Rules and Discipline

I believe that students should be involved in making the rules for the class, as this will
help them take responsibility and ownership of these rules if and when they are broken. This
means that rules might fluctuate from year to year. However, if I were to create the rules to my
classroom, it would probably be the following:

1. Have materials ready when you come to class.

2. Follow all teacher directions.

3. Treat others how you want to be treated.

4. Treat the classroom and materials with care.

For consequences, I would have a tiered warning system. First, a student would receive a
verbal warning. If the student continues the behavior, then I will try to divert them somewhere in
the room or to another trusted teacher’s room to try and remove them from the situation so they
at least wouldn’t be distracting other students, and then discuss with them if I have a moment. I
would try to avoid sending the student to an administrator because then discipline is out of my
hands. Depending on the behavior, I might also call a student’s parent to inform them about what
happened. In the event of a drastic or dangerous situation, I will skip directly to higher tiers and
would be willing to send the student to the principal or guidance counselor.

For rewards, I would praise students when they are doing something well, have a great
idea, are following directions, etc. I will also use a reward system, both for individuals and for
the whole class. Individuals can earn tickets for exceptional or continued examples of those
praised behaviors, and at the end of the week I will draw for prizes. I will also keep track of how
many tickets the students earn as a whole, and once they reach a certain point there will be a
whole-class prize, such as extra recess or a pizza party.

All my rules, procedures, and disciplinary tactics center around respect, whether it’s
respect for self, respect for classmates, respect for the teacher, or respect for the classroom space.
If I can establish mutual respect with my students through the classroom management and
discipline policies in place, I think an engaging environment is well within reach. This is because
expectations of students will be clearly laid out and understood, with questions encouraged if
something does not make sense. The classroom will be a safe place for students physically,
mentally, and emotionally, which will promote learning.