Class Norms

This is NOT what the GT classroom looks like, except on Twilight Zone days.

With one week under our belt we now hope to develop a productive rhythm from week to week. One huge part of that is understanding expectations and classroom norms. A particular challenge of a pull-out learning situation is that every minute is so precious that there is no time to be squandering them on basic discipline issues. For that reason, I keep the classroom management system in the GT classroom quite straightforward. Here is a list of our 4 "Keys to a Harmonious GT Classroom."

•Cause no harm to yourself, others, or objects.

•Follow the directions of the person leading.

•Focus your attention on the person speaking.

•Do quality work and share big ideas.

As I tell the kids, these are the same basic "rules" they been learning since Pre-K! The GT room is an active, safe, risk-encouraging place, but that makes mutual respect and boundaries even more important. When these

norms aren't followed and disrespectful behavior occurs, these are the chronological consequences:

1. Name on board (purely a warning)

2. Check by name (feedback to classroom teacher)

3. Double check by name (parents notified directly)

4. Repeated name plus check (parents notified directly)

We had this discussion in each class last week. As I often tell the students, it's just like going to the dentist: "boring but necessary."

But with those norms being followed, the exciting stuff is that much more rich!