What I did...

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Home : 2003 : February : 3

What I did...
By LindaR

Dear Janet, I pasted the following response (with some changes) that I gave on the Management Board to another teacher who started mid-year, in hopes that it will help you!
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I, too, just took
over a class at the beginning of Dec. (6th grade class that had very little structure). I had one day to put together a plan before being "thrown into the den."
I knew that if I was going to make this MY class, then I would have to establish MY behavior expectations. I didn't even attempt to keep "things in place." I removed all "rules" and procedures from the room and told the kids that

we were starting over. I knew that if I had tried to maintain what they had been doing up to this point, the kids would then take control, and they would be telling me how it should be done.

I have based my behavior system on Marvin Marshall's "Raising Responsibility" and it has been going very well. The kids know that I'm in charge, and they know that I dearly love them!

I think it's important that you have a specific plan of your own that puts your students back at the "start line." Does this make sense? You don't want them taking the lead.

There are many behavior management/discipline approaches and sites suggested here on this Board (also, you can check out the archives).

Keep us informed...