ALL teachers, aides, students, parents, and visitors that enter this classroom deserve basic respect. You may not like everyone that enters this class, but the showing of basic respect is expected.
ALL teachers, aides, students, parents, and visitors that enter this classroom are expected to follow the classroom rules while in the class.
All students must be physically in the classroom when the bell rings to begin class. Standing at the door talking to friends does not count as being in the classroom.
Bring to class all materials that will be needed to complete academic assignments. Trips to lockers will be limited.
When a student or teacher is presenting, lecturing, or responding to a class question, other conversations should not be happening.
The classroom will be free from the throwing of objects of any type for any reason. This means tossing a pencil to a friend or tossing a piece of paper to a neighbor. This is a safety issue.
Both the teacher and the students should respond immediately to any hand gestures, body motions, facial expressions, or other non-verbal communication that could be deemed aggressive. This is another safety issue.
This class considers sarcastic jokes/comments, verbal threats made in jest, derogatory comments, ridiculing, teasing or ostracizing of any nature inappropriate.
If a person is asked to move to a different location in the classroom, s/he will do this without disrupting the class.
If a person believes s/he has been misunderstood or treated unfairly, s/he will select an appropriate time to approach and discuss this issue with the party(ies) involved.
Possible Classroom Rituals
As the teacher, commit to following the classroom rules as you would expect your students to follow them.
Start class on time each day.
Make a point of having a personal conversation with each of your students at least once per week (class size of 20 or more) or twice per week (class size fewer than 20).
Set aside a few minutes at the beginning of each class to ask students if there is anything important going on in their lives or if there is something they would like to discuss before the academic lesson begins.
Model what you want others to learn. Just saying it is not enough.
Follow the rules, but be willing to compromise or adjust for special circumstances.
Approach each situation or interaction in a neutral, non-threatening manner.
Recognize and respect each person as an individual.
Be aware and respectful of others’ needs and whenever possible try to help meet those needs.