School Rules
True or False: You are able to change your seat when we are on a bus and it is in motion.
False: You may only change seats if the bus is stopped at a bus stop and you have asked the teacher to change your seat.
Rule #32: When we ride on a bus, we will always sit facing forward. We will never turn around to talk to other students, stick anything out of the windows, or get out of our seats. When we exit the bus, we will always thank the bus driver, and tell them to have a good day.
When you answer the phone at your house, you must do so in an appropriate manner.
Moral
Rule #41
You are going out to eat with your family and your dad chooses to go to your local TGIFs. You order the steak meal with mashed potatoes', corn on the cob, and a sprite. After taking your order, the waiter brings out the bread. How will you be eating (in terms of finger food or not)?
You will eat the bread and the corn on the cob with your hands eating the corn horizontally and not around. You will tear off a piece of bread, butter it, and then eat it that way instead of buttering the entire roll first. You will eat everything else with your utensils. Also, don't forget to put your napkin on your lap!
Rule #29 - ABCs of Food Etiquette
You may bring a bottle of water and leave it on your desk. Do not ask me if you can get water while I am teaching a lesson. You can even have food at your desk as long as others don't see it and I don't hear you eat it.
Work Success
Rule #22
Where do you place your napkin once you are done with your meal?
When you are finished eating, place your napkin on the table to the left of your plate. Place it loosely besides the plate. Do not crumple it, because you don't want to seem untidy. Don't fold it too neatly, because you don't want the restaurant to think you assume they are going to use it again. Never leave your napkin on your chair. This implies that the napkins too dirty to be left on the table. Also, in some cultures, leaving the napkin on the chair is known as a way to say that you don't intend to return to the restaurant again.
Rule #29 B
Where should your eyes and arms be when you are walking in line?
You should be facing forward and have your arms by your side.
Rule #44: When in line, walk single file, 2 to 3 feet behind the person in front of you with your arms at your sides. You should face forward at all times. There will be absolutely no talking.
When you cough or sneeze or burp, it is appropriate to turn your head away from others and cover your mouth with the full part of your hand. Using a fist is not acceptable. Afterward, you should say, "Excuse me," and sanitize if you can.
Citizenship
Rule #7
Alex tripped Michael in the hallway and is being disciplined by the school principal because she saw him do it. You notice a bunch of other students crowding in an area opposite to Alex, looking at him and talking about it. What should you do?
You should not look at Alex at all. You should approach the group to recommend they do they same. If you happen to notice that they are still doing it a little while later, come tell me. Do not get involved again.
Rule #27
When we return from a trip, you should shake my hand, as well as the hand of every chaperone. You should thank us for taking the time to take you on the trip, and you should let us know that you appreciate having the opportunity to go. I am not concerned with being thanked; I am concerned with teaching you that it is appropriate to show appreciation when someone has gone out of their way to help you.
Kindness
Rule #42
When you are finished eating, do not push your plate away from you. Leave it where it is in the setting. If you want to show you have finished eating, you should lay your fork and knife together diagonally across the plate. You should place your fork with the tines down, and you should have the sharp side of the knife facing you. Of the two utensils, the fork should be the closest to you.
Rule #29 S
What should you do if you are going to be sick?
Leave the classroom immediately. (Find a larger bin in common spaces if needed but it is better to clean it up from the floor than it is to clean it off of items.)
Rule #21A: Do not get out of your seat without permission. Exception: if you are sick, leave immediately.
When we are on field trips and we have to go up the escalators, we will stand to the right. That will give other individuals who are in a hurry the option of walking up the left-hand side of the escalator. When we are going to enter an elevator, the subway, or a doorway, we will wait for others to exit before we enter.
Citizenship
Rule #43
You walk into your 3rd period English class and your realize that your teacher is out for the day and you have a substitute. What should you do?
Act as if your teacher were there. Listen to the substitute, complete all of the work that was assigned, help out others who might not remember this rule.
Rule #20: While you are with a substitute teacher, you will follow the same rules that you follow when I am with you.
