In Order to Create a Positive Learning Environment for All Students, It Is Important To

Dear parents,

In order to create a positive learning environment for all students, it is important to have a set of rules and expectations that are fair and achievable for all. I continue to use a “ticket system” in my classroom, but also believe in discipline through natural consequences. It is important to know that everyone makes mistakes, and that’s ok. I also tell my students that it’s important to learn from our mistakes. I believe we should reflect on choices we make, whether good or bad, and whether those choices had the outcome we were hoping for. If not, we need to ask ourselves what we could have done differently. On the first day of school our class came up with a list of rules that we felt would lead to a safe and successful school year. Our class rules are as follows:

1. Treat others the way you want to be treated.
2. Listen to the speaker and keep eye to eye contact.
3. Speak in an indoor voice.
4. Keep your body to yourself.
5. Use walking feet in the building (except phy. ed.).
6. Don’t bring things into the room that are a distraction (toys, gum, trading cards, etc.).
7. Listen to every teacher.
8. Follow directions.

If a student chooses appropriate behavior:

1. The student will have a feeling of self-pride.

2. The student will help to create a safe and positive learning environment.

3. We will celebrate student's good choices with such things as “Character Counts Tickets”, “Paddington Dollars,” “Catching Compliments” poster, added marbles to our marble jar, and earned parties for good behavior.

If a student chooses inappropriate behavior:

1st time - Warning. Student is asked to pull his/her green card from the “Behavior Chart” and they lose their “Paddington Dollar.” Now a yellow card shows.

2nd time - Student is asked to pull his/her yellow card, they lose their “Paddington

Dollar,” and may potentially lose 5 minutes of recess. Now an orange card shows.

3rd time - Student is asked to pull his/her orange card, they lose their “Paddington

Dollar,” potentially loses 10 minutes of recess, and need to come up with an acceptable plan of action for turning their day around. Now a pink card s

shows.

4th time - Student is asked to pull his/her pink card, they lose their “Paddington Dollar,”

potentially lose 15 minutes of recess and need to come up with an acceptable plan of action for turning their day around. Now a blue card shows.

5th time - Student is asked to pull his/her blue card, and is removed from the classroom.

They lose their “Paddington Dollar”, may lose an entire recess, need to come up with an acceptable plan of action for returning to class responsibly. Parent contact in the form of a phone call and/or letter will be made, which requires the involvement of the child.

**Continual or Severe: Students who display continual or severe misbehavior will contact their parents by letter or phone and have a meeting with the principal.