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Disciplinary Philosophy

I have a complex philosophy on discipline in the classroom. Whenever possible I will attempt to solve the discipline problem in the classroom rather than sending a child out of the classroom. I must insist that parents and guardians work with me to insure that their child is not being a disruption to the educational process and a distraction to other students.

My philosophy is outlined below:

Avoiding Discipline Problems:

Discipline problems are avoided whenever possible by the following techniques:

Discipline Policy: Simple

When I must intervene, the following procedure is followed:

D- Distracting the child by redirecting bad behaviors

I- Ignoring misbehavior when appropriate

S- Structuring environment to be age appropriate

C- Controlling the situation, not the child

I - Involving the child through choices and consequences

P- Planning time for the love of learning

L- Letting Go

I Increasing my consistency

N- Noticing positive behavior, no matter how small

E- Excusing a child with Time-Out, or the choice to engage in one of several self examination activities.

No child will be humiliated, frightened, or punished physically. No child will be denied bathroom breaks as a punishment. When a child continually misbehaves, the parents will be informed and an attempt will be made to work together to solve the problem. This requires the ACTIVE PARTICIPATION of the parent(s).

Primary Behavior Guidelines:

Students are not permitted to hurt themselves, or others.

Students are not to belittle or attack the feelings, appearance, or culture of another student.

Students are guided to learn proper techniques for working with adults as well as with other students.

Students are required to complete homework, assignments, and readings.

Students are not permitted to be disruptive to the classroom atmosphere.

Discipline Policy: Complex:

Assertive Discipline

When the simple discipline policy is not effective, I will employ a more advanced disciplinary technique. This assertive discipline policy places responsibility for good behavior in the hands of the individual and the parents. There are six specific instances when this policy will be used.

v When a child poses harm to himself or to another

v When a child is belittling the emotions or feelings of another

v When the child is intentionally damaging property or items of the school or another person

v When a child intentionally curses at or threatens another child or staff member.

v When a child is not completing homework, assignments, projects, readings, and other class required activities.

v When a student is being disruptive to the classroom environment.

While in my care, I model appropriate behavior and teach the student that misbehavior has consequences. I attempt to maintain a level of consistency so that each student knows that positive behavior or action is rewarded positively and inappropriate behavior has negative consequences.

To this end I will require the cooperation of the parents to teach a responsible life. Should my discipline policy be activated, I will notify the parents and monitor the situation. Should my efforts not be sufficient, I may require your assistance.

I may:

Ask you to intervene when negative behavior occurs at home.

Ask you to come in and spend some time in your child's class modeling positive behavior.

Inform you that your child has been assigned a written discipline assignment, detention, or other appropriate action.

Ask you to work closely with myself and your child to insure proper behavior or develop a home-based disciplinary action plan.

Should these efforts fail, I have several options at my disposal:

I may choose to use my intervention plan or assign different disciplinary assignments. This can include, but is not limited to, reading a passage from books on behavior, then writing a brief essay about how their actions tie into the passage, removal by administrative staff for a time out, or detention.

I may request further interventions from you or ask you to come in for a conference.

Or I may be forced to write a school board referral for disciplinary action. Please note, that this action becomes part of your child's permanent school record.

It is my sincere hope that by working closely with parents I can help guide our future generations toward responsible lives where the individual models caring, appropriate behavior based on a personal desire to do so and not based on external or short term rewards for correct behavior.

Disciplinary Actions

Disciplinary Essays

Examples of Disciplinary writings come from several sources including the Book of Virtues, What is a Man, 3000 Years of Wisdom On Manly Virtue, The Handbook of Ettiquette, The Moral Compass, and The Essential 55.

Students who are assigned a disciplinary writing will be given a section to read, be asked to summarize the work on paper, state how the reading relates to their behavior in this instance, and how they can improve their behavior using the advice in the passage assigned.

Failure to complete this writing, will result in parent notification AND further interventions.

Parent Notification

By the time I call parents, students have repeatedly been given the opportunity to correct their behavior, I have used the steps in my simple discipline plan, I have assigned disciplinary essays, and we are at the next level of discipline. Please keep this in mind when I am speaking with you. Discipline in the classroom is one of the most time consuming tasks and I have gone to great lengths to "handle" the situation and allow your child many opportunities to assume personal responsibility for their actions.

Time out

Time out will be assigned when I have been unsuccessful in encouraging the student to be personally accountable for their behavior and work habits.

Please understand that a time out in school REQUIRES the parent to take action at home to enforce the importance of good work habits and behavior. The actions you demonstrate when your child receives time out communicate strongly how you feel toward education and school.

Referral

Referrals are the final stage in my classroom disciplinary bag of tricks. When a referral is written the student is removed from the class, sent to the office, and the administration begins handling the discipline. A referral will be placed in the students file, and the school will begin tracking behavior problems. This information is keep on file and follows your child if they leave the school and attend another.

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Example of A Discipline Procedure

Student A begins the nine weeks with a positive attitude and is making good points. During the second day of school he is late to class once (1 demerit). On another day he uses foul or sexually suggestive language and is given 3 verbal warnings (3 demerits). On yet another day, the student is out of his seat without permission and grabs another student's pencil. I note his non- compliance, horseplay, and bullying on my tracking sheet and then assign him a passage to read from The Book of Virtues. The student then writes a brief essay on how his behavior is related to the passage and how he can improve. This essay is placed in his file for reference.

One day he comes into class and refuses to sit in his assigned seat, uses foul language directed at me, and is continually talking thereby disrupting the educational setting. The student is immediately given a timeout. The parent is called at the end of the day.

On yet another day, he comes into class with a negative attitude and attempts to deface the textbook and draws on the desk. The student is then removed from class and I note his behavior in my log as well as the parent comments.

This behavior continues until I have no choice but to write a school board referral.

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