Classroom Management

Philosophy:

The word discipline derives from the word disciple. A disciple is a learner. Therefore, when discipline takes place in a classroom the ultimate goal is for the student to learn from their actions. Punishment however, is intended to cause pain. Research shows punishment is not an effective approach to correct students for misbehavior. We know children will make mistakes and adults need to help guide them to make better choices. Students fail to grow if they do not make mistakes at times. Classroom discipline in third grade is designed to offer both love and logic to the child and opportunity to learn and grow from experiences.

 

    Every child has a right to learn and teachers have the right to teach. When classroom behavior becomes disruptive to the learner or the teacher, interventions must take place to help the child correct his/her behavior and to maintain the integrity of the learning environment.  Ignoring negative or disruptive behavior is not helpful to the student and sends the wrong message to the rest of the class.

 

Points:

Each day, students enter into the learner environment with 10 behavior points. Points are recorded several times a day in the student agenda. In order to keep their points, students are encouraged use their Discipline with Purpose skills which are:

1.) Listening

2.) Following Instructions

3.) Asking questions

4.) Sharing

5.) Social Skills

 

When a child does not contribute to the learning environment and engages in misbehavior or negative behavior, the child will be given a verbal warning in person. The teacher will say:

"_____ , you are on warning for (teacher states the DWP skill student is not using)"  

If a child continues to engage in misbehavior or negative behavior, the teacher will address the child and ask them to adjust his/her points.

 

The teacher will say: 

"____ , you need to adjust your points for (teacher states the DWP skill student is not using)"

 

This will continue until the student goes to the number 8. If a child is demonstrating the inability to self correct, the teacher will conference with the child in such a way to help the child reflect on their choices. Teacher may ask the child to complete a reflection form to help identify what the child was doing and what the child should be doing instead.

 

 

Processing and Reflection:

When a child engages in chronic misbehavior in one day and adjusts his/her points to a 8, he/she will have the opportunity to process his/her actions outside of the classroom. The child will spend time in another space and complete a reflection log. The reflection log has a number of self reflection questions designed to help the child process inappropriate choices. The child decides when he/she is ready to return to the classroom. The reflection log is then sent home for parents to sign and return to school. The log is then kept as documentation.

 Administrators will also become involved in the discipline cycle if a child has processed in one day and continues the behavior upon return to the group. A student may be asked to spend the remainder of the day outside the classroom as directed by administration.  The teacher will not “catch” the child up if he/she is out of the classroom for a processing session.  It is the child’s responsibility to ask a friend for the information or directions missed.

      Immediate administrative response may occur when a child engages in a physical altercation or uses blatant verbal disrespect with another child or adult such as:

•   fighting with hands or feet

•  shoving with body, shoulders, hands aggressively

•  biting (this includes play biting

•  using profanity or curse words

•  physical horse play

•  screaming in another child's face in anger or frustration or yelling excessively at another

•  taunting in a mean spirited way

•  using put verbal downs to belittle, shame, or bully

Team three teachers take safety and the emotional well being of students seriously, therefore do all within their means to maintain the integrity of a faith based learning environment.