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Classroom Management
Rules, Routines and Procedures
The following was included in my sub folder when teaching Kindergarten.
Before the children arrive
I put the next counting children card up on the number chart. The counting children cards are located on top of the “big book” book shelf in the carpet area.
Change the job cards by rotating them clockwise above the calendar.
Check mail in the lounge.
Morning Routine
The students come in and hang up their backpacks right away, choose their lunch, get their journals from the tub on the blue book shelf (end of carpet area) and crayon boxes out of cubbies. When they are done journaling they can play with the fine motor materials (under the books on the blue shelf under the windows near the blocks center).
During this time on Tu/W/Th students are also dismissed two at a time to return and check out books from the library. The two passes are on the teacher’s desk.
During the TV announcements students stop what they are doing and watch the TV.
*For the TV announcements use the remote on the desk. Push “power” then “TV.” It should already be on channel 88.
Lunch Count
Students have a choice of main, alternate or cold lunch. I have small plastic baskets out between their cubbies with a picture and description of the lunch selection for the day and a picture of a lunch box for cold lunch. (The lunch menu is above the sink). Students have name sticks out on the counter by the baskets. They simply put their stick in the basket to choose their lunch. I then enter the lunch count and attendance into the Centerpoint System on the computer.
Calendar Time
I ring the chimes for the students to come up to the carpet. They have designated spots on the carpet with their names on a piece of masking tape. The expectation is that they be on their bottoms, criss-cross-applesauce with their hands in their laps and facing the front. Each child holds a small soft toy. If they blurt out or bother others during this time I take the ball away and it is a warning. If it happens again fter this they are sent back to their seats and lose a block. (See below for information about the blocks).
- We sing the Good Morning Song. I hold up their name cards and we say good-morning to each child individually.
- I go over the schedule for the day.
- The teacher helper comes up and reads the jobs and the sentence strip.
- Next, the flag helper comes up. I hand the Flag Helper the flag to hold. Everyone stands and faces the flag and says the Pledge of Allegiance.
- The calendar helper then comes up and chooses a pointer.
- After this we will sing “Days of the Week” (there is a CD out with this song on it for you).
- He/She points to the month and everyone says the month together.
- The calendar helper will point to the day of the week is and everyone says the day of the week together.
- He/She points to the dates and we count from one all the way up to today’s date and the calendar helper turns over the next card.
- We all say “Today is day, month, date and year.” For example, “today is Friday, September 8th, 2006.”
- Stop and talk about the pattern on the calendar. Have the calendar helper say the pattern then discuss what type of a pattern it is.
- Have the calendar helper predict what will come next in the pattern.
- The calendar helper now goes over to the metal cabinet to the left of the door and points to the counting children cards with a pointer and we all count together to see how many days of school we have been in.
- The weather helper then looks out the window and determines the weather for the day. They pick a weather card and put it under the day of the week where it belongs.
- Next have the weather helper come up and we all sing the Weather Song.
Ex: “Sunny Sunny Sunny Sunny it is Sunny in the Sky, S-U-N-N-Y Sunny, it is Sunny in the sky.”
- The movement leader comes up and chooses a song. They lead the class in the movements.
- The last thing we do is form a community circle and pass the talking ball around or play a group game. (If a student does not want to share they have the right to pass).
Lining Up
There are feet shapes on the floor and they should stand on them. This helps them learn to do a straight line. I line up the leader, middle person and caboose first then depending on the day we line up by tables. So, on a Monday, the red circle table lines up followed by purple rectangle, blue triangle, green square then orange diamond. On Tuesday we follow the same sequence, but start with purple rectangle, etc.
When we line up we chant:
I'm giving myself a great big hug, (fold arms across chest)
I'm standing straight and tall, (hands to sides)
I'm looking right ahead of me,
I'm ready for the hall.
I remind them: Quiet feet in the hallway and on the stairs and voices off.
Restroom Breaks
We have a restroom in our room and a sink. Students are allowed one at a time as needed. They just need to tell me before going. They wash their hands with soap at our classroom sink. I have a stop/go sign to hang on the door since our door does not lock due to safety issues.
AM and Lunch Recess
I ring the chimes on my desk to have students start getting ready for recess, cleaning up, etc. about 5 minutes prior to recess time. If it is cold out I allow extra time for putting on coats, hats, mittens and/or snow pants and snow boots.
*If I have duty I make sure to take the emergency pack with me.
Snack
In the morning the snack helper brings the snack back in a round bucket. I keep the tin on the desk behind the chimes.
About 5 min. before snack time I call the hand sanitizer helper up to use hand sanitizer then call the rest of the students up to sit down at their seats.
The snack helper then passes out snack. This is a great opportunity for students to practice manners with please and thank you.
Students sit quietly at the table with their hands in their laps while snack is being passed out. Once everyone has a snack we sing:
Open and Shut them Open and Shut them give a little clap
Open and Shut them Open and Shut them lay them on your lap
The students then say “Thank you” to the snack helper.
At this time the children can eat their snack.
Also, if they do not follow the rules and instead eat before it is time they have to wait for one minute after everyone else has started eating to eat.
