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Overarching Expectations Lesson Plan
Introducing Your School’s Overarching Expectations
Introduce the Overarching Expectations
Edit this section to reflect the overarching expectations and PBSIS motto specific to your
school.
Today’s lesson helps us to learn about what [insert expectations] means to the students and
staff at [insert school] and how the expectations can help us make good choices about our
behavior and actions. Let’s define [insert your motto (e.g., Lion’s Pride; Be REAL, etc.):
RESPECTFUL: When we are respectful, we show consideration for how our words and actions
will affect other people. When we are respectful we value each other’s point of view, even if we
disagree. When we are respectful, we are polite and kind and treat each other with dignity.
Let’s talk about some examples and non-examples of respect:
Examples of being respectful
 Listening when someone is talking to you
 Asking before you touch or take other
people’s belongings
 Leaving out name calling when you
express your opinion
 Accept other people’s differences
 Saying I’m sorry
 Playing fair
 Showing concern
 Cooperating with adult directions
Not examples of being respectful
 Gossiping
 Name calling
 Ignoring someone when they are talking to
you
 Rolling your eyes
 Sucking your teeth
RESPONSIBLE: When we are responsible we make good decisions; we do the right thing
whether or not someone tells us; we answer for our words and actions; and we accept the
consequence when we have done something wrong. When we are responsible other people
can depend on us.
Examples of being responsible
Not examples of being responsible
 Cleaning up our area
 Leaving garbage
 Helping others
 Blaming others for our actions
 Owning up to a mistake
 Loosing materials
 Having our homework
 Not having your homework
 Asking adults for help
 Not being prepared for school
 Looking after our belongings
 Coming late
 Being quiet on teacher’s signal
 Making excuses
 Following the dress code
o Shirt tucked
o Pants up
o Hoodie free
NJ PBSIS (2015). NJ PBSIS is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs in collaboration with The Boggs Center, Rutgers
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. NJ PBSIS is funded by I.D.E.A., Part B. www.njpbs.org
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Overarching Expectations Lesson Plan
Courteous: When we are courteous we use polite words and use good manners such as
please and thank you. Let’ look at some examples of how we can be courteous: [review &
revise this list]
Examples of being courteous
 Greet others when you see them
 Include everyone in the conversation
 Use excuse me, please and thank you
 Take turns
 Share materials
 Wait until the other person stops talking
before speaking
 Hang our backpacks on the back of our
chair (or hook)
Not examples of not being courteous
 Excluding other students from the group or
conversation
 Grabbing out of someone’s hand
 Interrupting when someone is talking
 Ignoring someone when they are talking to
you
 Push your way through
 Rolling your eyes
Kind: When we are kind we use nice words, are helpful to others and are tolerant of other
people’s differences. [Review & revise examples as needed]
Examples of being kind
 Say I’m sorry
 Play fair
 Show concern
 Use nice words (like giving a compliment)
 Offer to help a peer or adult
 Accept other people’s differences
Not examples of not being kind
 Gossiping
 Spreading rumors
 Name calling
 Saying mean words like ‘shut up’ or ‘you’re
stupid”
SAFETY: We all want to be safe. Each day we can make choices about our words and actions
that contribute to U.S. Wiggins being a safe place to learn.
Examples of being safe
 Walking at all times
 Keeping your hands, feet and objects to
your self
 Telling an adult when something bothers
you, do not try to handle it yourself
 Only using internet sites approved by your
teacher
 Saying no and reporting to an adult if
someone makes you feel scared or
uncomfortable
Examples of not being safe
 Running
 Pushing or shoving
 Throwing things
 Cyber bullying
 Taking matters into your own hands
NJ PBSIS (2015). NJ PBSIS is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs in collaboration with The Boggs Center, Rutgers
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. NJ PBSIS is funded by I.D.E.A., Part B. www.njpbs.org
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Overarching Expectations Lesson Plan
INTEGRITY: When we conduct ourselves with integrity, we are doing the ‘right thing” whether
or not anyone is watching. We understand the difference between right and wrong. When we
conduct ourselves with integrity we have the courage to be honest and to tell the truth.
Examples of having integrity
 Telling the truth
 Standing up for another student
 Asking for help
 Walking away when all the other kids are
doing something you know is wrong – walk
away from trouble
 Demonstrating Lion’s Pride when no one is
watching
Not examples of having integrity
 Lying
 Cheating
 Stealing
 Blaming others
 Taking others’ belongings
 Doing good just to get a payoff (“I did it,
now give me a dollar”)
Role Play Examples
Sometimes it can be hard to make the right choice. When this happens ask yourself:
- How will my words and actions affect others?
- How will my words and actions make others feel?
- Will I be proud to tell my parents or teacher that I did this?
Ask students: How does following the expectations help us? (Distribute tickets to students
participating)
Suggested student responses may include:
 We are able to focus on our school work
 The school is orderly
 Students will get along with one another
Ask: What do you think happens if we don’t follow the school expectations? (Distribute tickets
to students participating)
Suggested student responses may include
 Other kids at school could be bullied or treated unfairly.
 We may get hurt or be unsafe.
 Our belongings may get lost or destroyed
 We may be unhappy because we are saying a lot of mean things to one another.
 We wouldn’t be able to focus on our school work
NJ PBSIS (2015). NJ PBSIS is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs in collaboration with The Boggs Center, Rutgers
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. NJ PBSIS is funded by I.D.E.A., Part B. www.njpbs.org
Overarching Expectations Lesson Plan
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Now we are going to demonstrate what the expectations look like at our school.
Customize role play examples and questions as needed
Role Play Example #1: How to line up
Role play a non-example of how to line up. After the role play, ask the students:
Let’s assess the situation:





What are two things they did that demonstrated our school expectations?
What are two things they did that is conflict with our school expectations?
Why do you think it is important that students line up when the whistle blows?
What would happen if we don’t listen to the whistle?
How can we help each line up when the whistle blows?
o What are some verbal ways we can help each other line up?
o What are some nonverbal ways we can help each other line up?
Re-role play the positive model of how to line up
Student Pledge (see pledge sheet)
All students have the opportunity to take the pledge. Signing the contract indicates your
commitment to follow and promote the expectations in our school. Every student who signs the
contract will receive a [insert name of ticket]. Students in classes where 100% of the students
sign the contract will receive a Bonus ticket.
NJ PBSIS (2015). NJ PBSIS is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs in collaboration with The Boggs Center, Rutgers
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. NJ PBSIS is funded by I.D.E.A., Part B. www.njpbs.org
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Overarching Expectations Lesson Plan
Expectations by Location at a Glance
CUSTOMIZE WITH YOUR LOCATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS
Assembly:

Classroom

Morning Arrival
Cafeteria

Arrival to school grounds

Hallway


Main Office

Recess

NJ PBSIS (2015). NJ PBSIS is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs in collaboration with The Boggs Center, Rutgers
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. NJ PBSIS is funded by I.D.E.A., Part B. www.njpbs.org
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Overarching Expectations Lesson Plan
Teacher:________________________________________
[insert motto] Pledge
As a student at [insert school] I pledge to be [insert expectations].
Class Pledge Signatures
NJ PBSIS (2015). NJ PBSIS is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs in collaboration with The Boggs Center, Rutgers
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. NJ PBSIS is funded by I.D.E.A., Part B. www.njpbs.org