(updated 9/2/23)

Information for 2nd Grade with Ms. Bark

2023-2024 School Year

Classroom Discipline - Positive Behavior Management Plan

The basic discipline philosophy at Farragut School is that the classroom teacher must work in an environment conducive to teaching.  No child has the right to disrupt the learning process or to prevent teachers from doing their job.  Additionally, each student in the class has the right to know, in advance, what is expected of them, the class expectations/rules, the consequences for misbehavior, and the rewards for positive behavior.

In keeping with our school philosophy, each classroom will have posted rules and expectations as well as consequences. The expectations for the students in room 25 will be posted as follows:

                 In this class, we will be…

caring,

cooperative,

courageous,

honest,

respectful, and

responsible.

We will also...

participate

                   in our education so that...

we will LEARN!

To reinforce these rules and expectations, I will be following a behavior management plan that uses pink colored tags/laminated strips of construction paper (referred to as “pinks”) that students can earn throughout the school day. Students will keep their pink tags in their name tag pocket on their desk.

The way this program works starts with each student, and the class, receiving two pinks on Monday mornings! Students can earn additional pink tags for making appropriate choices, transitioning quickly and quietly, listening attentively, contributing to classroom discussions, focusing during lessons, showing kindness, taking responsibility, etc.  I also give pinks to students when I call them the wrong name or I’ve miscommunicated something with them or made a mistake for something that relates to them.  Students can also have pinks taken away, if necessary, depending on the situation.  Examples of how a student can lose a pink will be discussed with students and decided based on what they think merits the loss of a pink.  Ideas from other years have included: not following our class expectations, inappropriate behavior in and/or out of the classroom, being disrespectful to classmates and/or adults, interfering with their learning or the learning of others, etc.  We will have ongoing discussions about the earning of pinks and the losing of pinks

On Fridays, students count the pinks they've earned for the week.  I keep a record of the number of pinks earned to monitor behavior and to help inspire students to make better choices in the future to earn more pinks as we progress through the school year.  The reward for having the most pinks is the opportunity to be the first to choose an activity for our “Choice Time” that we have every Friday afternoon.  Having more pinks means that you will have a better chance of getting to do your desired activity that might  have a cap for how many students can do that activity.  For example, only two students can use each bin of Legos.  There are only three bins so the number of students that can do Legos is limited to six.  Wooden blocks or Tinker Toys both have a limit of two students with the chance of a third student if the three of them make an agreement to build cooperatively together and communicate appropriately.  Some of the games have a limit for how many can play and some activities can be done solo.  There are several activities that allow for many participants - play dough, puzzles, marker art, reading, computer time, water coloring, etc.  There’s pretty much something for everyone to choose from no matter how many pinks they have earned. 

(Please note that, regardless of the number of pinks earned, students must have completed all required work for the week and not missed two or more weeks in a row of returning their home reading minutes.  In these cases, students would be working on the incomplete work and/or doing extra reading to make-up for not doing their reading at home.)

In addition to the above, other consequences may occur depending on the situation.  These consequences will be logical and relate to the situation.  Conflict resolution is taught and modeled and students are encouraged to use these skills when they have disagreements with others.  Writing an apology letter is an example of a consequence for being disrespectful to an adult, classmate, etc.  Students have also been assigned to write out an explanation of what happened and how they will handle a similar situation if it happens again.  In more severe situations, like the use of cuss words, making threats, and/or any kind of inappropriate and/or volatile physical contact with someone, a referral will be made to the principal/assistant principal and the child's parents/guardians will be contacted.  Continued misbehavior or failure to make improvements over a period of time will result in an email to the child's parents/guardians.

Birthdays

In my class, we celebrate student birthdays a little differently.  When a student has a birthday, that is their day.  The other students in the class write letters and draw pictures to celebrate their classmate's special day.  These letters are put together as a book that we present to the birthday child at the end of the day when we sing to them.  Sometimes the birthday child decides to bring a little something to give out in remembrance of the day.  A special pencil, a decorative eraser, a gel pen, stickers, a cute pad, etc. are examples of the “little something” that students have brought in the past.  No food products or candy are allowed in accordance with our school's "Wellness Policy”.  If your child has a summer birthday or their birthday occurs during a break or weekend, we will celebrate their special day on a date close to their birthday, on their half birthday, or on a day of their choosing - usually sometime during the third trimester.

Lunch/Snacks

We have a snack time daily around 10:00, right after P.E.  We have snacks inside the classroom, outside on the back patio, or on the steps in the front of our classroom.  In order to foster healthy choices, children are encouraged to bring foods low in fat, sugar, and salt for their snack and lunch. Candy, soda, and chips do not belong at school.  Lastly, please remind your child not to share or trade food with other students.

Field Trips

Typically, the second grade classes go on one or two field trips a year that will enhance and reinforce the learning taking place in the second grade. If we are unable to go on a field trip, we may participate in a virtual field trip (like we did during distance learning with the Friends of the Ballona Wetlands). It's also possible that we might have an "in-school" field trip (like we have done with the Star Eco Station). Families will be informed of whatever field trips or activities as they are planned.

Weekly Library Visits on Wednesdays, 8:50-9:20

Second grade students get to check out two books from the library each week. Students can keep their library books at school or take them home.  Please encourage your child to be responsible for returning their books on time each week.  (If you would like to help students during our weekly library visits, please let me know.  You must be "cleared" as a volunteer to help out in this capacity.)

Sharing Special Information

Please share any special information that does not show up on various school forms (example: child gets motion sick on buses, child is afraid of dogs, child has an aversion to paint, etc).  I would also appreciate being informed of any significant changes that may occur during the school year that may distract your child from learning (example: a close relative has died, family upheavals/changes, a sick pet, change in residence, divorce or separation, etc.).  Even the slightest change at home can affect a child’s learning and/or behavior at school.  Working together, we can help make these times less intrusive on your child’s learning and/or behavior.

Contact

If you have a question or concern, please feel free to send a note with your child or call the school office at 310-842-4323 and leave me a message. I will do my best to return your call within 24 hours. I can also be reached via email at [email protected]. I check my email regularly and I will respond as quickly as I can or let you know when to expect a reply if I’m unable to answer at that time.  (My preferred mode of contact is via email.)

I look forward to working with each of you to make this a productive, meaningful, and memorable year for your child!

Sincerely,   Ms. Margaret Bark