Responsible Thinking RTP Flow Chart

RTP Flow Chart by Edward E. Ford

The purpose of this chart is to give educators an overall idea of how the process works, and what happens when students disrupt. It is merely an outline—Discipline for Home and School, Book One and Book Two should be used as training manuals by all who implement the process. The detailed instructional materials in those two books were developed to guide educators in using RTP properly, maintaining the integrity of the process.

Many mistakes are possible due to the lack of adequate preparation prior to implementing the process. For example, some teachers might use the questioning techniques to attempt to “control” their students, while others might use those techniques selectively (perhaps with Tom Troublemaker, but not with Sweet Sally). Or a student might be sent home directly from a classroom following a series of minor disruptions, even though the decision to send a student home is supposed to be made only in the Responsible Thinking Classroom, with the approval and support of the school administrator, and the only time students are sent home other than due to disrupting in the RTC is following a serious act of misconduct, as defined by the school district’s governing board. Studying both Book 1 and Book 2 is essential for gaining an adequate understanding of RTP for implementing the process correctly.

Serious Acts of Misconduct

Student commits a serious act of misconduct and is sent immediately to the RTC or the appropriate administrator.

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Student is given a board mandated suspension from school and returns, or student returns to school after having disrupted in the RTC and been sent home. He and his parents or guardian meet with the school administrator to determine if there is a commitment to follow the rules.

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If student still refuses to follow the rules, he returns home until he is ready. If he is ready to follow rules, he is then sent to the RTC teacher to work on a plan to become responsible within the school environment.

School Bus

Student creates a safety hazard on the bus and the driver asks the RTP questions. If the student continues to disrupt, he is again asked the RTP questions, then goes to the front seat of the bus, which is used as RTC. The driver notifies dispatch to notify the student’s principal and parents that the student is in danger of losing his right to ride the bus. If the student continues to disrupt, he can no longer ride the bus until he returns with a plan and negotiates with the bus driver.

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Disruptions

Student disrupts and is asked the RTP questions by his teacher.

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Student settles down and creates no further disruptions.

Student disrupts in RTC and the RTC teacher asks the RTP questions. If he continues to disrupt, the RTC teacher fills out a referral form. He is then taken to the office and either sent home or other appropriate action is taken.

Non-Compliant Students

Any time the student is non-compliant and refuses to deal with the teacher, a referral form is filled out and the student is sent immediately to the RTC. If student refuses to go to the RTC, an administrator is called to remove student.

Chill-Out Plans

As part of a student’s previous plan to deal with their anger or other emotional problems, a Chill-Out Plan is often used. This allows him to use the RTC as a place to calm down and then return to where he belongs.

Intervention Team

Call an intervention team meeting when there is an increase in disruptions, specific types of disruptions, and/or any other concerns about the student.

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Later, student disrupts again and is asked “What are you doing?”, “What did you say would happen the next time you disrupted?”, and “Where do you need to be now?”. Teacher fills out the referral form and sends student to RTC.

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Student arrives at RTC, signs in, hands RTC teacher his referral form and if new to RTC, process is explained. He is assigned a seat.

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When student is ready to return to where he then belongs, he fills out his plan. Student and RTC teacher review plan, making any needed changes.

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Once plan is approved by RTC teacher, student returns to school routine when return does not create a disruption. Student negotiates plan with teacher as soon as practical. If student disrupts while waiting to negotiate with his teacher, the student is asked “What are you doing?”, “What happens when you disrupt while waiting to negotiate?”, and “Where do you need to be now?”. The student returns to the RTC and RTC is notified of this by the teacher. The student must now wait until the teacher is available outside normal classroom time.

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Student explains plan to teacher. If teacher is not satisfied with plan, she offers alternatives. Once readmitted to class, student returns completed plan to RTC for permanent files.