Procedures, Routines, Rituals, and Resources

The following procedures, routines, rituals, and resources keep my class functioning smoothly and efficiently, creating a positive learning environment.

ATTENDANCE AND BEHAVIOR

·      Doors and Tardies: Students must be inside the classroom before the bell rings in order to avoid receiving a tardy.  I call the class to attention once the bell rings, and students must be in their seats ready to learn.

·      Attendance: Students complete a daily warm-up or review, during which I take attendance.

·      Absences: Students are responsible for checking the lesson plans and assignments available on my website to obtain any work they missed.  Work completed in-class is generally excused, though students should be aware that they will not be excused from any quiz or tests due to their absence and should prepare accordingly.

·     Leaving the Classroom: In order to leave the classroom, students must first obtain permission from me.  Students are not generally excused during direct instruction, though they may be allowed to use the restroom or get a drink if they are finished with an assignment and waiting for the next activity.  Students who must leave during instruction must sign the Daily Behavior Log.

·  Daily Behavior Log: When students violate a rule or expectation (or need to leave the room), they sign the Daily Behavior Log, which keeps a record of their infractions and use of the restroom/drinking fountain.  Each infraction results in a pre-determined consequence, typically a “warning” or staying after class to discuss the matter.  Multiple or escalated infractions result in parent and/or administrator contact.

·      Attention:  When I need student attention, I say “Cinco!” and put my hand in the air with five fingers.  I count down silently with my fingers until I reach zero.  By this point, students should be silent and have their attention on me.  If they fail to do so, they will lose marbles from the marble jar.

·      Marble Jar: Students may earn marbles for the marble jar when they speak in Spanish.  However, marbles may be removed from the jar if a class fails to follow the rules and expectations, including speaking in English without permission.  Once the jar is full, they earn Preferred Activity Time for which they vote on activities from a menu that I provide.

STUDENT ARRANGEMENTS AND PARTICIPATION

·      Seating: Students are allowed the privilege of free-choice seating.  However, student behavior may not allow for such flexibility and such circumstances are handled case-by-case, from an individual student that needs to be moved for the day to whole-class seating assignments.

·      Student roles: Students are assigned roles to fulfill as part of the classroom community and roles are changed periodically.  Examples of student roles include the Date Changer, Librarian, and Paper Manager.

·      Bell work and other activities: Notes and work are generally completed in students’ interactive notebooks per the prescribed format.  In-class activities are graded based on completion and checked off before students leave.  Students are assessed for accuracy by completed short quizzes that assess their listening, reading, writing, and speaking proficiency.

·      Passing out/turning in papers: Papers are passed in and out in an organized, systematic manner.  The pattern varies by student seating arrangement.  Typically, the Paper Manger receives a stack of papers and takes enough for their group, then passes the rest of the stack to the next group, and finally distributes the papers in his or her group.  When turning papers in, the pattern is reversed: paper managers collect the papers for their group, pass the entire stack to next group, whose paper manager then passes both groups’ papers to the next group, and the pattern repeats until all the papers are turned in to the first paper manager, who then turns the entire class’s papers in.

·      Grading procedure: Any work that is turned in on-time will be graded ASAP and grades will be entered into PowerSchool, while any late work will be graded as convenient.  Turned-in work will be stored with me, though students may request to see their graded assignments one-on-one.

·       Late/make up work and re-do’s: Students may place any re-do’s or late work in the “turn in” box to be graded when convenient.  Students are welcome to arrange re-do’s at any time.

·      Videos and Songs: Before playing a video or song, I ask a prompt.  If I ask, "¿Quieren escuchar una canción?" (Do you want to hear a song?), students respond with "Woot-Woot!  Awww-yeah!"  With the appropriate hand motions (up on the "woots" and a wave with "aw yeah).  If all of the students respond correctly and with enthusiasm, they earn the song.  If not, they may get a second chance immediately, later or loose the opportunity.  When videos are songs are played, students are expected to watch/participate, and may earn a second video/song through excellent participation.  Students are expected to sing loud, sing along, or sing alone with songs and applaud after songs and videos.

·      Stories, discussions, and questioning: Throughout storytelling and questioning, students are expected to respond and act with fake enthusiasm in a manner that demonstrates comprehension.

INTERRUPTIONS AND RESOURCES

·      Announcements, Phone Calls, and misc. interruptions: Students are expected to be silent during any of these.  They may continue to work unless directed otherwise.

·      Fire Drill: Unless otherwise dictated by school policy, students may grab their belongings from the classroom and exit the building silently and in a single-file line.  They will then line up quietly at the class meeting location, where attendance will be taken.  Then, they will be allowed to interact quietly within the class location until further direction is given.

·      Lock Downs:  When the lock down is announced, students will silently move to the area they are directed to out of sight of windows and doors.  Meanwhile, I will check that my door is locked while directing any students in the hallway into the nearest open classroom.  Once all students are within the classroom, I will shut the door and position myself with my class.  Students may whisper and use their phones or other electronics quietly (particularly in the case of a real emergency), but may not talk during the duration of the lock-down.

·      Computers: In line with the classroom rules, students my not use computers or any other electronic devices unless they first receive permission.

·      Board: Students may not write or draw on the board, nor the touch or use any of the items on the board.

·      "La Tienda" (Props): Ask first! Students may only get into the props and toys used for stories with permission on a case-by-case basis.

·      Class Library: A collection of books and other texts in Spanish that students may choose to read from when they are finished with an activity or on their own.  Students may check out items by filling the library clipboard when they take and return the book.  Certain books, such as class-copies, may not be available for checking out, but students may ask special permission if they need to borrow one.