Dear Kindergarten Families,

Your kindergartener has been involved in creating our classroom rules. Based on everyone’s hopes and dreams for the school year, we brainstormed a list of rules that would help all of us achieve our academic goals. We had a long list of rules which we narrowed to the following basic guidelines:

1. Keep hands and feet to yourself.
2. Raise your hand before speaking.
3. Be a good listener. Do not interrupt others when they are talking.
4. Walk in the classroom and quietly in the hallways.
5. Share with classmates.
6. Treat others with respect. No fighting, teasing, tattling or saying “bad” words.
7. Use an “inside” voice while working in the classroom.
8. Help one another.
9. Do your best work.
10. Treat others the way you want to be treated – FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULE!!!**

** Our class discussed THE GOLDEN RULE and learned that it is the most important of all our classroom rules.

A copy of these classroom rules was sent home with your child. The rules are featured in a rhyming poem that you can read and discuss with your youngster. If he/she agrees to follow these rules, have him/her sign the back of the rules sheet. Parents are asked to sign the rules sheet as well as acknowledging that they understand our kindergarten classroom guidelines.

Our goal in kindergarten is to provide an orderly, consistent and predictable approach to discipline that nurtures empowerment, self-respect, and the social skills of cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy and self-control. We will reinforce, remind, and redirect student behavior whenever possible. However, when consequences are needed, the consequences given will be determined by the situation:

1. You break it. Then, you fix it.

Examples: If a child hurts another’s feelings, he/she has to make it right (usually with an apology). If a child spills paint, then the child will help clean it up.

2. Loss of privilege

Example: If a child misuses materials, he/she will not be able to use these materials for a time.

3. Time Out/Take a Break

This is time away from the group to think about actions and/or gain control. We have a classroom “sugar” chair where children can sit and become “sweeter.”

Our class discussed that consequences for not following the rules are helpful. They remind us of the rules and help us change our behavior. Everyone makes mistakes and needs consequences. If necessary, other strategies may be used with a child or a group of children who are not following our classroom’s management plan. These strategies may include social conferences, class meetings, or behavior contracts.

Please have your child explain our classroom rules to you. Feel free to comment on the discussion you have with your child. If anything is unclear or you have concerns, just let me know.

Thank you for your continued support at home.