Working with a large group of diverse persons, it is important for me to provide an environment where everyone feels safe to learn.  With that goal in mind, I set rules and procedures that I feel will make the class run smoothly and beneficially for the students, staff, and myself.  At Skyline High School in Oakland, the administrators and staff believe that it is important to help raise student self-concept.  Some ways of doing this are trying to "alleviate ambiguity, disrespect, and rejection in interactions, maintaining a classroom atmosphere of warmth and acceptance, providing classroom experiences for students to praise others, urging students to concentrate on improvement rather than perfection, providing students with flexible, yet definite goals, and highlighting student's specific strengths, assets and skills."

Other important social skills I want for my students to do in regards to discipline are to "follow school and class rules.  I want them to take care of materials, put things back and keep work areas neat.  I want them to take risks in learning, learn new things.  I want them to interact cooperatively.  I want them to come to class prepared.  I want them to listen and follow directions.  I want them to stay on task and make good use of time.  I want them to learn self-control; avoid disruptiveness.  I want them to manage frustration or setbacks; control aggression and rebelliousness. I want them to enjoy working with me and each other."

My class rules are:

Hands, feet and objects to yourself.

Permission to walk or talk.

Be prepared to learn.

Use polite classroom language.

The general school rules that the students must adhere to are:

Support classroom and school programs.

Students are to learn to the best of their ability.

Contact teacher for missed work.

Be at school without being a threat to themselves or their personal property.

Students are to communicate with teachers in a responsible, honest and non-threatening manner.

Radios, tape players, recorders, beepers, pagers, cellular telephones, and other electronic equipment are not allowed on campus.

Out of bound areas are the parking lot, fire access road, hillsides behind 40, 50, 60, and 70.

Athletic equipment should be kept in the gym area.

Any confiscated item(s) will be kept until the owner's parent/guardian claims it in the Dean's office.

The policy at Skyline is that for minor infractions I counsel the student. Then I call the parents.  I check with the counselor about valuable information.  Meanwhile, as a special educator of severely handicapped students, I will be using strategies to get the student to comply with the established rules that are created to ensure mutual safety and productiveness.  One example might be a reward system for desired behavior, or special status as the class helper.  I also check with the student to see if there are other issues bothering the student that resulted in the misbehavior.  I will work closely with the student and families on these various strategies.  If however a serious violation of the rules occurred, children may face suspensions under IEP guidelines.  It is vital that parents and I work together when addressing behavior issues regarding the student.  I encourage you to communicate with me any concerns that you may have regarding your child.

In the SDC class the students learn independent living skills along with academic subjects.  They will focus on the individual IEP goals. In math students will stress time telling, calendar work, money skills, menu math, fundamental addition, subtraction and multiplication.  In science students will review biology, physical science, nutrition, health skills, weather, plants, insects and animals.  The will practice cooking skills.  In social science students will be working on pre-vocational skills, multicultural units and exposure to the legal system.  In English students will focus on cursive, survival words, abbreviations, alphabetizing, and writing prompts.  We also will participate in the school wide recycling program.  Students enjoy their mainstreaming classes along with community based activities.

Grades will be based on student effort and completeness of work. Students will be monitored and evaluated during the year to see if they have met their IEP goals.  Students are welcome to bring in extra credit projects. Please feel free to call me at any time about any concerns.

My Action Plan

1. What is the problem?

2. What is causing the problem (please list factors)

3. What plan will you use to solve the problem?

Student signature:

Date:

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