Cindy Dorton

5314 - CMP

Educating the
mind without
educating the
heart is not
education at
all.
- Aristotle
 Ms. Cindy Dortons Classroom Management Plan

CLASSROOM RULES:

1. Treat others with respect. Ms. Dortons classroom will be a classroom of respect for
everyone. We will follow the golden rule: treat others the way you want to be treated.
We will be respectful of all administrators, teachers/substitute teachers, peers, and all
staff members.

2. Use class time wisely. Ms. Dortons classroom will be an engaging classroom where
students learn not only academics but life skills as well. This means that we will be
productive workers (independently or collaboratively) during our class time. Time
management is an important life skill no matter your age.

3. Do the best that you can...all the time. Ms. Dortons classroom is a classroom
where we strive to be the best person/teacher/student we can be. Giving our best will
always produce positive results - in life and in class.

4. Be honest. Ms. Dortons classroom is a place where honesty is valued and respected.
What does being honest mean? Do your own work - this is when true learning and rowth
happens. We all need help at times and that is okay. We all understand. So, if you need
help, please ask!

4. Follow school rules. Ms. Dortons classroom understands the importance of school
rules and we will do our best to follow all school rules. The school rules are in place for
our benefit and safety. We understand and know that following the rules will result in an
engaging, fun, and safe learning environment for everyone.
 CLASSROOM PROCEDURES
I. Procedures for Students

A. Work Requirements:
1. Students will have an English Language Arts folder which they are
to bring to class each day. The ELA folder will be how students
keep their work organized. Each month, students will be given a
calendar. Students are to mark important ELA dates (assignment due
dates, test dates, etc) on their calendars. ELA folders will also be where
students keep notes, handouts, completed/returned assignments,
notebook paper, and current assignments in the notebook. All ELA
classwork will be contained in the folder. Folders will be cleaned out at
the end of each 6 week grading period.
2. Before completed papers are turned in for grading, they should have the
proper heading. The proper heading on a paper will have the students
name, date, and ELA hour in the top right hand corner. The assignment
title will be placed on the top line.
3. Assignments are due on time. It is the students responsibility to
make sure work is turned in when it is due. This may be at the end
of the hour or on an assigned date. If work is not turned in by the
due date, a zero form must be filled out and will be sent home for the
parent to sign and return. A zero will then be entered into the gradebook.
B. Unfinished Class Assignments:
1. Should a student need extra time to finish a class assignment, the
student is responsible to discuss the situation with Ms. Dorton.
2. If it is deemed that the student was diligently working during class,
extra time may be given. Students who have received permission for
additional time to complete unfinished class assignments may come to
Ms. Dortons class before school starts or stay after school to complete
the assignment.
3. If it is deemed that the student was not using his/her class time
wisely, the student may not be given extra time to complete the
assignment.
4. Students may only turn in assignments late if it has been approved
by Ms. Dorton.

C. Absenteeism:
1. An Absent hanging folder will be placed on the Assignments
table for each day of the week (Absent - Monday, Absent - Tuesday,
Absent - Wednesday, Absent - Thursday, Absent - Friday). Work missed
will be placed in the appropriate folder. It is the students responsibility to
check the folder and get the missing work.
2. Daily assignments will be posted on the Ms. Dortons class website.
Students or parents may access the assignments online.
3. Campus/district procedures will be followed.
Students will have two days to turn in any missing work from every
excused absence (one absence = two days to turn in work, two
absences = four days to turn in work, three absences = six days to
turn in work, etc). Work missed from an unexcused absence will
result in a maximum grade of 50%.
4. When turning in missed assignments from absenteeism, students
are to write absent on the top of their paper and the day that they
were absent. If assignments are not turned in within the allotted
make-up time, zeros will be given and zero forms will be completed by
the student and sent home for parent signature.

