Lower Elementary Montessori Classroom Management Plan and Parent Information 2013-2014 Ms.Brown, Ms.Gary, and Ms.Holt
Dear Parents, Welcome to the 2013-2014 school year. As you know, these next few weeks will be very busy as we settle into our new environment. In this packet, you will find some important information. Please do not hesitate to call or send a note in your child s agenda if you have questions or concerns. Be sure to mark your calendar for August 20th, 6:00-7:30 pm for Open House/Parent Orientation. We hope to see you there. We look forward to working with you this year! Ms. Brown, Ms. Gary, & Ms. Holt ~Workplans~ As we begin the year, it is important that we share with you our expectations of the students. We use work plans to guide the students during their work time. Please be aware that the workplans are used to reinforce the lessons given and to help the children explore their own interests. THESE ARE INDIVIDUAL WORKPLANS! Work plans differ from child to child and day to day. Each child s daily accomplishments may differ, dependent upon the work assigned or chosen, and lessons given. The lessons and work required increase in difficulty throughout the year and should take more time. We will also have related arts, field trips, guest speakers, and other activities throughout the school year that will also affect your child s workday. Please help us by encouraging your child to share in the responsibility of keeping you informed of special events.
Because the Montessori program is based largely on individuality, it is our goal not to compare the students to each other. In a Montessori classroom, teachers help guide the children from where they are and move them forward so that they develop a lifelong love for learning. Pushing a child beyond their capabilities is not within the Montessori Philosophy. Students are expected to fill out work plans, handle all materials with care, and complete all work as determined through daily teacher/student conferences. Consequences for not fulfilling these expectations as followed: 1. Warning 2. Call Parent 3. Office Referral ~Birthday Celebrations~ Birthday celebrations are an important part of our lives. We want to make sure each child in our room feels special by allowing the opportunity to celebrate with us. Children with summer birthdays may choose an unbirthday to have their celebration. Please give the teacher a week s notice of the child s chosen celebration date. Appropriate birthday snacks include: individual cupcakes or cookies and will be eaten during our lunch hour. ~Agendas~ We will be using the following color-coded behavior system:
Green- EXCELLENT BEHAVIOR Yellow- BEHAVIOR NEEDS SOME WORK, HAVING DIFFICULTY Red- MUCH IMPROVEMENT NEEDED/OFFICE REFERRAL Your child s behavior will be documented daily in their agendas. It is expected that you will go over your child s daily behavior with them, and initial in the agenda to indicate that you have done so. Homework Policy Florence School District One believes homework is a vital part of the learning experience. Students will be held accountable for completing all homework assignments. Homework is assigned on Monday and is due on Friday. All homework will be given in homework folder and composition notebook. Your child may need some assistance with completing homework assignments, but please do not complete the homework for them. Students are also expected to read for at least 20 minutes daily and complete a reading log at home. Parents are expected to initial the daily reading log. Homework varies from grade level to grade level: Grade 1 - No more than 30 minutes
Grades 2-3 - No more than 45 minutes Homework assignments provide students the opportunity to practice new skills in a different environment. Research has shown that homework helps students, especially in the older grades. They tend to be more organized when completing homework and participate in class. Teachers will closely monitor and record whether or not students are completing homework assignments. Students will be written up whenever homework is not completed and the following consequences will be enforced: 1 st Offense: Warning 2 nd Offense: Warning 3 rd Offense: Letter to Parent 4 th Offense: Warning 5 th Offense: Parent Conference/Overnight Students are expected to fully complete all parts of homework in accordance to Florence School District One s homework policy.
~ Research Assignments~ Research is a very important part of the Montessori curriculum. It helps to build and develop independence, problem-solving skills, and a natural love for learning. Your student will be responsible for at least two research projects each nine weeks, to be included in the homework folder. The research topics are based on current events, in-class discussions, and grade level standards. Your child s teacher will provided detailed instructions and due dates of the research projects. Discipline Policy The Montessori Behavior Management Plan was developed in accordance with Florence School District One and North Vista s policies and procedures. A copy of the district s discipline guidelines can be found in the students agendas. Classroom rules and expectations are posted in the classroom and discussed on a daily basis. The Montessori Program also features a set of guidelines to help promote a peaceful learning environment. Students will be required to complete a self-assessment form whenever they do not comply with classroom and school rules. This selfassessment form gives the student the opportunity to reflect on decision making and gives the student the opportunity to correct the undesired behavior. The student must complete this self-assessment form whenever it
is assigned. The self-assessment will be sent home and must be signed by the parent/guardian. If the child has more than two self-assessments, he/she will be referred to administration. Please make sure you read and sign your child s agenda daily. Student behavior is recorded in their daily agendas. We utilize the color system where good behavior is notated with a green dot, behavior that needs improvement is notated with a yellow dot and serious misbehavior is signified with a red dot. Consequences include: verbal warning, studentteacher conferences, parent phone call, parent-teacher conferences, and office referrals. It also includes loss of privileges including, recess and special snacks, silent lunch, and silent work time. Good behavior is positively reinforced with verbal praise, free time choice, and good news phone calls.
