The Learning Environment There are many aspects of a classroom that need to be positive and effective in order to maintain

a safe and positive learning environment. After being in two clinical experiences this year that were very different from one another, I have learned some rules that I would want to implement in my classroom. I want the rules in my classroom to be created by the students, so when they break a rule, they must accept responsibility because the students themselves wrote the rules. Of course, there are a few main rules that I would want, and I would lead the students to construct these rules. Below is a list of the main rules I would want to implement in my classroom: 1. RESPECT--Be respectful to your peers, teachers, school, and yourself at all times. (This includes your words and actions.) 2. Be attentive when someone else is talking. If you need to speak, raise your hand. 3. Follow classroom routines quickly, safely, and quietly. 4. Always be prepared with materials and a positive attitude. 5. Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself. There also will be rewards and consequences. For consequences, it is my goal to address a problem as it takes place, and give a punishment that is relevant to the action. For example, if a student is talking at an

inappropriate time, then I would take part of their talk time. Nowadays, recess is becoming less of a punishment option, but sometimes, I feel like this could be beneficial. As the teacher and creator of these consequences, I would reserve the right to alter these consequences.

Consequences 1. Warning 2. Think about it 3. Student Written Behavior Form/ Action Plan (What is the problem/What did I do?, Why am I doing this?, How will I fix it? What will be done if this continues? What will be done if I do better?- Student signature, date, and copy kept on file and sent to parent) 4. Parent Phone Call 5. Written Referral 6. Principal I feel like rewards should be implemented just as much as consequences. Some students work very hard to be on their best behavior at all times, but sometimes, teachers get so caught up with students who are misbehaving, that we overlook those who always do the right thing. Some schools have a school-wide rewards system, such as sunny money at Springfield and PAWS at Mathews. In my classroom, I would

definitely use these, but also a class rewards system. I would have a student of the day, in which the student would be chosen at the end of the day and pick a prize from the treasure box. The treasure box would be filled with small pieces of candy, pencils, erasers, etc. Also, I would use classroom money or coupons, such as Homework Pass, Bonus Points on a Test (1-5 pts), Write in Pen!, Sit with a buddy, Note to Parent, Line Leader, etc. I would have students draw a coupon randomly from a box. From the beginning of the year, students will be assigned a number that is their number in the class role. At the beginning of the day, students will have a number magnet that they will place under number 1 or number 2; this is how they will select a lunch choice. Students will be sitting in a group of 4-6 students. In each group, the students will have a specific job, one in particular being the collector. When work is to be collected for the teacher, the students in each group will pass their work to the group collector. If work is being passed out, I will put enough sheets on the collectors desk and he/she will distribute to the rest of the group. Pencils should all be sharpened at the beginning of class, but there will be a bucket by the pencil sharpener with freshly sharpened pencils. If students need a pencil, they will be allowed to get up and get a new one, but only at appropriate times, not in the middle of a lesson. The sharpened pencil bucket will be checked every morning by the pencil sharpener, which will be one of the student jobs. Along with this job

and the group collector job, there will be many more class jobs available. These jobs will rotate every nine weeks. Bathroom breaks will be taken as a class at certain times during the day; most likely, these breaks will be after related arts and after lunch. Depending on the class schedule, the times could be altered. If a student needs to go to the restroom during class, as long as the time is appropriate (unless it is an emergency), then I will let him/her go. I understand that children need to use the restroom; it is natural. As long as it does not get out of hand, I do not mind letting them go. If the restroom runs are abused, then I will limit the number of times a student may go to the restroom each week. For example, I would give each student two restroom passes, outside of the scheduled time, each week. In the hallway, students will walk in a quiet and straight line. Students should walk near the right side of the hallway to avoid jams with oncoming traffic. Students will always line up in number order. During emergencies and emergency drills, students will follow the normal line-walking rules, and I will carry a list of all students. When we are in our assigned area, I will count the students and call role. We will practice this often throughout the year.