If you win, or do well at something, do not brag. If you lose, do not show anger. Instead say something like "I really enjoy the competition and I look forward to playing you again" or "good game" or don't say anything at all. To show anger or sarcasm such as "I wasn't playing hard anyways, you really aren't that good" shows weakness.
Sportsmanship
Rule #5
What happens if you have been waiting 30 minutes for your food to come out but you have noticed they are a bit short staffed and very busy.
You should never complain if the line is too long, the food isn't good, or if there is a wait. You don't want to be negative to the point where you spoil the enjoyment of the event for others.
Rule #29 Q
What is appropriate, respectful assembly behavior?
Rule #40: During an assembly, do not speak and do not look around and try to get the attention of your friends in other classes. We must uphold an image that shows we have our act together!
No matter what the circumstances, always be honest. Even if you have done something wrong, it is best to admit it to me, because I will respect that, and oftentimes I will forget any disciplinary measures because of your honesty.
Moral
Rule #53
You are grabbing your lunch and you see and open seat and sit down. A few others sit down with you and you see your friend looking for a spot. There is one next to you so you wave over at him. As he approaches the table, the other tell you that they have saved that spot for their friend who is still in line. What should you do?
You should tell them that there is no assigned seating nor is there saved seating. Their friend can make other friends by sitting with others and they can make friends with you and your friend by sitting with you.
Rule #26: Do not save seats in the lunch room. If someone wants to sit down, let them. Do not try to exclude anyone. We are family, and we must treat one another with respect and kindness.
Quickly learn the names of other teachers in the school and greet them by saying things like "Good morning, Ms. Davey" or "Good afternoon Ms. Davey, that is a very pretty dress." Note: if you are in line with the rest of the class, you are not allowed to speak to teachers at that time because the no talking rule is in effect. You should speak to other teachers if you're entering or leaving the school, at recess, on an errand, or changing class.
Work Success
Rule #23
True or False: You should pick up anything you drop on the floor to be courteous of the waiters who clean up after you.
False: If you drop your fork, napkin, or anything else on the floor, do not pick it up. It's very rude and unsanitary to place something on the table that has been on the floor. If you pick something up that has been dropped in hand it to a waiter, then you will need to excuse yourself and wash your hands before continuing with your meal. The best way to handle a situation when something has dropped on the floor is to ask a waiter for a replacement; leave the old one on the floor.
Rule #29 L
How should you enter the building on a field trip?
You will enter so quietly that no one will even notice you are there.
Rule #38: When we are on a field trip, there will be no talking as we enter the building. We will enter the building so quietly that no one will even notice that we are there. This applies to entering any place where people are gathered, whether it be the movies, at church, or any other venue.
If I or any other teacher in the school is speaking to or disciplining a student, do not look at that student. You wouldn't want others looking at you if you were in trouble or being reprimanded, so don't look at others in that situation. If you are the student I am talking to, do not get angry or fuss at students who are looking at you. Let me know and I will handle the situation.
Moral
Rule #27
In history class you were passed back your class-graded quiz from yesterday. You notice that there is one that is right but marked wrong. You compare with others to confirm before going to the teacher. What is suppose to happen according to Ron Clark's rules once you talk to your teacher and they confirm the answer is correct?
The person who graded the quiz will get deducted the amount of points they marked incorrect on your quiz and you will receive the credit back.
Rule #12: Occasionally we may grade each others papers as a group. When grading each other's papers, if you give someone an incorrect grade, whether it is higher or lower than they deserve, the amount of the grade differs from the actual grade will be deducted from your paper. The only marks you are allowed to make on others papers are an "X" and the number they got incorrect.
When you are getting something from someone, never insult that person by making negative comments about the gift or by insinuating that it wasn't appreciated.
Sportsmanship
Rule #10
You are at a work gala event with a buffet line and small appetizers. You have just went through the entire buffet line but before you get to your seat someone stops to chat. As you are chatting, you are tempted to start eating as your plate is right in front of you. What should you do?
Never start eating off of your tray until you are at your seat.
Rule #29 O
Let them know that you have just grabbed your plate to start eating and that you will catch up with them after eating.