- Defining behavior expectations is essential.
- Students need to know what is expected of them, and teachers need to teach those expectations.
- When students understand expectations, they do not have to wonder what types of behaviors are appropriate.
- Students should be involved to some degree in the creation of classroom rules and expectations.
- Establishing expectations and class routines will save valuable instruction and learning time as the year progresses.
- Teachers should develop a visual daily routine, yet remain flexible.
- The teacher is responsible for providing students with a safely monitored and controlled classroom.
- Students should begin each day in my classroom with a "clean slate."
- There should be many steps in my classroom behavior management plan before involving the principal.
- One way of creating an environment where misbehavior is less likely to happen is to construct an engaging, fun and educational curriculum.
- Teaching students to become responsible for their behaviors and to design their own soluctions to problems is important (Examples: problem/solution sheets, problem pictures, think bench).
- Misbehavior should be dealt with quickly, consistently, and respectfully.
- Power struggles can often be avoided by offering some position of responsibility or decision making.
- Teachers need to address the behavior, not the character of the student.
Establishing class routines will save valuable instruction and learning time as the year progresses. Establishing students jobs is one routine I have found useful.
Defining behavior expectations in any classroom is essential. When students understand expectations, they do not have to wonder which types of behaviors are appropriate . This is an example of how I visually show students what the expectations are in a variety of situations. 
I believe students should begin each day in my classroom with a "clean slate." There are many behavior management systems that can accomplish this goal. The "Card Pull" system is one that has worked for me in the past. I also believe that all classes are different and that a behavior management system that workds for one class may not always work the same for another. For this reason, it is important for teachers to have a back up plan, and know how to modify and change systems that are ineffective.
