Below is a run down of the norms, guidelines, policies, and encouragements for positive behaviors that we will be employing in Mr. Coe’s classroom this year. We will be reviewing and discussing all of these standards in great detail on the first day of school (and, to be honest, most every day thereafter), in order to ensure everyone's on the same page about how we're gonna get stuff done 'round here. Please note: accommodations and/or modifications to the norms established below will be carried out as necessary, at the discretion of the teacher, or in consultation with a given student's educational decision-making team as enumerated in their finalized written individual education or 504 plan.
If you or your child have questions or concerns about any of what follows, please feel free to contact me at your convenience: jcoe@fusd1.org or extension 2640 at the school.
Classroom Bucks Program (Mr. Coe's homeroom only)
At the beginning of each week, Mr. Coe will distribute a sheet of 10 Bucks to students. Students will write their name on each Buck in pen and follow instructions on the sheet. Students must have Bucks at school at all times. Students will use Bucks to purchase privileges, supplies, and to pay for behavioral infractions/misbehaviors throughout the week. At the end of each week students must have a predetermined amount of remaining Bucks (typically 2-3) to purchase an extra recess. Students who do not have enough Bucks for extra recess, due to overspending or fee assessments, must sit on the wall outside, or in a classroom study hall, if such arrangements have been made collaboratively with another teacher.
Classroom Behavior Plan (all classes)
Students will be expected to comply in a consistent manner with a simple set of behavioral expectations during the school day. These norms/policies will be enforced at all times during the school day.
- Students should generally raise their hands to speak to the class or to the teacher; to leave their seat to sharpen pencils; to access their backpacks. This expectation is not in effect during collaborative or small group work/activity periods.
- Students must walk slowly, quietly and directly between the portable classrooms during all passing periods, as well as when they are in the hallways in the school building, and especially whenever passing other classrooms that are in session; students must not jump to touch door frames or drag hands or other body parts along walls; students must walk as a group but need not form gender-exclusive or especially straight lines.
- Students must raise hands ask for permission from you to use the restrooms and to refill waterbottles during class time. Students will be dismissed from class one at a time to use the restroom facilities in the school building. Students must make every effort to refrain from interrupting direct instruction, except in the case of a dire emergency, to request to use the restroom.
- Students must be prepared with all proper materials and supplies for each class/lesson when the class/lesson begins.
- Students must always speak respectfully to teachers, support staff, and, most importantly, to one another.
If homeroom students do not comply with the aforementioned guidelines, a Buck will be taken away from them. Students from other classrooms will be given a verbal word of warning ("Jorge, you are being given a warning for not raising your hand.")
There is no consequence for the first lost Buck or a first verbal warning. The teacher will, however, always be clear in explaining to the student what infraction has caused them to lose a Buck or receive the warning ("Jorge, you have lost a Buck for not raising your hand."). The student will also be reminded, at the same time, that they now have a chance to change their behavior and avoid losing a second Buck or receiving a second warning.
If, during a given school day, a student loses a second Buck, or receives a second verbal warning for any infraction listed above, his/her name will be written down in the teachers notes/plans. After losing a second Buck, or receiving a second warning, during any school day, the student's next lunch recess privilege will be withheld from them (either that day or the next depending on the time of the second infraction). Students who do not not allowed to attend recess for losing two bucks or receiving warnings will attend a classroom study hall supervised during their lunch-period by Mr. Coe, or by another fifth grade teacher if such arrangements have been made in advance.
If the loss of recess occurs after the lunch recess on a given school day this consequence will be carried out during lunch recess on the next school day.
Bucks Menu
Bucks must be at school every day. An envelope will be provided to students to store their Bucks in.
A menu for purchase prices for Coe's Bucks will be on display in the classroom at all times. The menu may change from time to time, with little notice, as the teacher's expectations for student-preparedness increase with time and maturation. The menu for the first several weeks of school will be as follows:
- No Agenda = 5 Bucks
- No Bucks = 5 Bucks (per day)
- Missing materials or supplies = 5 Bucks
- Rent scissors = 1 Buck
- Restroom Break = 1 Buck
- 15-min. Library Break (all work must be done) = 2 Bucks
- Extra recess privilege (earned as class) = TBD by Mr. Coe
Positive Behavior Incentives
Individual students who are on-task and compliant with your expectations will receive regular verbal praise from the teacher. Special attention will always be given to students who are demonstrating specific desirable behaviors throughout the school day (“David, thanks for walking so quietly in the hall.”) in order to allow these behaviors to serve as models for others.
Students who are exceptionally well-behaved or helpful may be rewarded with a bonus Buck as the teacher sees fit. Students who receive unsolicited compliments from other adults in the school building may be rewarded with a bonus buck.
Class Collaborative Extra Recess Clock
On the wall behind the teacher's desk is a section labeled “Extra Recess Clock” and, as student behaviors as-a-class meets with any/all of aforementioned expectations, or as whole group compliments are received from adults other than Mr. Coe, or whenever the entire class has required little to no repetition or redirection from the teacher, minutes of time will be put on the clock, expressed as a fraction of 15. When the fraction is whole (15/15) Mr. Coe will elect to take the class out for an extra recess as time in our daily schedule permits. This recess will cost Bucks and students with an insufficient account at the time of the extra recess will be required to sit out.
