Teacher (T) Knowledge Base

(2000-T-P) Classroom Procedures

  1. In the first period, the following activities occur: attendance is taken, the class stands and recites the Pledge of Allegiance, the mission statement, virtues and the teacher evaluates uniforms. Any school-wide announcements are made.
  2. Students are expected to be in their seats with all materials ready at the start of all classes.  If class starts at 8:00 a.m., students are in their seats at 8:00 a.m..  They are not walking through the door or rifling through their backpacks
  3. Tardy procedure:
    • Lower School (for first period):  Tardies are tracked by the front office.  The front office will send a letter home or call the parents after the third tardy of the quarter.  
  4. Leaving the classroom:
    • Lower School:  Class restroom breaks are recommended, especially for 1st and 2nd grade. Students should use the restroom before school starts, during physical education and lunch. The teacher will use his/her discretion when allowing Lower School students to use the restroom.  Students should not be continually asking to use the restroom unless for documented medical reasons.
  5. Students do not speak out in class.  This includes the following:
    • Blurting out questions.
    • Talking to self, peers, or to the teacher without direction from the teacher to do so.
    • Raising hands when it is not time for questions.
    • Loud yawns, sighs, or other disrespectful noises.
  6. Organization/materials (with consequences):
    • Lower School: Students should have a binder and a composition book for each subject (orthography, math, literature, science, history, and Latin).  Teachers may also have a “Take Home Folder,” with two labeled pockets: “Return to School” and “Leave at Home.”
      • No homework (student may turn in the assignment the next day for 50% credit).  
      • Parents should be contacted when a student consistently turns homework in late or does not come to school with the appropriate materials. 
  7. Classroom behavior:
    • Examples of misbehavior: talking out of turn, incorrect posture-slouching, feet on desk in front, facing wrong direction, eating, chewing gum, foul language, disrespectful attitude or words towards others or teacher, passing, reading, writing notes, working on work from other classes, not following directions immediately, getting out of seat without permission, physical contact with other students, sleeping.  
    • General strategies:
      • Address ALL misbehavior
      • Address misbehavior immediately if possible
      • Address respectfully, privately if possible
      • Appropriately praise students doing the right thing, but not for the purpose of indirectly correcting other students’ behavior
      • Follow up with positive contact
    • Give appropriate consequences after one warning; there should be some consequence or policy in place between a warning and an office referral. Office referrals should be used for frequent and/or severe behavior.
      • Lower School - move to a different seat, write a reflection, phone call home, after school detention, office referral  
      • Upper School - move to a different seat, lunch detention, phone call home, after school detention, office referral
  8. No food is allowed in the classroom.  This includes gum.  Water bottles that are filled only with water are allowed. Lower school classroom should have a designated area for water bottles away from student desks or water bottle holders for bicycles can be placed on the legs of student desks. 
  9. Students are to sit up straight with their feet on the floor. They are to face the teacher.
  10. Student desks and desk areas are to be neatly kept at all times.  Aisles must be clear.  Upper school student backpacks may be placed under students’ desks or along classroom walls if aisles are too narrow.