5 Steps for Creating and Implementing a Code of Conduct– Dr. Sharer
Expectations are based on beliefs people have and the behaviors used to act on those beliefs. The manner in which behaviors are inititated can be described as procedures and the beliefs a person uses to make decisions can collectively be thought of as a code of conduct.
Step 1 Identify Expectations as Behaviors and Beliefs
Write Your Expectation for Students in Your Classroom:
Label Each Expectation as Either a Behavior or Belief
Sort and Create Two Lists - Behaviors and Beliefs
Step 2 Organize Beliefs
Take Each Belief and sort them into categories.
Example categories:
- Common ideas for Caring
- Ideas for Communicating
- Common Ideas for Respecting
- Common Ideas for Resolving
- Common Ideas for Taking Responsibility
The categories for your beliefs will become your code of conduct.
Prioritize the Beliefs in each category from most important to least important.
Decide to create a statement for each category or combine them. Also will the code of conduct be written for the class as one including teacher, students, and guests or a separate code for teachers and students.
Write the code of conduct.
Step 3 Organize Behaviors
Decide or come to consensus on which behavior in your category is most important or in what order each should be taught.
Step 4 Decide how to teach behaviors
Decide which behaviors are to be taught, create a Social Skill Chart, and Teaching Procedure for each and include the following:
Behaviors for the Lesson:
How it relates to beliefs:
Outcomes: At the end of this lesson students will have done what?
List the essential steps of the behavior or skill.
- Looks Like
Non-Examples - Sounds Like
Non-Examples - Feels Like
Non-Examples
How will it be modeled accurately?
How will it be used with examples of when to use what?
Step 5 Relate Behaviors to the Code of Conduct
List the Code of Conduct items and match the list of behaviors.
Example: Code of conduct item - Everyone in the classroom will help each other learn. Behaviors Active Listening; Showing Respect; Sharing; Taking Turns.
- Explain what these behaviors are, how to do them (proceduralize), social aspects (what it looks like, sounds like, and feels like) and why they are acceptable and the benefits everyone will receive.
- Describe misbehaviors fully by explaining what it looks like, sounds like, and feels like. Explain why unacceptable behavior is unacceptable and what the consequences and intervention strategies will be.
- Describe what you will do to help students be successful.
- Describe any relevant Reinforcement Strategies you intend to use to ensure the behavior becomes habit.
- Describe consequences: natural consequences that may result from misbehavior, logical consequences if the code of conduct is not followed.
- Include how you will deal with recidivism.
- Describe how your code of Conduct will result in teaching students needed behaviors to succeed.
Dr. Robert Sweetland's Notes ©