Ms. Courtney's 2nd Grade College~Bound Class presents our ... 

                  Classroom Management / Behavior Expectations Information Page!!

 

 

 

Let me begin by explaining that our classroom has no "rules"! Yes, that's correct. NO rules!! We do however, have certain  "Essential Agreements"  which we decided upon together during the first few days of this school year. By allowing the children to decide what they believe are necessary agreements for their classroom, & to set their own behavior expectations, they have become "owners" of their classroom.

    Essential Agreements  

As an equal member of Ms. Courtney’s 2nd Grade College~Bound Class:

 I agree to be responsible and polite.

 I agree to come to class ready to learn.

 I agree to always do my best work.

I agree to be kind to everyone. 

I agree to be helpful to my teachers and friendsl.

 

 

From our list of Essential Agreements we wrote our  "Class Creed" , or the list of procedures (NOT rules!), we agreed were necessary for us to learn, play, and be safe in our classroom community.

Ms. Courtney's 2nd Grade College~Bound Class Creed

As an equal member of Ms. Courtney’s 2nd Grade College~Bound Class:

 I promise to treat everyone the way I want to be treated.

 I promise never to laugh at anyone's ideas.

 I promise to to be a helper to my teachers and my friends.

 I promise to keep my classroom and my school safe.

 

 

 

When a student chooses not to follow a set procedure, they fully understand why the choice was not a productive one because they set the guidelines by deciding what was important to them in their classroom community. This enables children to connect behavior choices to consequences. The consequences were also established by the children & myself.

Each student has a numbered pocket on a pocket chart at the back of our classroom. Inside each pocket are 6 "frogs". These frogs are: Green, Blue, Purple, Orange, Yellow, & Red.

When a student chooses not to follow a procedure, he/she is given a reminder of the procedure. If the student again chooses not to follow the procedure she/he is asked to "flip" their frog to the next color.       (Each new day is started on "green"!) 

The significance/consequence for the colors are listed below:

 

Level 1: Reminder of procedure not followed, & frog is "flipped" to blue. The procedure is read by the teacher.

Level 2: Frog is "flipped" to next color, purple. Student reads the procedure. 

Level 3: Frog is "flipped to orange, signifying a loss of recess during which time the Class Creed is copied as reinforcement of procedure knowledge. (When we know better, we do better.)

Level 4: Frog is "flipped" to yellow. A note and/or call to parent will occur. If this level has been reached twice in one week for the same behavior, the student must copy the Class Creed at home and parent must sign it. This is the student's "ticket" back into the classroom the following day.

Level 5: Frog is "flipped" to red. A referral is written to the principal's office and is submitted to Mrs. Carlile and/or Mrs. Rayner.

 

 

 

Positive discipline is utilized in our classroom every day. Verbal praise is contagious! I believe in and adhere to the philosophy: "Praise in public, discipline in private." Building self-esteem and self-worth are 2 of my utmost goals in our classroom. Children are fragile and should be taken care of in the most tender of ways.

To enable positive reinforcement, we use within our classroom the following rewards:

Our "Bunny Jar" :  we add bunnies for good choices. When the jar is full, we enjoy special treats such as free reading time, a sweet treat, "sit in a friends' chair", & other special rewards.

  "Chain Reaction":  when we receive a compliment from anyone outside our classroom, we add a "link" to our paper chain with the compliment written on it to help us remember the wonderful thing we did. When the chain reaches 10 links, we receive a treat! After 10 links, the color of links is changed and we start again.

  Ms. Courtney's "Trash Can" : Ms. Courtney has a special, small, "goodie-filled" trash can on her book shelf. When we make an exceptionally good choice, she lets us "eat from the trash can"! 

These are just a few of our rewards. I also utilize brain research techniques for energizers and cheers, and I also implement a great deal of the philosophies taught in Great Expectations & Love&Logic.

Our classroom is an amazingly happy place where we are safe in taking risks academically, safe in our environment, and always encouraged to do our best. We have a motto:

I  am good!    I am worthy!    I  am strong!    I am special!

I  have a can-do attitude!  Let's have a productive day!  

 

 

 

Our classroom Agreements and Creed are directly related to our school Student Creed & Teacher Creed. These are recited daily after the morning Pledge of Allegiance:

I am an Orvis Risner Eagle

It is my responsibility to be a good citizen.

Today I accept the challenge to be a leader and a learner.

I am an Orvis Risner teacher.

I accept the challenge to foster

citizenship, leadership, and scholarship

in each of my students. 

I accept the responsibility to create a

safe and positive learning environment

so that everyone can learn to his or her fullest potential.

I will actively pursue excellence in

all that I do. I will demonstrate respect

for each of my students.

 I am an Orvis Risner teacher;

I affect eternity.

 

 

I sincerely hope this page has helped your understanding of our expectations of classroom behavior. 

   If there is ever a need for your student to copy the Creed, remember it is on this page as a reference.

Please visit again soon!