Students enter the classroom quietly and calmly, put their belongings away quickly according to the morning routine, and do the bellwork.

Each morning there is a bell work assignment on the board or overhead projector.  Students enter the classroom and get started on the assignment.

I raise my hand to quiet the class.

A student is taught the procedure of how to be the “Attendance Keeper.”  This student places an “Absent” folder on that desk of the student who is absent. I can then glance around the room quickly and know who is absent.

Every morning the class says the classroom motto, which is posted on the wall in the front of the room.  Everyone stands and says the motto together to start off our day.

Work is collected according to the configuration of the desks.  If the desks are arranged in rows, students collect their seatwork by passing the papers across their rows.  Students seated at tables collect their work by placing their finished papers in the middle of their table.  The student whose job is to collect papers walks around the room and picks up each table’s stack of papers and puts them in the finished work basket at the front of the room.

There are two baskets placed in the front of the room.  One basket is labeled “class work” and the other is labeled “homework.”  Children place their work in the appropriate basket.

Students place any notes from home in the basket labeled “Notes from Home.”

Individual students are allowed to go to the bathroom four times a month without having a tally pulled.  They use their daily agendas as their pass and have the teacher sign and date when they are going.  Only one student may use the restroom at a time.  Students are excused as a class to go to the restroom during lunch and recess.

Students make two lines by the outside door, one for “home lunches” and one for “school lunches.”  The students buying their lunches line up in alphabetical order.  Students are picked up after lunch on the blacktop as they wait in the area of their classroom number.  (Numbers are painted on the blacktop.)

Students follow the cafeteria procedures as well as the classroom rules.  Students clean up their sitting area after they are done.  Students should be on their best behavior by using “Please” and "Thank You.”

Students are placed in teacher chosen groups at all times.  They are reminded of the procedure for Support Groups.

1. You are responsible for your own work.
2. You are to ask a “support buddy” for help if you have a question.
3. You must help if you are asked for help.
4. You may ask for help from the teacher when the group agrees on the same question.

Students are chosen to do things in class by picking a Popsicle stick from the can labeled “Pick a Stick.”  Each student’s name is written on the bottom end of a Popsicle stick and the sticks are all placed in a can.  The teacher draws a stick in order to pick students for a variety of things.

Students pin up their work on the clothesline in the front of the classroom.  Whenever an activity that requires glue or paint is completed, the clothesline is used to hang the paper to dry.  At the end of the day the students remove their dried papers and stack them in the “Class Work” basket.

A traffic signal is used to remind the students of the noise level for the classroom.  A large cutout stoplight is hung in the front of the room with three black circles and a hook on each circle.  Green, yellow, and red circles have been cut to fit over the black circle.  The red circle is hung from its hook to indicate silent time, the yellow circle for whisper time, and the green circle for talk freely time.

Classical music is played during class time. Children keep their noise levels lower than the sound of the music.

Notes to go home to parents at the end of the day are placed in the cubbies.  This is the cubby keeper’s job to do.  Students are responsible for sharing all of the notes with parents each evening.

When a student is absent, an absent folder with a yellow sticker is placed on that student’s desk.  Copies of all papers passed out during class or any notes that need to go home are placed inside the folder.  When the student comes back to school he/she knows to complete the missed work in the yellow folder.  The absent work is placed on the shelf in the front office of the school for parents to pick up after 3:00 p.m.

The teacher gives a verbal announcement of five minutes left before changing centers, lessons, activities, etc.  When it is time to change, a variety of methods are used.

1. Play music
2. Snap/clap rhythm pattern led by teacher
3. A bell is rung

Students know what these different signals mean and make the change quickly and quietly.

Students remain on task while the teacher is out of the room. Classroom rules and procedures are followed as they continue their work. The classroom aide or a teacher next door is available for help if needed.

At the end of the day the class reads the daily closing message, a short summary of the day’s events.  One child is chosen to read this message to the class as everyone else follows along.  The daily closing message is prepared during the day by the teacher and then photocopied for each student to share with their parents that evening.  This communication tool is a great way for teachers to keep parents aware of upcoming events, important information, and the children’s day in school.

At all times remember to say thank you to one another.  Along with thank you, “please” should also be used at all times.

The bell does not dismiss the class; I dismiss the class.  Students are dismissed when called upon, either individually or by groups.

Students follow the school’s rules and classroom’s procedures even when riding in vehicles on school outings.  When walking to or from the bus or car, the procedures for the halls are followed.  Students stay seated while on the bus or in the car and respect the property.  Seat belts are worn at all times.  Low voices are always used in the vehicle.  There is no eating in the car or bus unless the driver says it’s okay.