If at any point students are not meeting behavioral expectations set by their instructor and all BrainStorm staff members, the disciplinary actions listed below will be taken.  If the student is being disciplined for a severe behavioral incident or violent matter, the student will be removed from the classroom and the parents of that particular student will be contacted immediately following the incident.

Step 1: Reminder This is a reminder not a reprimand. It may be directed to the whole class at once. It may be directed to one or two students. The teacher does not need to approach the student when using this step. The teacher needs to take the opportunity to remind students early enough that the situation does not progress beyond a point where a simple reminder is no longer appropriate.

EXAMPLE: “Janice and Maria, the rest of us have all started working, now. You need to stop talking and start too.”

Some teachers may complain that they should not have to remind children over and over again. We remind the children because they ARE children.

Step 2: Warning This is a reprimand. The student is approached. The warning may be either verbal or written. Verbal warnings should not be delivered across the classroom. The teacher should move in close to the student and let them know what they are expected to do. The student is asked to identify the next step.

EXAMPLE: Steven is sitting sideways in his chair and keeps messing with things on Maria’s desk. The teacher approaches Steven and says “Steven, I expect you to turn around in your seat and get on with your assignment. This is your warning. What is the next step?”

Step 3: Infraction Slip The student is approached again. They are reminded that they have already received a warning. An infraction slip will be turned into the office. If they have received a written warning, the slip is collected from them. The student is asked to identify the next step.

EXAMPLE: Nathan has been warned about staying in his seat and working on his assignment, but he keeps wandering over to argue with Jeff about a missing LEGO piece. The teacher marks “Failure to follow classroom rules” on an infraction slip. She says “Nathan, I warned you only a few minutes earlier about following directions. Yet you refuse to go to work. You will receive an infraction slip. Can you tell me the next step?”

Step 4: Send to the Office The student is removed from class and escorted to the office.

EXAMPLE: Linda has been acting up in class quite a bit today. She has been warned, and has had an infraction slip written up. Still, she continues to disrupt the class. The teacher sends her to the office. As she leaves the room, the teacher calls the office to let them know that Linda is on the way. As soon as possible, the teacher stops by the office to fill out a referral form and check with the principal. The teacher will contact the girl’s parents, as well. Use simple verbal reprimands when the misbehavior occurs. Make sure that they are to the point, moderate in tone, and private (e.g., “Stop talking and work on your math problems, please”).

• Raise their voice.
• Yell.
• Use tense body language, such as rigid posture or clenched hands.
• Use degrading, insulting, humiliating, or embarrassing put-downs.
• Use physical force.