Classroom Management

My goal for our school year is to have the children work together to make our classroom a comfortable environment where everyone respects each other and is able to succeed at their level. Therefore, I have established routines in which appropriate individual student behavior is rewarded AND appropriate whole class behavior is rewarded. We will also be using a social curriculum called The Responsive Classroom. Please take a moment to read over each of these classroom management sections, and let me know if you have any further questions.

Individual Student Accountability and Rewards

Students will be rewarded for displaying appropriate behavior and making good choices. They will earn one ticket each day, which they will write their name on to be entered in a drawing to choose something from our treasure box. The drawing will be held at the end of the week. Once the ticket is drawn it will be discarded. The rest of the tickets will remain; improving everyones chances for the next drawing. The jar will be emptied at the end of each quarter to begin a new quarter. They may earn more than one ticket daily by displaying extra acts of kindness.

Whole Class Accountability and Rewards

The whole class will also work together to earn special celebrations such as extra recesses, class parties, or a special movie. The class can earn "marbles" for their combined appropriate behavior throughout the day. When the class has earned enough marbles to fill the jar, we will have a celebration which the students vote on. We hope to fill our marble jar at least once a quarter.

 The Responsive Classroom

I will be using a classroom management and discipline plan this year called The Responsive Classroom. This social curriculum calls for students to be responsible for their own actions and behavior, and teaches mutual respect for others using the "Golden Rule." Students will take ownership of the classroom rules by working together to create them at the beginning of the year. Logical consequences will occur if a student chooses not to follow a rule. The Responsive Classroom approach to teaching and learning has been shown to foster safe, challenging, and joyful classrooms and schools. I believe that it will produce very positive results in our class. To read more about how The Responsive Classroom works, visit the official Responsive Classroom website.