They can talk at their tables using inside voices during snack time. I set the timer for 5 minutes after we start so that kids eat instead of goof around.
When they are done with snack they will raise their hand. After I call on them they ask “May I please be excused?” After I give them permission they say thank you and I say you are welcome.
The students are responsible for throwing away their own trash and pushing their chair in. They are also responsible for cleaning up any crumbs off their table spots, chairs or floor under their chairs.
*The snack helper hangs the bucket on the next snack helper’s coat hook.
Lunch
I ring the chimes for the students to clean up their activity before lunch and come to their seats.
The lunch helper goes around and squirts hand sanitizer into each students’ hands. During this time the lunch ticket helper hands out the lunch cards.
We line up for lunch around 11:57, lunch starts at noon.
The students carry their own cards into the cafeteria, hand them to the lunch attendant and proceed to get a napkin, spoon and straw. I help them to remember to put their napkin under their milk and their straw and spoon together on the tray. Also, I remind them of saying please and thank you.
I pick the kids up at 25 after.
If I have lunch duty I assist the kids in the lunchroom.
Rest Time
After lunch recess, I meet the kids at the end of the hallway and take them into our room.
I turn on soft music and turn the lights out. They get their own mats out and go to assigned napping spots.
There is to be no talking during this time and they must stay on their mats unless they are up taking their turn for the restroom and a drink. If they are talking or messing around I use the block system (explained later on).
I have a sighn up sheet with the student’s names and clips. (One girl and one boy). I rotate who starts each day then the kids go in order down the list. They clip the the clothes pin by their name and use the restroom and get a drink (girls in the classroom-boys in the hallway bathroom). When they have finished they cross out their name and hand the clip to the next person on the list.
When nap is over the mats are put away with the names facing out. The students are responsible for doing this.
Centers
After rest time we do centers (Free Choice).
I have five index cards labeled M-F with kids’ names on them to determine who gets to choose centers first for that day. So, for example, if it is Monday then the Monday card would indicate who gets to choose first. Follow this by subsequent cards. So, Tuesday would follow Monday, etc.
We have a pocket chart in the carpet area with pictures of centers with the number listed for how many can be in that center at once. Students place their name card beside which center they choose. This helps to make it fair so the same ones aren’t always the first ones at a center and others miss out. It will also help you to determine who was in a center so if toys are left out you know which students are responsible for cleaning up.
If they want to they can change to different centers as long as there is an open space.
PM Recess and Milk Break
As the students return from recess I meet them in front of the cafeteria door and walk them through to pick up their milks and come back to the classroom.
Students sit at table spots quietly and wait for the signal to drink their milk.
The signal is:
*clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* (teacher)
“Thank You.” (teacher and students)
The milk break helper passes out straws and the messenger takes the milk sheet to the office.
The students need to ask to be excused by raising their hand. When I call on them they will say “May I be excused?” I then dismiss them to throw away their milk container and to stack their chairs, check cubbies, pack bags and go sit on the carpet and wait for everyone.
End of the Day
Once everyone is on the carpet I read to them or we do song/finger plays depending on what the plans say for that day.
At 3:15 the early bell rings and early bus riders and walkers leave.
At 3:20 the bus recess bell rings and the rest of the students go to bus recess. The bus list is posted on the “big book” book shelf in the carpet area.
I use redirection and reminders for small things.
If students push or grab toys, and other inappropriate behaviors I use the block system.
Block System: Each student has one red block, two yellow blocks and one green block connected together at their table spots. If a student misbehaves I take a block away. Green first (just a warning), then yellows (first yellow =five minutes missed of recess or centers, whichever is next, second yellow=10 additional minutes taken). If the red is taken away then the parents will be called and they will go to the office for a visit with the principal.
Discipline
Our one main rule is: “I will try not to hurt anyone on the inside and on the outside.” Each student has gone over this rule with me one at a time and have signed their name agreeing to it.
If a student hits I send them to the principal right away. The same holds true for students who are both fighting.
*If our class rule is broken, I take the perpetrator aside and talk to them. If they say they did not do it then ask them “So, when I call (the other student) over what story will they tell me? Talk about what they did wrong, what to do next time and how the other student feels. Tell them that later in the day when they have calmed down and when they are ready they should apologize to the other student. The other student should come and tell you after the apology is made. Later in the year when students are writing more I have them write an apology note.
Lying- Kindergartners love to make things up! Often times if I say something to the effect of “oh good, I was going to talk to your mother/father right after school today anyway. I bet they will tell me all about this too” they will fess up.
I try to use teachable moments as much as possible. For example: when we are doing calendar and I call on the calendar helper to come up, I remind the student that they need to stand up, say excuse me and proceed forward. That way the other kids know that if they get bumped or stepped on that it was an accident.
Miscellaneous
The children are allowed to keep water bottles on their desks to drink out of if they are thirsty.
I have a bag with popsicle sticks in it with the students’ names. I use the sticks to call on students during whole group time, calendar time, etc. This helps to make sure that everyone has a chance to participate and helps to keep things fair.
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