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Art has RULES?!

I wish I could tell you that Art is one of those magic classes where there are ZERO behavior problems. But then I would be lying to you. In fact I believe we have just as much. Students usually think that just because they are not with their homeroom teacher that rules no longer apply.... WRONG! 

On the first day of Art class I go over Rules and Procedures. Students must know these. My first year of teaching, I knew I wanted my students to like me and think that I was cool... What knew teacher wouldn't want that, but I knew that you have to establish boundaries. 
CLASSROOM RULES/EXPECTATIONS
BE RESPONSIBLE - Follow Directions
BE RESPECTFUL - of people, supplies, and ideas - Listen
BE KIND - Work Quietly - Good Attitude
BE SAFE
When individual behavior problems occur, I have my "Imagine, Create, Participate" board. The behavior board. When a student breaks a rule they have to pull a card. Each class has a pocket, and each student has a card with their name in that pocket. 


If students do not follow the rules the consequences are as follows:
1st offense: put card in green warning bucket and return to seat
2nd offense: put card in yellow bucket and have a 5 minute time out
3rd offense: put card in red bucket and have a 10 minute time out
4th offense: put card in the black puddle and consequence is my choice of the following:
detention, note home, sit out next art time, or office visit. 

Knock on wood, I have never had a student in the black puddle!! 
I will mark in my attendance when a student has time out and for how long. 


Now to the rewarding part!!
At the end of every 9 weeks I have a good behavior "Art Party" for every class. I have 3 Art centers set up around the room. 2 tables for each center. Students will change centers every 15 minutes, much like my Kindergartners. If a student has been in time out during the 9 weeks then he or she will have to sit out the same amount of time at the Art Party. That is the great incentive for students not to pull a card!! 



This is a new idea I will try this year thanks to Mrs. Brown and Mr. E!
GROUP BEHAVIOR
"ART STARS"
Students are instructed to use "Table Talk" voices. Meaning only talk to those at your table in a quiet voice. So when a class gets rowdy I place one of 3 warnings on the board.
Warning
Last Warning
No Talking
Whatever circle is on the board at the end of class effects the class's standing on the "Art Stars" chart. (picture to come)
At the end of the day I give each class a color rank.
Green = awesome day
Yellow = good day
Red = poor day
At the end of the year, the class in each grade with the most "greens" will get a surprise!! 



6 comments:

The Baggetts said...

Becca...I love the idea you use for your behavior with the buckets, that's such an easy way for a teacher who has a bunch of students keep up with behavior.

Becca Ruth said...

Thanks Christina!

Anonymous said...

I really like this idea. Do you put the cards back at the end of the day? I have trouble with this because what if a child consistently gets 1st or 2nd offense each class?

Becca Ruth said...

I do put the cards back at the end of the day. But, when the child pulls a card (especially into a timeout pocket) I write it down in the roll book to keep track. I child will always start a new art class with their cards back in the teacher's pocket. The kicker is if one student may have to sit out 5 minutes one day and then another 5 minutes another day, the will have to sit out 10 minutes at the end of 9 weeks art party! So it hits them double because they will to sit out again at the art party. But it's good for me because I have less behavioral problems as soon as I remind them of that. Hope that helps!

Nichole Weeks said...

As a first year teaching I am finding your site so helpful! I am for sure trying this out. I was also wondering if you use a seating chart? I have some very chatty students and I'm not sure how to separate them from one another.

Becca Ruth said...

Nichole,
I'm glad I can help you out. I do have seating charts. Because I know my students after having them for 3 years I know who to sit away from who. I never sit friends together unless I know that they work well at the same table. I will sit chatty students as far apart as I can.
I have rectangle tables with 4 chairs at each. I try to sit 2 boys and 2 girls in random order. No ABC order cause that's how they will probably be sat in their homerooms. The boy girl thing doesn't always work out because of #s.
I had a seating chart my first year as well. I placed them randomly and took note during class on who I should move the next class. I also had the seating chart at the door with me and asked the their teacher if anyone shouldn't sit next to or close to someone else.
Hope this helps!

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