D. Tardies:
1. Students need to be in class on time so please do not be tardy.
2. Should a student be tardy, a tardy slip must be filled out. Tardy slips
will be on the Assignments table. Students should quietly take a tardy
slip from the table upon entering the classroom. The tardy slip is to be
filled out and returned to Ms. Dortons at the end of class. If a student has
a tardy slip from the office or another teacher, the student does not need
to complete Ms. Dortons form, but the office/teacher slip must be given to
Ms. Dorton at the end of the class period.
3. Tardy students will quietly find their seat, find where the class is at
 on the agenda, and start working.
4. Tardies will be handled in accordance with school/district policies.

E. Notes from Home:

1. If a parent/guardian or a student has a note (or any other
appropriate form of communication) for Ms. Dorton, students are to
place the note into Ms. Dortons mailbox on her desk.
2. Ms. Dorton will check her mailbox every day and respond to each
note within 24 hours.
3. If a note is considered urgent, the student will write urgent on the
outside of the note so Ms. Dorton will know it needs an immediate
response.
4. Parents/guardians and/or students are always welcome to email
Ms. Dorton or call the school and leave a message for her.
II. Procedures for the Classroom

A. Beginning of Class:
1. Entering the classroom - Ms. Dorton is happy to see you; she has looked
forward to seeing you all day so make sure to acknowledge her upon your
arrival to class!
2. Enter the classroom expecting and ready to learn and respectful of
others.

B. Bellringer work:
1. Upon entering the classroom each day, pick up your bellringer form
from the Assignments table.
2. After we have completed the bellringer work, Ms. Dorton will say, It
is time to turn in your bellringer work. A student will be designated each
day to pick up the bellringer assignments and place them in the
appropriate bellringer folder. The folder will be marked with the
appropriate hour for your class. Return quietly to your seat.

C. Agenda:
Upon completion of bellringer work, students are to take out their ELA
folder and write the daily agenda on their monthly calendar. Daily agendas will
include all material to be covered in class each day, including daily objectives.

D. Transitions:
1. Ms. Dortons class will be an engaged, moving classroom so this means
that transitions must be made smoothly. Prior to a transition, Ms. Dorton
will provide explicit instructions as to what the movement will be (ex:
grouping of students, Kagan structures, centers, etc) and the
expectations/directions once students have made the transition.
2. Once Ms. Dorton has explained the transition and expectations/directions
after transitions, Ms. Dorton will ask if there are any questions about the
transition or expectation/directions to ensure student understanding.
3. Once everyone is clear as to what is going to happen, Ms. Dorton will
say, Transition time. Once Ms. Dorton has said transition time,
students will immediately and quietly move to their newly assigned spot.
4. Two minutes before the end-of-class bell, Ms. Dorton will say, Prepare to
leave. Students will then pack up their belongings and line up at the
door. We will be respectful to our peers as we prepare to leave and as
we leave Ms. Dortons class.

E. Getting Students Attention:

1. When Ms. Dorton needs to get students attention, she will say, Class,
class. Students are then to respond, Yes, yes.
 2. When students say Yes, yes, they are to stop what they doing, look at
Ms. Dorton, remain quiet, and listen for instructions.
3. After instructions have been given, Ms. Dorton will call on several
students to repeat the instructions.

III. Procedures for Instruction

A. Collaborative Group Work:

1. Ms. Dorton will assign groups and the specific locations where the groups
are to work.
2. Students are to be respectful to all group members at all times. It is okay
to disagree with a group member, but be thoughtful and respectful in
group work. Emphasis in group work is two-fold: work together to
accomplish a goal and to learn in and from the group.
3. Each student in the group is responsible for his/her own work and
behavior.
4. If a student has a question, the student should ask the group for help.
Work together, help each other.
5. If the group has a question, one student may ask Ms. Dorton for help but
only when the group has decided the specific question to be asked.
6. When group work time is over (Ms. Dortons timer will go off), students
are to move quietly back to their regular seats.

