On the first day of my course, we will go over the art studio rules. These rules will be printed out, each student getting a copy that they are required to sign and hand to me at the end of class. I will save them to reference if rules are broken. Most of these rules fall under 3 categories: Be kind to yourself, Be kind to others, and Be kind to your environment. I also have a few "Absolutely Do Nots". This sets very clear expectations for student behavior and is easy to remember, these expectations are posted in the classroom. 

Be Kind to Yourself 

Always speak kindly about yourself and about your art

Forgive yourself for your mistakes and try to acknowledge what you learned from them

Set yourself up for success: choose a workspace where you can focus and do what you need to benefit fully from art studio

Take a break if you need it and work at a comfortable pace

Challenge yourself and be courageous 

Be Kind to Others

Always speak kindly about others and their art

Any comments about someone's art should be a compliment or constructive feedback 

Ask your classmate's what they need from you to be successful and feel supported 

Wipe down your desk after class

Encourage your classmates to follow classroom rules

Stay focused and avoid distracting others

Listen when others are talking

Be Kind to Your Environment

Clean your workspace at the end of class

Be gentle with materials and put them where they belong

Speak at a respectful volume 

Absolutely DO NOTs

Do NOT:

-Use hateful language 

-Run in art studio

-Touch other people's bodies

-Throw things

-Make marks on or damage other people's artwork

As students enter:

-Write their name on the back of a sticky note and place it on our "Check in Chart" on the emotion feels describes their day best. (Amazing, Good, Okay, Difficult, Bad) 

Students are encouraged to write under their name if they'd like to chat about their day. I also encourage students to look at the check in chart at the beginning of class and be extra kind if there are lots of sticky notes on difficult or bad

Students are able to move their post it note at the end of class if their day changed based on class but are encouraged to indicate on the sticky note how art studio effected their day 

-Sit down at assigned seating and greet all table mates

During class

-The Chime: To gain or regain students' attention I have a chime that I will ring, I ring the chime as many times as necessary to get the students attention 

-Hand Signals: If students need to use the restroom, answer or ask a question, has a comment, would like to agree. We have corresponding hand signals to make communication more efficient. 

-Office or Restroom Pass: I have two bathroom passes hanging by the door and an office pass. Students are to communicate with me when leaving the classroom to go to the restroom but do not have to ask permission. Students must ask permission to go to the nurse or office but are not required to tell me the reason.

-Sensory/Calm Corner: The calm corner is located at the back of the Studio. I found that this was a natural area that students gravitated to when upset. I have a comfy chair, a weighted blanket, headphones, fidgets, feeling board, coloring pages, and coping feelings poster. I will verbally affirm students that are expressing frustration, anger, anxiety that they can use the calming corner as a choice and students can utilize it without asking as long as

One person at a time

Ask to use during opening and closing meetings, sometimes it is overused in transitional times and I want to encourage full group regulation.

Use the  timer and if more time is needed, they can reset it.

Be mindful of others needing the space

-Students are encouraged to keep an old shirt or apron in their locker to bring to art studio because materials can be messy

-Sketch Books: Students have their own sketchbook in studio and are encouraged to work in it when they have creative block and/or complete work early

-Critique Days: We may have critique days either midway through a project or at the end. On occasion, I will bring chips ahoy or oreo cookies for the class. During critique, students are to follow certain expectations:

-Give one or two compliments, be specific

-Give an example of something that could be improved, be kind and make sure all feedback is constructive 

-Ask questions if you have them but choose kind words

-Listen when others are speaking 

Students can request for me to take notes during their critique. 

-Turning in or Picking Up Project work: All work being turned in must have printed rubric neatly paper clipped to it with the student's name printed neatly on the rubric and their artist signature on the artwork. There is a large tray labeled "Turn in" for all work to be placed in gently. When picking up project work, students must be respectful and careful touching other student's artwork. Please do not throw away your artwork, it will break your teacher's heart. 

-Displayed Artwork: I may choose to display certain project work in the classroom or hallway, if I do, you will need to pick it up during the last week of class. 

End of Class

My classes do not line up at the door. We wait in our seats until the bell rings. We begin cleaning our space and putting away materials 10 minutes before the bell. There is absolutely no running in my classroom, students who break this rule will have to walk back to their seat before leaving. 

Minor Behaviors

• Low effort or refusal to participate

• Verbal disruption/calling out

• Unkind words

• Inappropriate, impolite, or “off” tone

• Not following directions

• Name calling or minor teasing

• Refusal to start or complete work

• Inappropriate language (not directed at staff member or others)

• Talking back

• Withdrawing

• Distracting others

• Not ready to problem solve

• Misuse of materials

• Non-compliance/”defiance” 

NATURAL CONSEQUENCES (for repetitive minor behaviors)

1. Proximity (with body or eye contact)

2. Reminder 

3. Give choices. If appropriate a choice can be the calming corner, but if the student is not angry/upset sometimes a change in seating is a choice. 

4. Teacher/student conference (1:1)

5. Parent contact 

6. Collaborate with principal

Deprivation punishments for full class or individuals are not constructive and will not be implemented

If there is an instance of a major behavior being inappropriate item possession (alcohol, drugs, nicotine, weapon), attempted violence, hate speech, or destruction of school property, there will be parent contact and principal intervention immediately.