Responsible Classroom Management, Grades 6–12: A Schoolwide Plan

About the Book

"The RCM plan works because it is straightforward and easy for staff, students, and parents to understand and, most important, to buy into. Staff members appreciate the research and the paradigm of modeling responsibility. Students identify with the emphasis on responsibility and the use of logical consequences. The RCM plan has been a major part of positively changing the overall culture in our school."
—Ronald S. Dixon, Principal
John Taylor Williams Middle School, Charlotte, NC

A schoolwide plan for decreasing discipline problems and empowering adolescents to act responsibly!

Proven to reduce office referrals, suspensions, and dropout rates, the Responsible Classroom Management Plan (RCMPlan™) is a nationally field-tested, team-based approach to schoolwide behavior management and discipline. Written for teachers and administrators in Grades 6–12, this detailed resource:

• Addresses the nuts and bolts of classroom management
• Explains the essential skills teachers need to reinforce responsible behavior and model appropriate social conduct
• Provides tested consequences that promote internal behavior control in secondary school students
• Includes administrator resources and tools for introducing, implementing, and monitoring Responsible Classroom Management in a school or district

Emphasizing the importance of teamwork between administrators and teachers in maintaining schoolwide behavior standards and expectations, this book introduces the RCMPlan™ system and provides the tools you need for successful implementation.

Table of Contents:
List of Tools Acknowledgements About the Authors Introduction 1. Understanding The RCMPlan? The RCMPlan? Becoming a Successful RCM Teacher A Model for Improving Instruction and Behavior An Invitation to Change: The RCM Plan? Inventory Looking Ahead 2. Teaching Students Responsibility Within Warm and Inviting Classrooms The Original and Still Functional Correlates for Teaching Responsibility Expecting Responsibility and Civility in the Classroom Experimenting with Responsibility and Civility in the Classroom Modeling Responsible Behavior The Four Types of Inviting Teachers Preparing to Modify Classroom Procedures Students Roles and Additions to the Classroom Group Activities Looking Ahead 3. Standards, Guidelines, and Expected Behaviors Why Rules Do Not Work With Middle or Secondary School Students Replacing Rules with School and Classroom Standards, Guidelines, and Expected Behaviors Building School Guidelines for Outside the Classroom Developing Classroom Guidelines Teaching Standards and Guidelines to Students Looking Ahead 4. Using Consequences to Teach Responsibility Using Logical Consequences Versus Punishment Developing a Pool of Consequences for Selective Use in the Classroom Consequences for More Serious Infractions: The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Using ICU Effectively Behavior Improvement Agreements (BIAs) The DRC′s Supervisory Process A Sample of Grade-Specific Consequences Group Activities Looking Ahead Resource A: The RCMPlan Principal?s Guide Resource B: The RCMPlan? Toolbox References Index

About the Author :
J. Allen Queen is professor and former chair of the Department of Educational Leadership at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. A former classroom teacher, principal, college administrator, and university professor, he works with teachers and principals in the areas of managing priorities, time management, and stress reduction. Queen has written over 30 books and 70 articles, including The Frazzled Teacher’s Wellness Plan (Corwin Press 2004), The Block Scheduling Handbook (Corwin Press 2002), and books on karate and fitness for young readers. He has appeared on radio and television programs, including ABC′s World News Now, and has been a consultant to over 160 schools and districts in 36 states and 3 foreign countries in the areas of classroom discipline, school safety, block scheduling, and time management. Bob Algozzine is a professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at the University of North Carolina and project codirector of the U.S. Department of Education-supported Behavior and Reading Improvement Center. With 25 years of research experience and extensive firsthand knowledge of teaching students classified as seriously emotionally disturbed, Algozzine is a uniquely qualified staff developer, conference speaker, and teacher of behavior management and effective teaching courses. He is active in special education practice as a partner and collaborator with professionals in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools in North Carolina and as an editor of several journals focused on special education. Algozzine has written more than 250 manuscripts on special education topics, including many books and textbooks on how to manage emotional and social behavior problems.

Review :
"Responsible Classroom Management is not a one-time shot or pill that will cure discipline problems. It is a valuable, student-centered resource that gives your school direction, information, and the necessary research to build a plan that will benefit you and your students. It is a proven strategy that is currently successful and has sound principles." "A valuable resource to any staff creating a schoolwide or districtwide plan for developing responsible student behavior. The book provides the necessary research data, planning steps, and resources to help any staff develop and personalize a plan, based on their own unique school and student characteristics." "This book goes into great detail on how to establish a schoolwide discipline program and the step-by-step process for introduction and implementation. Involving students and parents are key elements outlined in the book for ownership in the program. I would recommend this book for any school, administrator, or teacher seeking ways to improve schoolwide discipline and effective classroom management." "Kudos to J. Allen Queen and Bob Algozzine who continue to provide up-to-date guidance to school teachers and administrators who work in the ever-changing and challenging field of teaching and learning. The RCM Plan is full of practical and commonsense strategies that will yield long-term skills for both teachers and students as they practice using positives to address behaviors that negatively impact teaching related to student learning and behavior." "I have used the RCM schoolwide behavior plan in an elementary school and two middle schools. The RCM plan has been a major part of positively changing the overall culture in each school. Office referrals and suspensions decreased dramatically. The RCM plan is effective because it is straightforward and easy for staff, students, and parents to understand and, most important, to buy into. Staff members appreciate the research and the paradigm of modeling responsibility. Students identify with the emphasis placed on becoming more responsible and the use of logical consequences." "As a high school administrator, I was in charge of overseeing our schoolwide discipline program. Teachers and staff chose the RCM plan after studying several options. Dr. Queen trained our staff and provided support throughout our implementation. Our discipline referrals were reduced by approximately 50% by the end of the first nine weeks. I can attest to the success of the program. This book provides an excellent road map for implementing the RCM program. A school could use this book for staff development or as a PLC focus and be more than prepared for implementation. I would recommend this book for any school seeking a schoolwide discipline plan with consistency and manageable consequences for student behavior."