Classroom Rules RESPECT ourselves others our environment Montessori Guidelines 1. Be kind to one another. 2. Walk slowly, gracefully, and quietly. 3. Talk softly. 4. Pick up a chair with two hands and always put it back under the table. 5. Use a rug for all floor activities, and always keep work neatly on the rug. 6. Never sit or walk on rugs. 7. Carry work with two hands, holding it close to your body. 8. Never disturb or interrupt another s work. You may join a child s work only when you ask and if the child agrees. 9. Always put work away when you are finished and before getting new work out. 10. When you need a teacher, walk over to her and touch her shoulder. If she holds up her hand, it means go to another adult for help.
Procedures and Non-Instructional Routines Entering/Exiting the classroom/ Lining up: When entering the room in the morning, students hang up their bookbags and turn in their daily agendas. When exiting the classroom for lunch students line up in alphabetical order. When going to recess and related arts, we have a designated line leader and caboose. Morning Routine: When students enter the room after the 7:45 am bell, they are expected to unpack and hang up their book bags in the cubbies. They are to place their agendas into the agenda basket. Then they pick up their morning work and begin working until the morning show begins. Restroom procedures: The students use the restroom and the water fountain as a class after the morning announcements and after related arts. If students have to use the restroom during instruction, they are allowed to go one at a time with teacher permission. Sharpening pencils: Pencils are sharpened as needed by the designated pencil student. Hall behavior: Students will walk silently in the hallways facing forward with hands behind their back or at their sides. Students should walk directly behind the line leader, or underneath the right-hand side ceiling strip. This is done to
minimize the time needed to travel from place to place and preserve instructional time. Classroom Jobs: Each student has a specific job that must be done each day. It is the student s responsibility to remember to complete their job daily. The job schedule will rotate on a weekly basis. Lunchroom: Students line up in alphabetical order. They are expected to enter the lunchroom quietly and pick up all needed items before sitting at our assigned table. Students must eat before talking to classmates and must use a 2-inch voice. When the teacher gives the signal that lunch is over, students are to pick up all trash off the table and floor and stand facing the trashcans. The table washers dump their trays first and then the rest of the class follows behind them. Recess: During recess, students are not allowed to participate in rough play or contact sports (football, tag, etc.) due to risk of injury. Students are expected to use all playground equipment in a safe and respectful manner. Recess will be held indoors if weather and outside temperatures are not adequate. Fire Drills: Fire drills are practiced on a monthly basis. The fire alarm will sound alerting everyone that the fire drill has begun. Teachers are to evacuate the students as quickly and quietly as possible and line them up outside. The
students are to stand, facing the building in a straight line. The teacher will follow the class to the designated area and utilize the class role to ensure everyone is accounted for. If everyone is accounted for, the teacher will hold up the green card. If someone is not accounted for, the teacher will hold up the yellow card with the missing student s name. If a student is hurt, the teacher will hold up a red card. An appointed person will tell the teacher when they can re-enter the building. An evacuation plan is posted in the classroom. Tornado Drills: Under a tornado drill or warning, students and faculty should take cover immediately and when the signal sounds all students will move immediately to the hall area. Students are instructed to get on their knees, make sure their heads face the interior walls, and place their hands over their heads. Students will maintain this position until the bell rings. Bomb Threats: In the event of a bomb threat, students will line up quickly and orderly. As students exit the room, the teacher will leave a green card in the window if everything in the room appears normal. If anything appears suspicious, the teacher will leave a red card. The teacher will follow the class to the designated area and use the class role to ensure every student is accounted for. If everyone is accounted for, the teacher will hold up the green card. If someone is missing, the teacher will hold up the yellow card with the missing students names. If a student is hurt, the teacher will hold up a red card.
Dismissal: Students will begin dismissal will begin packing up when teacher signals that close down for the end of the day. Students will collect agendas and any other items to go home. They will be seated to listen to the afternoon announcements. At the conclusion of the announcements, car riders will proceed with supervising teacher to the car-line. After school students will remain in the classroom with the supervising teacher on walking duty until the 2:15 bell. If there is a change in the way a student is to go home, parents must send a written note or call the school before 1:30.
Please read carefully, sign & return to teacher. I,, parents/guardian of, have gone over the classroom management plan with my child. Parent Signature Student Signature Date Best contact number Email address