Behavior

 

Good classroom behavior is a must to ensure an environment conducive to learning. I believe that my students can behave appropriately in class and should not be allowed to keep other students from learning.

Class rules are posted in our room and your child will become very familiar with them. Rules are enforced fairly and consistently. I expect every Rocket to put forth his or her best effort at all times. Every child is expected to take an active part in helping our class be the best behaved and most respectful class at our school.

Rockets are expected to follow the district's Student Code of Conduct and to follow the school rules.

There are several constant guiding principles I follow in the classroom. By concentrating on building these principles, we can develop  an orderly, functioning classroom where learning can occur free from fear and interruptions.

Nobody gets hurt in the Rocket classroom. Physical and verbal intimidation, teasing and sarcasm earn strong consequences.

Each Rocket deserves and receives respect both from me and from fellow Rockets. Each Rocket has my respect right from the start. My trust has to be earned.

All adults at the school deserve respect from the Rockets. There is no talking back to adults or ignoring adults. Rockets who feel they have been treated unfairly by an adult will respond to the problem by discussing it with the adult or with me. Pouting is not a useful or appropriate response to disagreements with adults at the school.

All Rockets are expected to do the right thing in school--in the halls, in the cafeteria, on the PE field - even when nobody is looking, regardless of what other students are doing.

Doing the right thing is rarely rewarded with treats, tokens or stickers. In my opinion--backed up by numerous research studies--rewarding behavior can result in kids who behave only when rewarded. Loss of privileges, however, can occur for not doing the right thing.

Problems will be solved appropriately, by discussion and negotiation, not with force. Problems and differences occur and can interfere with learning. Learning to handle these differences responsibly is a big step toward growing-up.

While I do not “reward” good behavior, good behavior does have consequences in this classroom and is certainly reinforced. There's a difference between "rewarded" and "reinforced." The reinforcers for behavior are usually natural--not token and usually not edible. Since appropriate behavior (doing the right thing) is natural and expected in this classroom, it is not often singled out for a tangible reward.

A weekly behavior report will come home with your child in the Tuesday Folder. Please sign each report and have your child return it to me on the following Wednesday. Please contact me if you’d like a daily behavior report.