Tomorrow I am giving my middle school students a pop quiz on the information
I went over today. I will explain that as long as they continue to disregard
my lectures, I will give quizzes and writing assignments to get them
motivated. If I find that they are paying attention to the lessons in class, I might
not feel a need to test them. If they have trouble remembering my rules as a
class, they will copy the rules five times every day at the beginning of class
until they truly know them and can follow them. Each day I will collect them
for a grade.
I will review the class rules with them and pass out a couple of more
handouts.
I will explain that the first time I need to talk to a student, he or she
will fill out a behavior form. The second time, the student must copy the
contract for being disrespectful (thanks Judy!). The third time will result in a
call home and an essay assignment. The fourth time will result in a detention.
If a students begins to talk during my lecture after I have requested
attention and all eyes on me, I will hand that student a behavior form
immediately...no warnings. If that student continues, he or she will immediately get the
writing assignment (Contract) and so forth. I will call parents this week if I
have had an issue with a child on a regular basis.
If a student has an item (such as the candy or brush I found today), I will
not give the student a chance to put the item away. I will immediately
confiscate it and allow the student to pick it up at the end of the day (end of the
week?).
I need to beat this into my head so that I react quickly each time and allow
nothing to slide. No chances after we have gone over the rules!
I am not sure if I want to begin a unit on "line" or perhaps ask some
questions about their expectations in class? Today I had them do a cute Chinese New
Year project, so I thought about having them finish that up and share them
with the class. I'm not sure. I do want my first unit to be about line. I
usually have the students create a line worksheet and then do a contour line
project of their hands. I would like to tie it into an artist this time. I'm not
sure who? Van Gogh (or should I save that for color and paint?), Matisse?
Any ideas? I have also had the students do the name design project as a first
project to loosen them up. They tend to enjoy it.
