At the beginning of each school year, the students and I come together to create a list of classroom rules. Creating the list of rules together as a class, promotes a team-like atmosphere and holds the students accountable to the rules they helped create. The classroom rules are displayed in the classroom all year so that students can be reminded of what our rules and expectations are every day. Another activity we do at the beginning of the year is a class promise. I read to students the class promise, and we discuss ways that they can be respectful, responsible, and safe in our classroom and school. I then have students recite the class promise, trace their hand, and glue it onto the anchor chart. Like the classroom rules, this poster is also displayed throughout the year so students are reminded to read the class promise when they are having a rough day. When students make a poor choice, I will have them ask themself one of three questions: Was that respectful? Was that responsible? Was that safe? If the student answers "no" we discuss what we could do next time to make a better choice.
Classroom Routines
Our classroom routines are practiced from the first day of school. By the second week of school, students already begin to remember the routines and develop more independence. My goal is for all students to become more independent students this year!
Arrival & Unpack At 9:00 A.M., our school bell rings and students are welcomed into the classroom. If students are not in the classroom by 9:15 A.M., they will be marked tardy, so on time is awesome! Upon arrival, students bring their backpack straight to their seat to unpack. Students take out their take-home folder and open it up to see if there are any "Notes to the Teacher" or "Papers to be Checked." If there are, they put them in the correct bin, and put their folder in their mailbox. Students then move their lunch choice over to "Lunch From Home" or "School Lunch" and hang up their coats and backpacks. Last, they unstack their chair and begin their morning work.
Dismissal/Pack Up/Clean Up At 3:40 P.M. we begin our clean-up and pack-up routine. Students do their assigned class job and stack their chairs first. Once the room is clean, students can begin packing up. They get their mail and folder from their mailbox and take it back to their seat. Dismissal begins at 3:56 P.M. The office will call OWL pickup numbers over the P.A. system, along with office pick up students, busses, and primetime/walking students.
Compliment Circle
At the end of the day on Fridays, the students and I will gather in a circle at the carpet for our compliment circle. Each student will give and receive a compliment from one of their classmates. We have our compliment circle starters and expectations signs displayed during every compliment circle so students can look at them if they need assistance! This is such a fun way to encourage kindness and positivity in our classroom!