Time Out Letter
ByThere are seveal of us teachers that have banded together to use our classrooms for suspensions. When I give a student a suspension for not coming to detention; I have the students write a Time Out Lette during the detention (see copy). I send the student to my administrator and write on the school’s Discpline Referral Form the following. “Defied classroom rules and refused tp show up for 15 minute detention-will not be admitted to my class until they copy “Time Out Letter” get required signatures and come to detention. Student to serve suspension in room####. Will call parents to notify.” I send them to the administration so administration will know where the student is in case there is call from parents during the class period.
TIME OUT LETTER
(To be reinstated to your class you are to copy this letter, word for word, get the required signatures and return both copies to the teacher who gave you the suspension)
Student Name _________________________________ Date: __________
I understand that Carver Academy Middle School is a place for learning. Every student in the United States is offered 12 years of free education. Not many other countries in the world offer this to their students. I understand that I choose how to use this time. I can get an education and learn more about myself and the world around me, or I can waste this time.
I understand that my teacher, Mr. Treadwell, is responsible for many things. He has to plan the lessons and then do everything possible to help students understand the material. Mr. Treadwell has a big job because it is not easy to help a class full of students. When I behave disruptively, I am making it hard for my teacher to do his job. This isn’t fair and I don’t have the right to do this.
I understand that the other students in my class have a right to the best education possible. When I behave disruptively, I not only keep Mr. Treadwell from doing his job, I am also keeping students from getting the best education possible. This is not fair and I don’t have the right to do this.
I understand that right now I am missing out on valuable learning time. Instead of learning, I am copying this lesson. I understand that I made a decision to behave unacceptably in class and continued misbehavior will not be tolerated. I understand that I have the power to make good decisions or bad decisions. When I make good decisions, I am rewarded. This means getting a good education and feeling good about me. I understand that I deserve a good education and I have the power and responsibility to make this happen. When I return to class from this suspension, I will abide by the 12 Rules for the Classroom.
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Parent Signature Student Signature Principal Signature
Thank You for the greet article
Listen-
Copying rules is not a form of corporal punishment so that comment is irrelevant. I guess writing essays will be considered corporal punishment next.
Classroom Discipline 101 is not an Administrative-dependent system. If administrators don’t cooperate, too bad-I have to get my classes in shape. Everything is within the educational code (disruptive/defiant students cannot remain in class, teachers have the right to suspend a student from class), which supersedes any administrator, as the Constitution supersedes any political figure. In other words, CD101 is not dependent on a good or cooperative administration. It DOES make it easier on them in the long run, and I have had several admins realize that after questioning me about suspending a student for chewing gum, etc. Once students realize there is always a price, they start cooperating.
The system makes it easier on them in the long run because less problems come from your room, but if you can’t make them understand that then go ahead and follow Classroom Discipline 101 and put the teeth back in whether admin likes it or not. I came up with my system so that I and other teachers would not have to suffer the stress of others’ wishes.
Your teeth are there, don’t let anyone remove them.
Craig
I tried a letter like this that had to be copied. After a parent or two complained, the VP said it was almost a form of “corporal punishment” to have students HAVE to copy a form. Because Administration was spineless and wouldnt back me up, they took the teeth out of my system!
Wow…I’m really reeling from trying to implement this system. I teach music and am currently the long term substitute for a middle school where I teach band, choir, and guitar and am having a very tricky time implementing this stuff. I do not feel supported by the administrators. I feel like they expect me to allow the classroom to continue being as unruly and disrespectful as it has been all year, rather than make waves by trying to get order from these classrooms and teach them some of the discipline that is inherent in music.
As a way to avoid sending too many students to the office (frowned upon) when they don’t show for detention, I’ve been having them sit outside the classroom. I decided to try having them copy this letter, but was told by the assistant principal that it was “too high brow” for the students and that I need to bring it down to their level.
Does anyone else feel this way? I certainly don’t feel like 12 and 13 year old students are too young to be able to grasp the meaning and value of this letter. What are other people’s experiences with this letter? How do your students respond to it? Does it seem to make an impact on them?
I’m stealing this too! I’ll be adapting it, but not much, for 5th graders. Thank you.
Sounds great. I just wonder how many students really get it by writing sentences. I know I did but I was a very compliant child. I deal with middle school, very cowboy type groups, who love to talk, hit each other etc. What are your 12 rules?
I share the same feelings as the teachers above… sorry but I also “stole” it from you…
Same as above! I’m stealing it, for sure. Thanks for sharing.
This is fabulous! Really hits the personal responsibility on the head. I teach in a private school, so I was able to lay the guilt of wasting their parent’s resources on them as well. I have tweaked to fit our circumstances, but this is a great tool! Thanks for posting it!