Procedures
In order for the classroom to run smoothly, I will implement the following procedures so that students have a clear understanding of what is expected of them throughout the day.
Morning Routine:
- turn in assignments and put books away
- put backpacks, coats, and lunchboxes in lockers
- sharpen pencils
- begin responding to journal prompt
Gaining Students' Attention:
- Clap out a rythym to gain students attention throughout the day and have them clap the same rythym back.
- Before starting a lesson make sure students are ready to begin: Ask, "Are your eyes watching, your ears listening, your hands still, and your feet quiet?"
Attendance/Hot Lunch:
- A section of the board will be designated for the lunch count. Each student will have a magnet on the board with their name on it, as they arrive in the morning they will move their magnet to a section labled "hot lunch" or a section labled "cold lunch" to determine whether or not they will be buying lunch.
- The teacher will determine who is absent by seeing which students have not moved their magnets to either lunch section.
Homework:
- Each student will receive a folder at the beginning of the year with one side labled "do" and one side labled "done".
- The "do" side is for assignments that the students need to complete.
- The "done" side is for assignments that are finished and ready to be handed in.
- Each morning students will turn their "done" assignments into a mailbox and raise the flag to indicate that their assignments need to be graded.
Bathroom:
- Regular bathroom breaks will be scheduled in the morning during snack time and midway through the afternoon.
- In case of an emergency students may use a bathroom pass to leave the room. One bathroom pass will be available for girls and one will be available for the boys.
Pencils:
- Students are expected to be prepared at all times with three pencils sharpened.
- Designated times will be reserved for sharpening pencils throughout the day in between lessons and during transition times.
- In the case that all three pencils break during a lesson students may borrow a pencil for the remainder of the lesson, but they must trade a shoe for a pencil so that I can ensure that the pencil will be returned.
Transitions:
- Music will be played during transition times, students are expected to turn in assignments, organize their desks, sharpen pencils, and get ready for the next lesson before the end of the song.
- If students finish their duties before the end of the song they will be rewarded with "minutes" of free time at the end of each week.
Lining Up:
- The line leaders for the week will have the advantage of lining up first.
- The rest of the students will wait to be called on to line up by rows.
- Once students are in line they will rehearse the following chant:
"My hands are hanging by my sides
I'm standing tall
My eyes are looking straight ahead
and I'm ready for the hall!"
Hall Walking:
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Students will be asked to walk on their 'marshmallow toes' in the hallway to ensure that they are quiet and respectful of other classes.
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Each day I will choose a 'secret person' to keep an eye on while we are walking in the hall. If that person models admirable behavior in the hallway they will be rewarded with a bug (read about bugs in my rewards and incentives tab).
Finish Early:
- Various activities will be at hand for students who finish their work early.
- Students may choose a book to read in the reading corner, or work at a station with manipulatives, play dough, or puzzles.
Emergencies:
- Students will be expected to remain in their seats during lessons; however, if a bathroom, tissue, or pencil emergency occurs students will use sign langauge signs for toilet or tissue, or hold up their broken their pencil to receive permission to leave their seat.
- In the case of a serious emergency such as a fire or natural disaster students and teachers will follow schoolwide procedures.
Classroom Jobs:
- Students will gain responsibility in the classroom by rotating through the following jobs from week to week.
- A section of the board will be designated for classroom jobs. Another set of magnets with students names on them will be moved from week to week to indicate what job each student has that week.
- Class Librarian: straighten books, pass out books to be used for any given subject.
- Class Plumber: clean sinks and countertops
- Class host/hostess: answer the door
- Class director: lead the salute to the American flag and school song
- Class messenger: send and take notes to the office and other teachers in the school
- Health officers: remind classmates to sanitize their hands, and pass out napkins at snack time
- Room inspector: make sure the floor is clean and the classroom is tidy and organized
- Class Weatherman: Determine what the weather is each day
- Calendar Keeper: update the calendar and write the day and date on the board
- Teacher Assistant: help with general jobs such as passing out and collecting papers, washing the board, sharpening pencils, etc.
