Step Two: Policies, Procedures, and Protocols

Visualizing how you believe your classroom should function is the first step to managing your classroom.  Everything you need to do to properly manage your classroom is dependent upon taking this very important first step.  Once you have established a vision for your classroom, it is now time to consider the three P’s of classroom management: policies, procedures, and protocols.

Policies are defined as proposed or adopted courses or principles of action.  For example, “In our classroom all team members will communicate respectfully and will demonstrate respect and tolerance for opposing viewpoints.”  This, to me, sounds like a very good policy for classrooms to adopt.    A further example, “Our classroom values participation from all team members.”  I think we would agree that this is, once again, a very sound policy to have in a classroom and a policy conducive to fostering good behavior from all team members.  Classroom policies should establish norms for behavior and “paint the picture” for our students; our policies clearly state what we want to see and what we strive for on a daily basis.  Our policies should align with our vision.

Policies are really a clear extension of our vision, but we also have to foster behaviors aligned with our vision and policies.   One definition of procedures is as follows: an established or official way of doing something.  To further clarify we should add the following: a series of actions conducted in a certain order or manner.  Determining classroom procedures will take a great deal of work, but the benefits are well worth the effort.  Procedures clearly establish proper behaviors, but also clarify how we go about performing these behaviors.  Teachers must have a procedure for darn near everything: what to do when you need supplies; what to do when you need to use the restroom; what to do when you have a question; what to do when you want to participate in the discussion; how to enter and exit the room; how to pass in homework; how to walk to the lunchroom; how to transition to PE and other classes; how to assist a classmate; and how to resolve conflicts.  I am sure a group of educators could generate a list of what-to-dos and how-to-dos that would fill a notebook—I would suggest sitting down with your colleagues and doing so.  Establishing procedures for all possible scenarios will go a long way toward assisting you in reaching your vision for your classroom and assuring adherence to your established policies.

Protocols are closely related to procedures, but slightly different, thus requiring their own definition.  Protocols are defined as such: the established codes of procedures or behaviors in any group.  I like to define protocols as “If this . . ., then this . . .”  If a student does not follow the established procedures, thus violating classroom policies, then what happens? What happens if they violate this policy more than once?  What do you do if a team member clearly demonstrates a lack of respect for another team member in a group discussion?  Consider not only your response, but also what the response of the other team members should be in such a scenario.  Establishing these protocols will allow your classroom to function much more efficiently and effectively.  If you have the proper protocols in place, you will find that you as the classroom teacher do not always have to act as the primary mechanism of accountability.  You should always serve as the ultimate arbiter of accountability, but imagine how much easier your job would be if you could depend upon having other members of the classroom hold one another responsible for adherence to classroom policies.  This is possible if you establish and teach the protocols necessary to assist you in achieving your classroom vision.

Establishment of classroom policies, procedures, and protocols remove a great deal of uncertainty for our students.  Establishing and teaching these three P’s will make them feel safer and more secure as they clearly understand what is expected of them, the behaviors they need to exhibit, the manner of demonstrating these behaviors, and they understand the consequences for violations in the classrooms.  Teaching your three P’s in an ongoing manner removes a great deal of the ambiguity associated with our students’ lives.  A co-worker and I used to joke that many educators are consistently inconsistent.   Establishment of classroom policies, procedures, and protocols will allow us, as well as our students, to behave in a more consistent manner and will allow us to better manage our classrooms.