Applying Classroom Rules and Procedures

Applying Classroom Rules and Procedures

November 2016

"We don't get to decide whether we have challenging students in our classes, but we can certainly decide how we respond to them." - Carol Ann Tomlinson

Each day I prepare my classroom for students who might or might not be willing to learn, for students who might have a lot going on in their lives, who might be having the best day of their lives or who might not. I don't get to choose my students, but I do choose how I interact with them on a daily basis. And I choose to help facilitate an environment that will help students succeed. Like most teachers, I start the beginning of the year going over our rules and procedures, and I usually remind the students of our rules and procedures both verbally and nonverbally on a regular basis. I do so nonverbally by displaying signs in the class and verbally by just mentioning to the class in a loving way what our expectations for the class are. 

But just like most classes, these classroom procedures may or may not be followed. If they are followed then it's cause for celebration! With either verbal recognition or in our class a semi-tangible recognition. Our favorite in class semi-tangible recognitions "DJ" Fridays, where the students as a whole behaved well all week, they get a chance to choose the music we play in our art class. Another is "free-choice" seating where the students get to choose who they sit next to. These two "carrots" as I call them are great rewards for our class. I found it gives students something to strive for, something they know they might get if the whole class behaves well. 

If my students choose not to follow our rules and procedures, I check myself first to see if I am being lenient. Sometimes it's not the student who is struggling because they want to break the rules, but because they see a lax teacher who doesn't seem to want to enforce the consequences. But if it isn't something that I am doing wrong, and it is a student who is choosing to break the rules and procedures. The first step is to either directly and verbally remind the student or refocus the student. But if that doesn't work the student usually receives a check mark, which if they get three results in a lunch detention. I do this one a little differently than my colleagues because I like to pair it up with a little redemption. If a student shows that they were remorseful, showing that they really didn't mean to break the rule even after a verbal/nonverbal warning then I give them a chance to make it up by demonstrating their desire to change through keeping to the rules the rest of the class period and then doing a small chore to help class community. 

For example, one day little Jimmy was really excited about everything because it was about time to go on fall break. Little Jimmy knew that the rules were still expected to be followed, but in his excitement, he forgot that during work time hew wasn't supposed to talk. I reminded him gently once, but after the first warning, he made the same poor choice once again. By the second time, I asked him to put his name on the board, indicating that he had received a check mark. He was very upset but held it in. It seemed that tears were swelling up in his eyes. He sat quietly at his desk during work time. He raised his hand to ask me to come over. I went over and he asked in a very soft voice if "redemption" was an option, even though it was right before the holiday. And I told him that it was, and I said it was. It seemed that he worked even harder the rest of class and then at the end of class joyfully did his one little chore. I think the chore was much better than having received a check. 

I do agree with how Marzano frames how to manage behavior in the classroom, and I try to follow a similar framework in my class. 

Marzano, R. J. (2007). The Art and Science of Teaching. Alexandria: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Carol Ann Tomlinson, "Rising to the Challenge of Challenging Behavior", Educational Leadership, October 2012