FIGURE 17.1 Example of a procedure for dealing with a late student
1. The teacher mark student tardy.
2. The student goes to a designated spot in the room to pick up his or her work which has already been placed there by a team leader.
3. The student takes his or her seat, and the class moves right along. No big deal, no embarrassment
Create rules with student buy-in. Widespread dissemination of clearly stated rules ensures that all students and staff understand what is and is not acceptable. Create the rough drafts for the rules, and then invite students to participate in developing and reviewing the rules. Put students in small teams to troubleshoot the rules with what if" scenarios. This encourages a sense of ownership and belonging. Any fewer than five rules make them so general that kids can't read into them all the specifics. Too many rules (more than ten), and students can't remember them and it starts to feel like prison. Figure 17.2 offers examples for creating student buy-in
Post the rules in the classroom, and make sure compliance with them is consistent. Keep the margin of error consistent so that students know how much leeway they have. Adopt general rules that emphasize appropriate behavior. Never develop classroom rules that you are unwilling to enforce. Every rule should have two to three examples that you give with it so students know exactly what you expect.
Put into place consequences for when rules are broken. The most effective, frequently used consequences include depriving students of classroom privileges such as a free homework pass, reducing classroom mobility, and nixing the company of their friends. But never deprive kids of physical education, a trip, or arts in the name of punishment; the students most likely to break rules are the very ones who are most likely to benefit academically from those options. Parent support for consequences may mean home sanctions
Examples of rules that create student buy-in FIGURE