Classroom Culture and Relationships

Desired Classroom Culture

I want my classroom to be a community of learners where all students feel safe, respected, and valued. I want students to feel comfortable asking questions, taking risks, and making mistakes. I also want them to be supportive of each other and to work together to achieve their goals.

Communication with Families

I will communicate with families regularly about their student’s classroom behavior and ability to meet set expectations. I will do this through a variety of methods, including:

• Weekly email updates
• Parent-teacher conferences
• Progress reports
• Phone calls
• Home-school communication folders

I will also be available to meet with parents or guardians at any time to discuss their student’s progress or any concerns they may have.

Supporting and Engaging Families and the Community

I believe that it is important to support and engage families and the community in my classroom. I will do this by:

• Inviting parents and guardians to visit the classroom and participate in classroom activities
• Sending home information about classroom curriculum and upcoming events
• Volunteering in the community and partnering with local businesses and organizations to support student learning

1. Classroom Rules/Expectations and Procedures

Introduction and Implementation of Classroom Rules and Procedures

I will introduce my classroom rules and procedures to students at the beginning of the year. I will do this by discussing the rules and procedures with students and having them sign a contract agreeing to follow the rules. I will also post the rules and procedures in a prominent place in the classroom.

Shared Values and Expectations

I will discuss with students the following shared values and expectations for creating a healthy, respectful, supportive, and inclusive classroom:

• Respect for self and others
• Responsibility
• Kindness
• Cooperation
• Honesty

I will also model these values and expectations in my own behavior and interactions with students.

Specific Classroom Rules

The following are the specific classroom rules that I will implement in my classroom:

• Be respectful of yourself and others.
• Raise your hand to speak.
• Listen when others are speaking.
• Follow directions.
• Keep your hands and feet to yourself.
• Complete your work on time.

Procedures

The following are some of the procedures that I will implement in my classroom:

• When students enter the classroom, they will put their backpacks away and start their morning work.
• When students need to sharpen a pencil, they will raise their hand and wait for permission.
• When students need to go to the bathroom, they will raise their hand and ask permission.
• When students are finished with an assignment, they will raise their hand and wait for permission to turn it in.

Consequences

The following are the consequences that I will use for students who break the classroom rules:

• First offense: Verbal warning
• Second offense: Written warning
• Third offense: Parent-teacher conference
• Fourth offense: Detention

I will use these consequences in a fair and consistent manner. I will also work with students to develop a plan to help them avoid breaking the rules in the future.

Rewards

I will also reward students for following the classroom rules and meeting expectations. Some ways that I will reward students include:

• Verbal praise
• Positive notes home
• Stickers
• Special privileges

I believe that a positive classroom environment is essential for student learning. By implementing clear rules and procedures, modeling shared values and expectations, and using a combination of consequences and rewards, I can create a classroom where all students feel safe, respected, and valued.