Behavioral Expectations and Digital Citizenship

My students will begin learning the classroom procedures right away from day one, once they enter the classroom. These procedures will be practiced for as long as it takes to gain mastery, and will be reintroduced and reminded as need be. The first step in this process will be an “Entry or Arrival Routine.” This will be something the students do every day upon arrival. It will include the students entering the classroom, handing in any necessary forms, notes, or homework, selecting their lunch choice, they will then read the “morning message” that I have left for them on the board, and then they will answer the question and complete the activity listed on the board. Often times this will include an activity that they will do at their desk until everyone has arrived and settled. This gets students minds working immediately and gets them focused and into “work mode.” It also will give me time to assist any students who may have concerns. Students will know to first hang up their backpack and coat in their locker, and to come in prepared.

To help my students learn how to effectively and efficiently participate in class I will implement the “Give Me Five” technique that helps students know exactly how they should be behaving during class. It can be used as a simple reminder in gesture form, or as a self- regulation tool for students as well. The procedure consists of five main rules that the students will adhere to for effective listening. (1. Eyes on speaker 2. Lips closed 3. Ears listening 4. Sit up straight 5. Hands and feet still.) The terms can be adjusted for student needs and such.

Procedures are such an important part of a smooth-running classroom that there are several places where having a procedure in place is important. Some other areas where I will have procedures in place are during work time for both individual and group work, walking down the hall, lining up, and more. During independent work time, I will have a procedure in place that has students remain in their seat, working quietly and independently, they will have two colored cards. One will be green and one will be red. When the students are, stuck or have a question, they will place the red card up on their desk and will continue to work. I will then help them, once I get to them. If I see the students green card out I will know everything is going well for them. This process will give me a visual and help me to easily see who needs help while I am walking around. It creates less of a distraction and allows the students to continue working rather than waiting with their hand up.

Digital safety is important for student safety. My students will be advised that they are only allowed to access appropriate/approved websites, they will need to sign a “technology contract” stating they are aware of this and willing to comply. I will require all my students to allow me to see what they are doing at all times and will restrict them from posting any personal information on the internet such as name, picture, address, and so on. They will all have accounts that I can go on and view whenever I would like to ensure they are following the rules.

Student safety in general is another important factor. Accidents often happen when students are being too rambunctious. For this reason, I will require students to line up in a safe manner. This will include students standing up quietly and pushing their chairs in once they are called on and then they will walk to the line joining their classmates, they will face forward, stay still, and remain silent. This will continue throughout the hallway as well.

I plan to have these procedures posted in the classroom, and displayed on a projector/power point every morning for the first couple weeks until the students have them mastered. They will always have them posted in the classroom for reference, and I will send a copy home with them so they can share it with their parents and so they can keep it to refer back to.