Procedures. Procedures. Procedures.
I will be honest, my first year of teaching, I don't think I fully grasped the necessity of procedures for every action in class. I say I don't think I did, but I must be honest, I really wondered why there were so many seemingly little things that were outlined. I taught half time in 6th grade with Mr. Blodgett at Valley Elementary. He had everything lined out, what was going to happened and how. I used his procedures and they seemed to work pretty well for the year. The problem is they were his. He owned them in a sense, he knew what he was thinking when he made them. I didn't, I just followed blindly and sometimes half-heartedly.
The next year I was on my own. I had a few things planned, but most of the year with those 3rd graders was...crazy. I didn't have a lot of control, but we made it. The next year I had a really good group of students and had minimal problems with my "set" of procedures. The year following I was destroyed by my class. I hadn't taught them procedures as recommended and I struggled the entire year with discipline, not to mention the dynamics of the class included an autistic boy mingled with many other learning problems from other students. I loved the students, I just didn't love the class dynamic. I wasn't in control.
After that I was in a do or die mentality. I was really burned out on education and teaching. I didn't feel things were going well with administration and I was really negative about it all.
That summer after the nightmare I decided to get serious. I applied for my Master's and I wrote out quite a few typed pages of procedures that were going to happen in my class the next year. I taught everyone of those procedures over and over. I would hit them throughout the year. I will list just a few of them:
Entering the classroom:
Enter the classroom quietly by the first bell, hang up coat/backpack and be ready to work.
Have a sharpened pencil.
Work quietly on bellwork.
Read quietly when finished.
Bellwork will be corrected after announcements are over.
Correcting bellwork:
Follow along as Mr. Corry asks for correct and answers and explains them.
When finished pass papers to the left.
Finished bellwork will result in 20 dollars of Corry Cash.
When you are tardy (late)
Enter quietly
Hang up coat/backpack quietly
Go quietly to your seat and begin bellwork or the assignment the class is working on.
End of Day dismissal
Five minutes before the bell we will clean the room.
Every student must pickup their area and those around them.
Check computer areas.
Check homework folders to make sure homework and reading log are in them.
Sit quietly at your seat until Mr. Corry excuses you. (Not the bell!)
Listening to and responding to questions
While listening do so with your eyes and ears.
Point your body toward the speaker.
When responding to a question raise your hand quietly.
Do not speak unless called upon.
Participating in class discussions
Raise your hand quietly when you need to comment.
If you are not called on do not make any noise.
When you need a pencil or paper
Raise your hand quietly
If we are working independently you may get paper from the paper tray.
If you need a pencil you may get one from the “Runt can”.
You may also buy a new pencil from me with Corry Cash, but only at recess or lunch.
Keeping your desk orderly
Papers for writing will go in your writing folder.
Papers for home will go in your homework folder.
Math papers will go in Math folder.
Any extra papers are to be thrown away.
Indicating whether you understand or need help
You may raise your hand if you need help.
You may post your “help card” if you need help.
When you are absent
You are responsible to collect your homework the next day and complete it.
Or you may have someone bring it to you at home.
It must be completed the day after you get it.
Working cooperatively
Read directions together
Discuss the problem
Treat each other with respect
Put both names on the paper
If you finish earlier than others you will read your AR book.
Keeping your Science/Poetry/Math Journal
Label the top of the page Science, Poetry or Math
Use your best handwriting.
Put a line between different assignments
Going to the office
Student of the Day will walk office errands for Mr. Corry
Student must be on best hall behavior
Moving around the room- Red/Green light
When Circle is Green you are free to move around and work as needed.
During Red Light you are to be seated and absolutely quiet.
Lining up
Quietly
Alphabetical Order
Less than 15 seconds
Walking in the hall
Quietly
Arms folded or to your side
Keep to the right
Knowing the schedule for the day
The schedule is located on the brown chalkboard
Everything will be in order
If you don’t know what something means ask appropriately
Discipline
First time: Name on the board-Warning
Second time-One check: Miss 5 minutes of recess
Third Time- Two Checks: Miss all of recess
Fourth Time-Three Checks: White Slip and call home.
Keeping a reading log
Completely filled out every night
Signed by a parent
Finding directions for each assignment
Look at the top of the paper
If directions are not there Mr. Corry will give instruction on how to complete the assignment.
Passing in papers
Pass to the left across the row.
Partners
Your partner is the person right next to you.
You will work with them at different times as instructed.
Exchanging papers
Trade with your partner.
No questions.
Returning student work
When your work is returned it goes immediately in your homework folder to go home and STAY home.
You are to show all returned work to you parents.
Getting materials without disturbing others
Paper-Paper tray
Pencils-”Runt Can”
Scissors-to be passed out by myself or student of the day down the rows.
Glue-to be passed out by myself or student of the day down the rows.
Music
Students will line up alphabetically at the door.
Students will walk quietly to the outside doors.
Students will enter Mrs. Downward’s classroom quietly and politely.
Students will sit quietly and listen carefully to Mrs. Downward’s instruction for the period.
Coming back students may race to the door, however once they are at our classroom door they must line up alphabetically to come in.
Headings on papers
Name will be on the right side of the paper.
Title of the assignment will be in the center.
When you finish early
You may work on unfinished work.
You may read quietly.
I may ask you for assistance with a project or to help another student.
Returning to a task after an interruption
Mr. Corry will say, “Give me five.”
Students will give him five and the lesson/work will continue as before the interruption.
Asking a question
Students will raise their hands during “Red Time”.
Students may come and ask during “Green Time”.
Students may also write in on a piece of paper and put it on my desk.
When announcements come on
Absolute quiet
Turn and listen to the speaker on the wall.
After announcements are over bellwork will be corrected.
Walking in the hall during class time
Walk quietly
Stay to the right
That's not all of them. I had many more. I went crazy. I will go "crazy" every year from hear on out. The difference in behavior was miraculous. Students knew exactly what to do and I knew exactly what they should do.
The only other thing I learned that made it all work was positive discipline. I was reading Positive Classroom Discipline by Frederic H. Jones. The "blank look" while disciplining a student and the procedures I took the time to write and make my own made all the difference. I had a good class, and I never found out whether they would have had problems otherwise because I was in control from the beginning and the students knew it. We had a wonderful year! The students were great and I had so much fun.
If only I could go back and do those other years over...
Oh well!
