Six Criteria for Successful Class Meetings:
- Have Class Meetings every day.
- Form a circle.
- Focus on solutions rather than consequences.
- Pass an item (such as a koosh or stuffed animal) around the circle.
- Allow the student who put the problem on the agenda to choose the solution s/he thinks will be helpful.
- Have another student record for the student who is sharing.
- Allow time for learning the process for both students and teachers.
Why do some Class Meetings fail?
- Not sitting in a circle.
- Not holding then regularly (3 to 5 times a week for elementary school and once a week or once every 2 weeks for middle and high school.
- Not trusting the process and consequently not allowing time for students to learn skills for effective meetings.
- Not understanding that even so-called tattletale problems or solving problems over and over provides opportunity for practice and is valuable.
- Not having faith in students’ abilities; talking down to them (patronizing) or telling them how to solve the problem.
- Not going around the circle and allowing every student a chance to speak or pass.
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Teacher DeBug System
When a student comes to you with a “bugging” complaint, ASK the following:
- “Have you used the DeBug System?”
- If yes, then ask “What step are you on?”
- If no, or not on Step 5, then say “Come back when you get to Step 5”.
When student does get to Step 5:
- Send for the other child(ren) involved.
- Provide a place/time they can talk.
Have them discuss “What do you want to happen?” and “How can you make it happen?”
OR Have them use the “Handling the Problem Yourself Sheet” if appropriate.
- Express confidence that they can work it out.
- Have the children share their agreement with you or the appropriate teacher.
- If necessary, help the children talk it through.
What is a Code of Conduct?
Code of Conduct refers to the operating principles that guide the behavior of everyone in the class. The Code of Conduct sets the standards for how everyone is to interact, including the teacher, so that the classroom can be pleasant, positive, and productive. All students are held accountable for all of their behavior all of the time. The Code of Conduct does not preclude a minimum number of rules that cover specific situations, those rules that specifically regard safety and school wide rules.
Why have a Code of Conduct?
Code of Conduct is encouragement in action. It allows students to feel capable of choosing responsible behavior in the classroom. It promotes a connection between students and invites them to contribute to the welfare of the class. Students are actively involved in setting the expectations and limits of their behavior. Code of Conduct also actively involves parents so that cooperation between home and school is promoted. Teachers who establish and consistently utilize a Code of Conduct in a positive manner, are engaged less in power struggles with their students because the students are given a voice and choice, which legitimizes their power. One of the best benefits of establishing a Code of Conduct is that the responsibility for monitoring behavior is shared with the students. They learn to monitor and evaluate their daily behavior.
Getting Started:
Have a discussion with your students regarding what a “perfect” classroom would look and sound like. Include both students and parents in brainstorming a “vision” of the ideal classroom. The picture of this ideal classroom begins the creation of your classroom’s Code of Conduct. Students and teachers most often find it simple to blend their visions because students do prefer a classroom similar to what we as teachers prefer – they appreciate respect and a positive and productive environment.
Make the Code:
Brainstorm with your students to write operating principles of their vision of the ideal classroom. These words become the Code of Conduct. These differ from a set of rules in that the operating principles are general and global, being significant for any level classroom. The operating principles start with “I”, emphasizing each person’s responsibility and personal commitment to follow the Code of Conduct.
An example of a Code of Conduct:
- I will treat others with respect.
- I will respect school and personal property.
- I will care about our school and keep it safe.
- I will act in a responsible manner and accept consequences for my actions.
- I am capable and will help to connect to others in a positive manner and contribute to our school.
Teaching the Code of Conduct:
Teaching the Code is an essential piece just as teaching a new concept in a content subject. Often we assume that our students know how to behave or that all they need is a reminder to “behave”.
(1.) With student input, identify appropriate and inappropriate behaviors for each item listed in the Code of Conduct. For example, “I will treat others with respect” might generate this list of appropriate and inappropriate behaviors by a class of 8 th graders:
Appropriate
- Call people by their given name
- Keep hands to yourself
- Use proper language at all times.
- Respond in a polite and caring manner to all
Inappropriate
- Name-calling
- Obscene gestures
- Ridiculing
- Ethnic jokes
- Put-downs
- Pushing and shoving
The list of appropriate and inappropriate behaviors that students generate will differ according to their grade level. The goal is for the students at all levels to be clear on which behaviors are appropriate and which behaviors are not. If the list becomes lengthy, it does not matter. Students are not expected to memorize the list. The list should be saved so that it can be added to as necessary and so that you can review them occasionally (as needed and after long vacations).
(2.) Each student needs to be clear about acceptable behavior and not acceptable behavior. All teachers need to have that clarification also. The behaviors can be modeled or have the students model the listed behaviors. Also the students can role-play specific examples where and when the behaviors would occur. Students could also draw or write scenes about various situations involving the behaviors. Both appropriate and inappropriate behaviors could be role-played and could be shared for discussion or even as a presentation for a school assembly.
(3.) Parents need and can be actively involved in teaching the Code of Conduct. Students can write to their parents to list and explain the Code of Conduct as well as the appropriate and inappropriate behaviors. Parents can use the letter as a reference throughout the year as well as a springboard for discussions regarding the behavior choices their child is making in school.
Enforcing the Code of Conduct:
The most crucial point regarding enforcing the Code of Conduct is consistency. In order for students to be successful in following the Code of Conduct, teachers must be consistent in enforcing it. Teachers need to ask questions and use a businesslike tone and manner without any accusatory overtones.
- Misbehaving students can be asked about their understanding of the Code and their inappropriate behavior. Examples:
- “What behavior are you choosing at this moment?”
- “Is the behavior you’re choosing right now appropriate to our Code of
Conduct?”
- “Which part of our Code of Conduct does this behavior relate to?”
- “Is this behavior on our appropriate or inappropriate list?”
- “Given our class Code of Conduct, what should I say to you right now?”
- Can you help me to understand why you are violating our code of conduct at this moment?”
- There may be times when the student disagrees with the teachers regarding the call of whether the behavior is appropriate or inappropriate. Teachers can resolve these disagreements in one of three manners:
- A student-teacher conference may be held involving parents, school counselors, and/or administrators.
- A class meeting that would focus on the behavior, not the student.
- Mediation or conflict resolution
- Posting the Code of Conduct is an excellent reminder for students and acts as an intervention technique when a child chooses an inappropriate behavior.
- Point to the number of the Code that is being violated
- Write the number of the Code on a self-stick note and place it on the child’s desk
- Point to the number and ask the child to read it aloud, or have the class read it.
- Point to the number and ask the child to tell you in his/her own words what the principle means.
Reinforcing the Code of Conduct:
Just like math skills or any other skill, the skills required with positive behavior need reinforcement.
- Publicize the Code of Conduct: display it for all to see, share it with parents,have the students recite it daily.
- Model self-correction. Teachers are human, too. Publicly holding ourselves accountable sends a powerful message to students. Apologize for mistakes in your behavior; state how you will change it the next time; follow through.
- Help and encourage students to self-evaluate their behavior. Have them keep a list of their behaviors and allow them to compare the lists over time to see growth and improvement. Help students set goals and a reasonable time frame to achieve the goals.
***ADAPTED FROM COOPERATIVE DISCIPLINE BY LINDA ALBERT, 1996. ***
