Welcome to Mr. B’s Homeroom!

ABOUT ME Lance Patrick Blanford Born January 7th, 1984 Engaged to Rachel Cochran One-year-old daughter, Laken Presly Blanford Graduated from University of Kentucky Currently seeking Masters in Special

Education from Campbellsville University From Bardstown, Ky Favorite Pastime – Play with my daughter and

exercise Favorite Food – Ice Cream

ABOUT ME

Mr. B’s CLASSROOM MODEL

MOTIVATING QUESTION How can I ensure that students receive

the necessary classroom structure that will allow them to not only learn the core content, but will also teach them discipline, respect and responsibility that will, in turn, assist them in becoming successful members of society?

CORE VALUES OF MY TEACHING STYLE

Cooperative Process

Structure

Respect

Responsibility

Equality

Hard Work

Student Success

A COOPERATIVE PROCESS

Educators should guide children through the process of learning. This process should be a cooperative process between the student and the teacher. The teacher can lay the groundwork for this cooperative process by making it a priority to understand students’ diverse learning styles and behaviors.

Classroom Expectations

CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS

These expectations should ensure students’ safety and protect students’ rights, especially their right to an appropriate education.

It is critical that these expectations are developed early on in the school year. The expectations should then be implemented fairly and consistently.

FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES OF CLASSROOM MODEL Freedom

Justice

Equality

FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES AS THEY APPLY TO EDUCATION

Freedom – Students should have the freedom to accept and embrace the person they are without criticism or ridicule.

Justice – Students should be subject to fair classroom expectations. If necessary, modifications should be made.

Equality – Students have a right to an equal opportunity to learn.

“Does not mean treating every student the same” – Forrest Gathercoal

DEVELOPMENT OF CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS

1) Develop expectations early.

“Classroom studies have shown that the level of order created during the first few days of school reliably predicts the degree of student engagement and disruption for the rest of the year (Emmer, Evertson, and Anderson, 1980).

DEVELOPMENT OF CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS

2) Facilitate conversation on how foundational principles apply to student safety, classroom order, and academic success.

What is harassment and bullying? Why should harassment and bullying be against classroom rules?

Why is it important to respect school property? Others property? Your Property?

Why is it important to come to class prepared and on time? Why is it important that all students receive an appropriate

education free from interruptions?

DEVELOPMENT OF CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS

3) Based on the conversation, have students develop their own classroom expectations.

Break the class up into groups and assign each group a topic and ask them to construct a classroom expectation on that topic.

Groups will present expectation to class and explain how it relates to the foundational principles.

DEVELOPMENT OF CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS

4) Students will revise expectation or vote to adopt the classroom expectation.

If students agree that the expectation is fair, positive, and appropriate, they will vote to adopt it.

DEVELOPMENT OF CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS

5) Students and parents sign agreement to classroom expectations.

After the list of expectations is complete students and parents will sign that they agree with the expectations. This will increase student and parent buy-in which will make the expectations more effective.

DEVELOPMENT OF CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS

6) Post classroom expectations.

List of expectations will be posted in a prominent place in the classroom, so that they serve as a reminder and motivator to students for the rest of the year.

Intervention and

Consequences

INTERVENTION AND CONSEQUENCES First Offense –

WarningBehavior Modification Questions

What class/teacher expectation did you break? What class/teacher expectation did you break? Why is it important to follow that expectation? What is your plan to change/stop the behavior? What will happen if you do not meet this expectation

again?

B-Bucks may be deducted.

INTERVENTION AND CONSEQUENCES Second Offense –

Loss of privileges may occur. (limited/no recess, assigned seating, etc)

Depending on severity of infraction in-class isolation, in-school intervention, or after school detention may be issued.

B-bucks will be deducted.

INTERVENTION AND CONSEQUENCES Third Offense –

Loss of privileges will occur. In-class isolation, in-school intervention, or

after-school detention may be issued. B-bucks will be deducted. Note may be sent home to parent.

INTERVENTION AND CONSEQUENCES Fourth Offense –

If all other teacher attempts prove to be unsuccessful, a parent will be contacted and parent/teacher conference will be scheduled to discuss inappropriate behavior and a plan to correct the behavior will be established

In-class isolation, in-school intervention, or after-school detention may be issued.

B-bucks will be deducted.

WHAT ARE B-BUCKS?

A B-Buck is fake classroom currency that the students will be awarded for classroom conduct, academic achievement, and following the Golden Rule. The students will be able to purchase educational materials and novelty items from the B-Store using their B-Bucks.

A Safe, Productive and Accommodating

Environment

A SAFE, PRODUCTIVE AND ACCOMMODATING ENVIRONMENT

This type of environment is critical to maximizing

student behavioral and academic effort.

A SAFE, PRODUCTIVE AND ACCOMMODATING ENVIRONMENT Preferential Seating

Students will be assigned seating in order to reduce distractions, increase student engagement, and

assist in academic success.

A SAFE, PRODUCTIVE AND ACCOMMODATING ENVIRONMENT

Increase Organization/Decrease Distractions

Classroom decorations and materials are organized so that the environment remains structured, distractions are limited,

and the students’ attention can be maintained.

A SAFE, PRODUCTIVE AND ACCOMMODATING ENVIRONMENT

Classroom Layout

The classroom has been designed to limit distractions and maximize student engagement. Students will be able to interact with the teacher and other classmates with ease. Students will be able to clearly see lessons and presentations conducted on the whiteboard.

“Guidelines and decisions based on democratic principles and consequences grounded in a professional relationship help bring students to a principled level of thinking. This reasoned and considerate approach to rules and consequences provides students with a paradigm they take to other social situations. There is a significant difference between learning obedience through rules and consequences designed to force behavioral changes and learning civil responsibility through the empowering language and discourse of professional educators. A democratic school experience is about developing learning goals with students designed to enhance character and courage which will hopefully provide them a presence of mind for living a life of equability and self-control.” - Forrest Gathercoal

The End

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