Discipline Plan 2007-2008

The fifth and sixth grades will be using a discipline plan that has been developed around “dollars”. Our purpose is to help students learn that good behavior and hard work are rewarding, while poor work habits and disobedient behavior have consequences which are not “profitable”.

Students begin every six weeks with a citizenship grade of 100. They are each given a “bankbook” containing numbered “dollars” which start with a 100 and count downward by twos. Students may be fined dollars depending upon their misbehavior or their lack of responsibility. Each lost dollar has a value of two points. (For example, students losing three dollars would receive a citizenship grade of 94 on their report card.) A student may lose up to fifteen dollars and still pass citizenship. (15x20=30: 100-30=70) Hopefully students will still have most of their “money” at the end of the grading period, at which time they may use their dollars to qualify for the end of the six weeks reward activity. Unused dollars must be turned in before the activity begins. Students who lose their “bankbooks” will not be eligible to participate.

Students obtain, use, and earn money in the following ways:

1.    As stated earlier, students are given a new “bankbook” at the beginning of each six weeks. The dollars are numbered in such a way that students know their citizenship grade at all times. Students are responsible for keeping up with their “money” (bankbook) and for having their bankbook in class every day. Dollars should always be kept in the student’s notebook. “Bogus Bucks” (penalty dollars) are used when a student loses a dollar and doesn’t have their “bankbook” with them. “Bogus Bucks” are worth 4 points.

2.    Students receive one “Birthday Buck”, to use at the end of any grading period to improve their grade. (Students with a grade of 88 might use their Birthday Buck to bring their citizenship grade up to 90.)

3.    “Bonus Bucks” may be earned at any time for exceptional conduct* or class work. “Bonus Bucks” can be used at the end of a grading period to bring up citizenship grades.

(*Examples – helping other students or teachers without being asked, trying espacially hard in class, making the right choice in a difficult situation)

Students can lose dollars for the following reasons:

1. Misbehavior (not following class or school rules)
2. Irresponsibility (failure to bring homework or necessary school items such as textbooks, supplies, signed notes for teachers, etc.)
3. Failure to follow school safety rules.
4. Failure to cooperate with school personnel.

The five colored dollars at the end of each “bankbook” represent failing citizenship grades. Additional consequences for excessive misbehavior in most cases will be:

            1^st colored dollar lost – trip to the office and will receive a discipline notice (counts toward HEB trip)

            Any additional colored dollar lost – automatically results in loss of any special weekly privilege

We are looking forward to working with you and your child. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s work, our discipline plans, or any other school matters, please contact any of the fifth or sixth grade teachers. We will be glad to visit with you and answer any questions! If you wish to come for a conference, please check with either the office or one of the 5^th/6^th grade teachers at least one day in advance to avoid conflicts. We cannot guarantee we will all be available to meet with you unless you make an appointment. We will only be able to make a later appointment date. (We may have another conference scheduled, a teachers’ meeting, or some other obligation such as tutoring.) Our home telephone numbers are listed below, or you may call the school at 484-3351.

Mrs. Neighbors – ext. 108 (Language Arts) 651-6372

Mrs. Sutton – ext. 117 (Math)

Mrs. White – ext 105 (Reading) 484-3332

Mrs. Young – ext. 107 (Social Studies/Science) 465-4401