APPENDIX : I. Getting Started • II. Classroom Management • III. Lesson Planning and Curriculum • IV. Safety and Disciipline •
V. How Special Education Students Receive Services • VI.Certification Nuts and Bolts • VII. Tuition Help •
VIII. Your Money • IX. How the School System is Organized

Section Contents

• ESTABLISHING EFFECTIVE RULES AND PROCEDURES
• Classroom Procedures
• How Many Procedures
• First Day Procedures
• Introduce Procedures Systematically
• Teaching Procedures
• Procedures for Older Students
• Classroom Rules
• Research Indicates
• Common Elements of Effective Rules
• Teach Yor Rules as Content
• Rule or Procedure?
• DEFINING CONSEQUENCES FOR BEHAVIOR
• Reward Positive Behavior
• Sanction Inappropriate Behavior
• Hierarchy if Consequences
• Should a Student Be Removed From the Classroom?

II. Classroom Management

Establishing Effective Rules and Procedures

Classroom Procedures

Procedures tell students how to perform routine instructional and housekeeping tasks.

To help you organize the procedures you want, the UFT recommends that you print the seven-page Classroom Procedures worksheet from http://www.aft.org/tools4teachers/
downloads/proceduresworksheet.pdf.

How Many Procedures?

• Routines and procedures allow classrooms to function smoothly.
• Smooth-running classrooms can have as many as 30-60 procedures.
• Self-management procedures build student autonomy and reduce the need for your constant attention.
• Clear procedures manage smooth transitions and minimize downtime.

First Day Procedures

These are good examples of first day procedures:
1. Please find your seat (arranged in A-Z order by last name).
2. Store your belongings in area beneath your desk.
3. Complete an activity by following the directions on the front chalkboard.

Introduce Procedures Systematically

• Teach procedures as content.
• Present procedures in a clear and orderly manner.
• Present procedures as the need arises.
• Model expected behavior for your students.
• Provide students with opportunities to practice.
• Review and re-teach procedures as necessary.
• Reinforce the procedure and provide feedback.
• Apply positive and negative consequences consistently.
• After three weeks, only reminders should be needed.

Teaching Procedures

• Teach procedures as part of the instructional activity.
• Examples:

• Review procedures over several weeks until they become habits.

Procedures for Older Students

• Less time is needed to explain classroom procedures.
• More emphasis should be placed on reinforcing accountability procedures and routines governing instructional activities.

Classroom Rules

Rules are general guidelines that set expectations for student behavior.
Print the Classroom Rules worksheet from http://www.aft.org/tools4teachers/downloads/rulesworksheet.pdf.

Research Indicates

• Establish four to six general “rules of the road” at the beginning of the school year.
• Too many rules can complicate your task of enforcing rules and your students’ task of following them.
• Present, review and reinforce rules during the first three weeks of school.
• Time for instruction increases once students function smoothly in the classroom.
• Review and enforce rules throughout the entire year.

Common Elements of Effective Rules

• Broad and overarching, applying to all student activities and interaction
• Written in a way that is understandable and acceptable to students
• Linked to fair, enforceable and well-understood consequences

Teach Your Rules as Content

• Begin teaching rules on the first day of school.
• Teach rules as you would any other content area.
• Encourage classroom discussions about:

• Post rules in a conspicuous place to focus attention on the expected behaviors.

Next page
Back to top
Previous page