Re: classroom rules
Posted by Kerry in BC on 9/07/08
On 9/07/08, future teacher wrote: These
> are my "rules" or I would like to think of them as
> expectations and would like to see if you have any
> thoughts as I try to flesh out what I want for a classroom
> of my own in the future.
>
> 1. Be safe.
> 2. Show respect for your classmates, your teacher, the
> classroom, and yourself.
> 3. Be responsible for your work, your materials, and
> yourself.
>
> TIA
Hi Tia,
For the purpose of making your assignment useful, I have one
suggestion that may or may not be of interest to you.
If these were my expectations, then I would want to have
procedures in mind that I would teach to my students so that
then they could successfully live up to my expectations. As
Lee mentioned, "rules" are often vague which is ONE of the
reasons I don't personally bother with them.
If I was taking a class that required me to come up with
general rules or expectations, then I would also want to
include some procedures that would support each one. These
procedures wouldn't be written down for the students but
rather would be outlined in detail for myself. Writing
things down in detail simply means that I will have
adequately thought through everything that I plan to teach
and for me this is much more effective than just thinking
generally about something. Each night as I plan for the next
day, I picture myself in the classroom, step by step
teaching the lesson and then I can best figure out the
procedures that will work best in the situation.
I'd want to be thinking exactly what I meant when I
encouraged students to be responsible with their work and
materials. What routines to I want to have in place that
would structure the environment in such a way that every
student would be more likely to be successful. THEN I could
actually EXPECT them to be responsible. If I don't tell
them what it means to be responsible in my classroom, a
large number of kids might not be able to manage in the way I
expect--simply because they truly don't have a very good
picture in their mind of what responsible behaviour with
regard to materials and assignments looks like.
Communication is key.
To some people it might look as if they were being
irresponsible on purpose, but if I was totally honest with
myself, I would have to acknowledge that I'd let them down,
if I didn't teach them what I want in the first place. I
always try to assume they know nothing and then start from
square one. To me that's better than having to retrace my
steps and clean up a mess that could have been avoided.
Good luck with your assignment!
Kerry
Posts on this thread, including this one
- classroom rules, 9/07/08, by future teacher.
- Re: classroom rules, 9/07/08, by Lee.
- Re: classroom rules, 9/07/08, by Tom.
- Re: classroom rules, 9/07/08, by Kerry in BC.
- Re: classroom rules, 9/08/08, by futureteacher.
- Re: classroom rules, 9/08/08, by Kerry in BC.
- Re: classroom rules, 9/09/08, by Leah .
- Re: classroom rules, 9/11/08, by Darren B..
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