Banneker implemented a program that grew out of The Basic School's concept of families and two teachers' creative solution to a behavior problem. When Joanne Fisher's first graders and Joyce Bonnoni's fourth graders began egging one another on to act out in the cafeteria, the teachers teamed up their classes to form a school family. The family idea has blossomed into a voluntary schoolwide program. Each September teachers are encouraged to pair up. We work school-family activities into already existing projects.
Classroom management is everyone's job.
Banneker also instituted a schoolwide behavior incentive program. In each classroom there's a jar to which marbles are added for good behavior. If a teacher other than their own catches them on their good behavior and compliments them, they get to add two marbles. If the principal spots them, it's three marbles. Once a jar is filled, there is a whole-class celebration.