I believe that 99.9 percent of the time I, as the classroom teacher, should take care of all discipline problems and not the office.  The only times I send a student immediately to the office is if I deem the situation to be very serious or if a student has reached the "final offense" of a particular rule.   I rarely yell or embarrass students in front of their peers.  I usually will stop class and have the student come out into the hall and discuss the problem with me in private.   I further believe that I should call the parents as soon as necessary to try to work out a behavioral partnership with them.

2. Class activities begin immediately and ends only when I dismiss the class.   Remain in your seat and stay quiet until I dismiss you.

3. Homework/Assignments must be handed in on time (at the beginning of class!).  No late homework is accepted unless student has an excused absence - this is a school policy for all classes.   Any homework assignment missed, because of an unexcused absence, will be valued as zero points.   It is your responsibility to find out exactly what you have missed because of an excused absence.   You receive one day to make up your work for every day off because of an excused absence.   Daily class work or homework is posted in the classroom and also online - http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tbrown117735MI/homework.html

4. Everyone has the right to be treated with respect.

5. Everyone has the right and responsibility to learn.

6. All unexcused tardies will be recorded.

7. Only one person per pass at a time.   One must have their "Assignment Book" in order to leave the class.  Do not ask to use this privilege unless it is an emergency.  A record of using the pass is recorded.   One may use their pass privilege only two times per card-marking, but if a student has a medical problem one may use more than two passes per card-marking.   A written note from home or the doctor is needed for using more than two passes per card-marking.

8. Cheating of all types is an automatic failure (zero points) of the assignment or test and possible notification of your parents.

9. Know your computerized student number and pin number.   Keep both sets of numbers in your notebook and assignment book.   Do not let anyone except your parents know your sets of numbers.  Check your posted grade frequently.   If you have any questions concerning your grade, please see me before or after class.   Click here to see an example of a Progress Report.

10. All assignments and tests must include your name, date, and hour.  Forgetting to place this required heading will cost one a ten percent grade loss for the classroom assignment, test, or homework.

1. Tardiness: All tardies will be recorded as unexcused unless the office or a teacher excuses it.   Tardies will be recorded on a cumulative basis per each card marking.
1st offense: Verbal warning by teacher.   Record the warning.
2nd offense: Verbal warning by teacher.   Record the warning.
3rd offense: Verbal warning by teacher.   Record the warning.
4th offense: Written warning from the office and parent notification.   Record the incident.
5th offense or more: Administrative assigned detention and parent notification.   Record the incident.

2. Respecting the property of others:
1st offense: Verbal warning by teacher.   Record the warning.
2nd offense: Take student out in the hall and warn him or her that this offense will not be tolerated and that if it happens again I will call home and use a pink slip.   Record the warning.
3rd offense or more: Send student to the office with a pink slip, record the warning, and call home.

3. Chewing gum, eating candy, or bringing in inappropriate beverages: These rules are now part of the School's Code of Conduct!
1st offense: Politely ask student to throw gum or candy into the waste basket.   Record the warning.
2nd offense: Tell student to throw gum or candy into the garbage and record the incident.
3rd offense or more: Pink-slip student for insubordination.   Record the warning.

4. Cooperative Group Rules:  You must work quietly "Ruler Voice."  Play your role in the group.  Don't complain who is in your group.  Everyone must participate!  Group members must sign-off on the "Recorders" answer sheet.   Not being able to work cooperatively with group activities will force me to send the student in the hallway.   Record the warning.

5. Writing, reading, or passing notes:
1st offense: Tell the student to deposit note into the trash.   Record the warning.
2nd offense: Take away the note and ask student to stay after class or come back after school to discuss this problem.   Record the warning.
3rd offense or more: Pink-slip the student.   Record the warning.   Administration calls parents.

6. Writing or coloring on desks:   I wash all desks once per week and students are aware they must tell me at the beginning of the hour if there are markings on their desk so they are not held responsible.
1st offense: Verbal warning and student must clean their desk and I record the incident.
2nd offense: Verbal warning and student will clean all desks the following morning before the beginning of school.   Written warning is recorded.
3rd offense: Verbal warning, student cleans all desks, written warning is recorded, and I call home.
4th offense or more: Student is pink-slipped and parent notification.   Record the warning.

7. Not prepared for class:   This is listed as my first "Class Expectation."
1st offense: Verbal warning and record the incident.
2nd offense: Verbal warning and record the incident.
3rd offense: Verbal warning, record the incident, and student loses all points earned that day.
4th offense: Verbal warning, reocrd the incident, student loses all points earned that day, and call home.
5th offense or more: Student is pink-slipped, parent notification, and record incident.

8. Talking without permission:  One must raise their hand and get permission to talk.
1st offense: I may either look at the student or mention their name.
2nd offense: A louder verbal warning with the additional comment that I will record the inappropriate behavior if this offense happens again!
3rd offense: Record inappropriate behavior in record book.   Verbal warning privately out in the hall.   Remind student that if this happens again I will send him/her to the office and call home.
4th offense: Record inappropriate behavior, send student to office with a "pink slip," and notification of one's parents by telephone.   Record the incident

9. Disturbing, Distracting, Harassing Others:  Same as #7.  All students have the right and responsibility to learn.

10. Disreprect of Others Including Teacher:  Same as #7.  Everyone has the right of being treated with respect.

Excellent class behavior will allow me to make sure all world geography objectives have been met.   This in turn will let my students have more time for fun activities, more interesting class discussions, and less assigned homework!