School-wide Rules and Character Skills

School-wide Rules: Be Safe Be Responsible Be Respectful Be A Masterbuilder

Masterbuilder Skills: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, Citizenship

Why do we have School-wide Rules?

Having a few simple, positively stated rules facilitates the teaching of behavioral expectations across school settings because students will be learning through the same language. By focusing on 4 simple rules it is easier for students to remember. It is also important for staff because instruction focusing on a few simple rules will improve teaching and consistency across staff through the use of a common language.

Positively stated rules are important, because research has shown that recognizing students for following the rules is even more important than catching them breaking the rules. By stating rules positively, the hope is that staff will be more likely to use the rules to catch students engaging in the appropriate behavior.

By selecting only a few rules it is important that the rules are broad enough to talk about all potential problem behaviors. With the rules selected, the PBIS team believes that we can then teach all specific behavioral expectations across all school setting according to these simple rules, for example:

Using the toilet and restroom correctly is an example of Be Safe

Cleaning your area and throwing your trash away in the cafeteria is an example of Be Responsible

Walking correctly in the hallways is an example of Be Respectful

Following any of the 6 Masterbuilder Character skills is an example of Be A Masterbuilder

The Behavioral Expectations Grid uses the school-wide rules to identify specific behavioral expectations across all school settings. All staff and students in the school are expected to know the School-wide Rules.

The goal is that 90 % of staff and students know the school-wide rules. To be most effective, regular teaching using the school-wide rules should become part of the school culture.

Gorsuch West Elementary School Rules and Character Skill Posters will be disseminated and should be posted in every room in the school, including all classrooms, the cafeteria, hallways, front office, etc. This will help to prompt staff and students to pay attention to the school rules. School Rules and Character Skill Posters should be big enough to read and highly visible throughout all settings in the school.