I am very excited about teaching first grade this year! There will be a lot of new interesting concepts and skills your child will be learning. To be able to accomplish this, it will require that students do their best, including behavior. Together, the students and I will discuss, create, and vote on our classroom rules. This way the students will be given the opportunity to decide on what rules our classroom needs to accomplish all our goals for this exciting school year. After the rules are voted on, the following behavior policy will be used to help remind students of the classroom rules they enacted and must follow. There will be both rewards if the rules are followed and consequences if they are not.
Whole class behavior policy:
For the class, we have a fish bowl that we fill with marbles. The class may earn marbles for being on task, helping each other, following classroom rules and receiving complements from other teachers/administration. When the marble jar is filled, the class has learned a “special day”. The “special day” will be voted on by the students as a class. This “special day” may include extra recesses, movie day, popcorn day, free time, pj day, etc.
Individual behavior policy:
-Students will move their clips up and down during the day depending on their choices. Students may not move every single day up the chart, if the student goes above and beyond expectations in their behavior choices, they will move up the chart.
Pink (Excellent Choice) - Students will receive a gem on their clothes pin, when they receive 5 stickers, they will be able to choose a special incentive such as free computer time, homework pass, sit at the teachers desk, pillow for a day, bring in a pillow/stuffed animal, sticker, etc.
Purple (Good Choice) - As they continue to make good choices, they will advance to Great Choice!
Green (Ready to Learn) - Every student will start their day here, their clip will move up or down depending on their choices for that day.
Yellow (Slow Down) - Students will receive a warning and will need to remember to think about their choices.
Orange (Think about it) - Student will miss 5 minutes of their recess.
Red (Parent Contact) - Entire recess will be missed and student will complete a "Behavior Reflection" for mom and dad to sign.
If the student stays on Red until the end of the day, a form will be filled out with the student, sent home to be signed and is to be returned the next day.
I believe this will help to create a positive atmosphere for the children as well as the classroom. Students will be able to monitor their choices and will help them strive for great behavior goals!
Parents, I ask for your help at home to reinforce the rules so we can all have a positive and fun learning environment for all!
I know that we can all make good choices, learn, and have a great year! :)