Submitted by Caryn Mears, Kennewick, Washington

Idea posted August 7, 2006

In my classroom I have a "Consequence Table." It is off to the back where I can see it, but the kids have to turn to see it. At the beginning of the year, I use a guinea pig student, and we model what the rules mean and what the expectations are. Then, I have some one role model what happens if they break the rules.

The first consequence is that they receive a warning and I ask them what rule they broke. The second consequence is that they go to the consequence table and write down the rule that they broke. If they are in first grade, they write the rule one time and then return to the group. If they are in second grade, they copy the rule two times, etc. I have the rules posted on the wall in front of the table so that it is easy for them to copy.

A friend of mine takes this a step further, and the student has to write a letter:

Dear Mom and Dad, (already on the paper)

"Today in music, I_________________. The next time I come to music I will not _____________________________. Your child, _________________."

My third consequence is that the student loses 15 minutes of recess. They come to the music room and write the rule they broke many more times. I rarely get to this point in a 30-minute class period.

The fourth consequence is that the student and I call the parents and explain what they were doing in the music classroom that disrupted the learning of 29 other students.

The fifth consequence is that we go to the principal. This has only happened twice in the past eight years! Usually the second consequence is enough for them to realize I mean business and they settle down.

I used to have a form that was sent home for the parents to sign. However, it was difficult to track the slips down, and I didn't have a good consequence system if students didn't bring them back. This way if the parents question a behavior grade, I can show them that their student wrote in the "Consequence Book," and it is in the student's own handwriting with their name, the date, and the classroom, along with the rule that they broke.