

As a class we will be memorizing and understanding each part of this poem:

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear
is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness,
that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?
Actually who are we not to be?
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people
won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine as children do.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And when we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

- Marianne Williamson