Below are the “Ground Rules” that we practice regularly at the Indigo Primary Studio.

• We are respectful. This is our number one & most important ground rule as all of the other rules fall under it.
• We keep each other safe.
• We are gentle.
• We take care of ourselves.
• We care for the environment
• We help each other.
• We work and play as a team.
• We make peace with each other.
• We use our manners.
• We interrupt politely.
• We speak softly.
• We walk quietly.
• We clean up promptly.
• We line up promptly or sit at circle time promptly.

We typically go over the above rules during our morning circle time once a week, sometimes focusing on a specific rule to that leads us to discuss other underlying rules that are more thorough and naturally practiced on a daily basis, such as those listed below:

• We (the students) do not talk back to our teachers in a negative tone or go against their request, because our teachers are here to teach us important lessons and keep us safe.  
• We do not touch material that we have not had lessons on. Our teachers must have shown us the lesson before we can touch the material, especially due to safety precautions and the importance of understanding prerequisites for future works.
• We tell the teacher when we are going to use the bathroom. We don’t have to ask, but we do need to inform someone that we are stepping out into the hall, so that a teacher can keep an eye out and be ready to assist as needed. 
• We do not leave the classroom on our own for any other reason than to use the bathroom.
• We use rugs on the floor to define our personal space with works (not toys), and we must respect each other’s personal space.
• Our materials are called “works” – not toys, because the material teaches us a new skill, and work should be fun! Our works are also not considered toys, because the material may be dangerous with glass, ceramic parts or sharp objects. It is important to listen to our teachers’ lessons so that we don’t hurt ourselves. Children are learning to handle materials that adults typically wouldn’t trust them with, but with thorough lessons, children have proven in the Montessori environment that they can learn life skills at an early age. 
• We do not purposefully knock building blocks down or try to be destructive with any materials; we find order in all materials. 
• We carry our work with two hands, often by holding onto tray handles, slowly and carefully walking to our table mat or rug. The works often contain breakable objects. 
• We try to learn from the work – we don’t play with it or make messes with it. We show order as we try to organize, line up material, and sort the objects. We carefully put the material back the way we found it and put it back where we found it. Every work has a special place on a shelf. 
• We use place mats on the tables in the practical life area to place our work on to define our personal space. 
• We clean up after ourselves during snack time and lunch time.
• We are silent during lessons, unless it is a group discussion, time for sing-a-longs, or the teacher called upon the student. 

Please review these rules with your child and thank you in advance for your support!