B. Cultivating Social Skills:

1. Social skills are a vital part of Ms. Dortons class. At the beginning of
each month, we will brainstorm and discuss different social skills. As a
class, we will pick a social skill to focus on for each week.
2. Students will write the social skill of the week on their ELA monthly
calendar. Using the social skill of the week will be incorporated into each
day of that week.
3. Once specific social skills have been defined and covered in class,
students will be held accountable for incorporating the social skills into
their interactions with others.
4. Practicing/improving social skills will be ongoing in Ms. Dortons class.
5. Students will be issued a warning for failure to apply the learned social
skills to their peers and others. Repeated failure to apply social skills will
result in conference with Ms. Dorton addressing the issue. If a
conference with the student does not help with his/her social skills,
communication with a parent/guardian will be warranted.
C. Finishing Work Early:
1. When students have completed their daily assignments, they are to first
double check their work and ensure that they have put forth their very
best effort and completed the assignment.
2. Once students have double checked their work and ensured that it is
totally complete, students will flip their working/completed card so that it
says completed.
3. Once Ms. Dorton has acknowledged that the student has completed
his/her work, the student may help another student with his/her English
assignment, may work on homework for another class, or may read a
book.
D. Taking a Test:
1. Tests are simply meant to be ways of gathering information for Ms.
Dorton, students, and parents/guardians. Tests are not meant to cause
stress or anxiety. In an effort to decrease stress/anxiety, students will be
informed of test days at least five days in advance.
2. Students will be given the entire class period to take the test.
3. Students will need a cover sheet (ex: a plain sheet of paper) for their test.
4. No talking is permitted during test time.
5. Tests should be turned over when completed. Ms. Dorton will come and
pick up the tests.
6. After Ms. Dorton has picked up the students test, the student will start the
work listed on the board (ex: reading a book, creating a journal entry, etc).

E. Class Discussions:
1. Class discussions are a vital part of Ms. Dortons ELA class; however, all
comments made during discussions must be polite and respectful.
2. All students must participate in a constructive way during class
discussions.
3. Only one student is allowed to talk at a time. Ms. Dorton will call on the
student whose turn it is voice his/her opinion/answer. Different methods
may be used to decide who will speak next in the discussion (ex: fish
bowl, around the world ball, etc).
IV. Procedures for Teacher

A. Student feedback:
1. Student feedback is vital for the success of both students and Ms.
Dortons classroom. Feedback is meant to encourage all learners,
including Ms. Dorton. Feedback should always be constructive and
positive with the goal of growth for both parties.
2. Feedback to students will be provided by Ms. Dorton both verbally and/or
written. Feedback from Ms. Dorton may be in multiple formats (ex: notes,
grades, stickers, etc).
3. Ms. Dorton is interested in student/parent feedback regarding her
classroom and teaching style. It is Ms. Dortons goal to provide an
engaged and fun learning environment. In order to better facilitate all
learners and learning styles, Ms. Dorton will send out surveys to parents
at least twice a year. Ms. Dorton will also have students fill out classroom
surveys at the end of every six week grading period.
4. Ms. Dorton will make at least four positive parent contacts per year per
student. This may be in the form of a phone call, letter, or email.
5. Ms. Dortons classroom newsletter will highlight a new Star Student
each week.

B. New Student Orientation:

1. New student folders will be prepared and available throughout the year.
New student folders containing classroom rules and procedures/calendar,
school maps, emergency codes and procedures, and a list of supplies
needed for Ms. Dortons ELA class (purple folder, paper, pens, etc).
2. A New Student Greeter will be assigned for each class. A New Student
Greeter (NSG) will be assigned at the beginning of each six week
Grading period. NSG will be responsible for helping students learn the
procedures in Ms. Dortons class.
3. All students are responsible for making new students feel welcome and
safe in the classroom.

C. Home and School Connection:

Connection between home and school is vital to the learning process.
Connections will be made by classroom newsletter, classroom webpage, letters,
and emails. Parents are encouraged to stay in contact with Ms.Dorton.

D. Technology (laptops) will be used in the classroom as appropriate with

instruction. Cell phones will not be allowed during class time. BYOD (bring your
own device) days will be scheduled in accordance with school policies.
.